"slate"

Cedral Thrutone Textured fibre cement slates was chosen as the perfect answer for a new build on Barnoldby Road in Grimsby.

The Driftwood Spars is a 17th century Grade II Listed building of an immense character. It is a historic building and an essential part of the St Agnes Community, as well as a World Heritage site within an area of an outstanding natural beauty.The Pub is built of the local stone and the huge ship’s timbers and spares, from which it got its name. The building offers a wealth of history, having been converted from a tin mining warehouse, chandlery, sail making loft and fish cellar over the years to a hotel with a public bar.The original roof was made of Cornish Delabole and Trevillet slates, which due to harsh weather conditions and extensive service life have fallen into disrepair.The priority of the free hold pub’s owners and the Architect was to replicate the traditional roofing method, “wet laid” with diminishing slates from 18” to 12” inches, using modern slating method, that would be acceptable by the Cornwall Planning stakeholders.

A private art gallery in Betws Y Coed has been roofed using CUPA R4 natural Spanish slate, selected by the client and their contractor on the basis of appearance, performance and cost, as well as their ready availability through local stockists. Work on The Galeri was begun by the owner some three years ago, with locally based Willparr Roofing being tasked with sourcing and installing the thousands of new slates required to weather a structure featuring a dormer window, the valley junction to an existing pitch, and other challenging details.

If there is one thing that characterizes Scotland and touches all its visitors, that is its natural surroundings and historical buildings, which still retain their original charm. So, as the world leader in natural slate, we are proud that our slates have been chosen to renovate one of these heritage buildings: the Renfrew Town Hall and Museum. THE BEST CHOICE FOR HERITAGE BUILDINGS As part of a refurbishment programme, The Renfrew Town Hall roof has been recently renewed with our natural slate Heavy 3. This slate has been the perfect choice to keep its original appeal of tradition and heritage.

Installed across the pitched roofs of two new apartment buildings in Castle Lane – a mixed use development overlooking the historic Swansea Castle, Del Carmen Ultra slate has helped to create an impressive look and feel that is also in keeping with conservation requirements. With the local planning authorities stating a strict need for natural slate to be used, as artificial slate would not meet heritage guidelines, SSQ’s Del Carmen Ultra was the perfect fit. Visit our website to read more.

CUPA PIZARRAS has been specified across a major development and refurbishment at Tregenna Castle. The company’s products were selected for their ability to endure extreme local weather and provide an exceptionally long lifespan.Delivering spectacular views of the St Ives coastline, the Castle Approach Estate is a new collection of lodges built in the grounds of the historic Tregenna Castle Resort.Looking to complete the exclusive lodges, roofing contractor, Summit Roofing Solutions utilised a number of CUPA PIZARRAS’ products. Likewise, the project team also chose to use the company’s natural slate to complete a renovation of Tregenna Castle’s original roof.The lodges and castle are subject to difficult coastal conditions, including extreme winds and sea spray. As such, the project team needed access to roofing solutions that could deliver long-lasting, durable performance. Likewise, given Tregenna Castle’s status as a Grade II listed property, the team had to ensure that any selected products were able to deliver a traditional aesthetic, whilst still providing modern performance. Fortunately, CUPA PIZARRAS natural slate was able to meet all the desired criteria.Therefore, roofs on the lodges at Tregenna Estate exclusively used CUPA PIZARRAS’ 400mm x 200mm CUPA 12 natural slates, fixed using 100mm stainless steel hooks that were also produced and supplied by CUPA PIZARRAS.Notably, Summit Roofing Solutions was able to install the natural slate as a closed mitred hip system. In doing so, the project team ensured that all slates lined up perfectly with one another, which is only possible on account of the products’ uniform size and quality. This was particularly important on the lodges, where sections of roof were stepped down in certain locations and visible from ground level. Speaking on the project at Tregenna Estate, Adam Palmer, Company Owner of Summit Roofing Solutions commented: “Upon receiving the brief, we recognized that CUPA PIZARRAS’ solutions could help us to meet all key project goals. What’s more, the company helped us to overcome logistical challenges.”Following project completion, the Tregenna Estate played host to key stakeholders attending the G7 Summit in Cornwall, including the Prime Minister and US President Joe Biden. In anticipation of the event, enhanced security provisions were put in place on the site, which made the logistical side of the project more difficult.Thankfully, through its extensive distribution network, CUPA PIZARRAS was able to devise a well-considered delivery and logistics plan to ensure that supplies could reach the project team at critical times.CUPA 12 was chosen for this prestigious project as it is a high quality dark grey slate with a smooth finish. With a life span of more than one hundred years and very little maintenance required, natural slate is a durable, weatherproof product, un-matched by artificial alternatives. CUPA 12 has also received approval from Snowdonia National Park as a Welsh Slate alternative and has been certified by BRE Global as A+ for its quality, transparency, and sustainability credentials. Find out more about CUPA PIZARRAS solutions here at https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/  

In a stunning architectural statement, CUPA PIZARRAS R17 slate has been specified to meet the design challenges of a former Georgian windmill renovation at Fort Green, near Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The first project of its kind in the UK, the natural slate was individually cut and fixed through expert craftsmanship to accommodate the building’s exterior curve while also providing crucial protection from the harsh coastal environment. Originally, the windmill walls were going to be clad in cedar shingles however, contractor ELC Roofing recommended using the rectangular CUPA R17 slate from CUPA PIZARRAS as a more weather-resistant alternative. ELC Roofing Owner, Edward Carlo, explains: “The R17 is a natural, non-carbonated blue-black slate with non-rusting metallic particles and thin laminations. From our perspective, it’s a tried and tested product that we specify and install on a lot of our projects – especially in coastal situations like this.” The slates, which protect against the salt water and wind, have been fitted on both the windmill’s curved wall, its pitched roof and elsewhere adding design details to the property’s walls. He goes on to say: “Aesthetically, the ocean environment has inspired the material choice with the slate mirroring the scales of a fish. This gives the windmill a dramatic architectural style; one that also sympathetically ties into the slate roof of the neighbouring cottage, which we replaced with CUPA R17 the previous year. “As far as I am aware, nothing like this windmill has been done in the UK. It was a case of starting from scratch to devise the optimum installation method, which involved a lot of detailed calculations.” For the tower, which has a 15m circumference at the base tapering to 11m at the top, the team initially removed the thick render on the windmill wall, taking it back to the original brickwork. Next, to meet the challenge of the curve and tapering of the wall, 50mm counter battens were fitted to the tower’s brickwork. Then, multiple strips of ply were cut and glued together to create the curve. These panels were screwed to the counter battens to provide an anchor for the fixing system. The ply was also primed to protect the surface from water ingress and a breathable membrane applied to protect the brickwork. In terms of fixing the slates to the panels, Edward said: “For a more corrosion and wind-resistant solution, I decided on the French technique of a stainless steel hook fixing system to install the slate, as opposed to nails.” Ensuring the layout worked exactly with the curves, the slate was lasered from top to bottom to perk it out, which took five days to do. Horizontal tiling battens were also marked to ensure the slates were fixed at the right height. Every single slate was cut and fixed individually to accommodate the curve and ensure they aligned with the building’s inset windows as well as other architectural details - a very precise process that required expert levels of craftsmanship. Preventing the slates from getting smaller at height, the team designed-in a series of lead bands that go all around the building at each storey level. These sit underneath the windows to create a consistent appearance visually. The windmill’s domed copper roof existed already and the adjoining tower, which is horizontally clad in a white weatherboard, features a slated pitched roof. ELC Roofing has again used CUPA PIZARRAS spanish slates. In this instance, the roof curves to the back end with four leaded hips to one end and two to the other with a connecting lead ridge. This time the slates were fitted to 20 x 50mm battens with a layer of permeable membrane. This part of the roof also features a striking onion-shaped finial. Expertly crafted by ELC Roofing, the finial is produced out of a patchwork of small pieces of soft copper, topped off with a fish that acts as a weather vane and includes stunning marble eyes. To the other side of the clad tower, CUPA PIZARRAS slate has been used to create a vertical square panel detail to the front of the building and fixed using the hook system again. Commenting on this challenging project, Edward said: “Work on site started before the first Covid-19 lockdown so as well as the challenging weather conditions that a coastal location like this presents, the team also had to complete the work with government guidance and restrictions in place. Regardless, the client is overwhelmed with the end result and so are we.” To find out more about the CUPA PIZARRAS range of natural slate visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/natural-slate-roofing/

Of all the places you can install a roof, schools – particularly ones attended by the youngest children – are among the most demanding of the lot.But with professionalism and perseverance, Derbyshire’s NRA Roofing managed to achieve outstanding results fitting SSQ Del Carmen slate on Millbridge Primary School in Liversedge.Following a competitive tendering process, NRA were chosen to strip the building’s existing slates and provide robust, weatherproof replacements that managed to retain its traditional aesthetics. Del Carmen provided the perfect solution.The work was carried out in three phases. Scaffolding was erected on the lower sections of the roof so installers could reach the highest part of the building. This was then stripped and adapted in stages so they could get to the lower areas.

Magazine B is a series of Grade II listed brick sheds inRochester, Kent. Its unusual name stems from the fact it wasoriginally used as a Victorian military installation – ‘magazines’were buildings constructed to store gunpowder andammunition.Long left derelict, the site was acquired to convert into aseries of offices – and Southern and County Roofing wereengaged to fit replacement slate.

Easton Square, an exclusive development of four bespoke, luxury 6-bedroom houses, features CUPA 12 R Excellence roofing slates. The product was selected for its superior qualities including its adaptability, longevity and polished finish. The exclusive Langton Homes development is set in large private grounds in Great Easton. Each property features over 5,500 square feet of accommodation and has been tailored towards the individual needs of each occupier. CUPA 12 slate has been used across all four Easton Square dwellings including the properties’ associated outbuildings and garages.

Langley Prep School is located at Taverham Hall in the village of Taverham not far from Norwich in the Norfolk countryside. Completed in 1858, the hall was originally planned as the home for the family of Rev’d John Nathaniel Micklethwait. In 1921, the hall was sold and became a boy’s preparatory school. It was briefly requisitioned during the Second World War before returning to its use as an educational establishment.Set amongst 100 acres of green open space, Taverham Hall is a breathtaking neo-Jacobian building with stunning period architecture to match its idyllic setting. The large chimney stacks and red brick frontage create an attractive aesthetic with the subtle grey roofing slates accentuating the property’s distinctive beauty.

Westerland and Moorland, BBA certified fibre cement slates from Cembrit, have helped achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes and a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating for a newly built £30 million retirement village in Oxfordshire.Built by BAM Construct UK and due for completion in December 2016, the project is built in an attractive, traditional style which is complemented by Cembrit’s Westerland and Moorland slates. Based in Hertfordshire, BAM Construct UK worked with roofing specialist Attleys Roofing Ltd on the project.

Transforming the old stone barns at Davey’s Farm was a major undertaking.To make the aging structures fit for twenty-first century living, the builders had to embark on a thorough-going renovation project.But they had to do it in a way that preserved the traditional, rural character that made the site so desirable in the first place.When it came to the roofing, that meant identifying a material that could blend seamlessly with that rustic, natural aesthetic, while offering outstanding weather resistance, longevity and consistency of supply.SSQ’s Del Prado natural slate provided the answer.

Christ College is one of Britain’s oldest schools. Originally a Dominican friary, the school was founded first by royal charter in 1541 by King Henry VIII and then, after a period of inactivity, by Act of Parliament in 1855. Today, it is seen as one of the best co-educational, independent boarding and day schools in the country and has around 300 pupils. The campus is home to a rich variety of ancient and historic buildings including a number that are Grade I listed, for example the 13th-century chapel and many that are Grade II listed including.

Kresen Kernow is the state-of-the-art facility that houses the world’s largest collection of Cornish documents, books, maps, and photographs, dating from 1150 to the present day.The site provides a suite of public search rooms, conservation and preservation workshops, exhibition spaces, education rooms, and associated staff and volunteer facilities, while a new two storey extension provides archive storage in closely controlled environmental conditions, designed to BS5454 conservation standard.For the roof, the building’s designers wanted the closest match possible to Delabole – the indigenous Cornish slate that’s now extremely difficult to source.

This case study highlights the successful implementation of Britmet’s Slate 2000 product in a housing association project. The project, carried out by Saltash Construction, encompassed a total area of 290 square meters and aimed to improve the infrastructure of the existing leaking roof. This case study examines the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of utilising Slate 2000. The housing association sector plays a vital role in providing affordable and secure housing to individuals and families. To support their mission, housing associations often undertake infrastructure improvement projects to enhance the living conditions of their residents. This case study focuses on a project to revamp a housing association's infrastructure using the lightweight metal roofing panel, Slate 2000.The Slate 2000 is a durable and aesthetically pleasing lightweight roofing material with long-term performance and weather resistance. Its stylish design and robust properties make it an ideal choice for enhancing the visual appeal and durability of residential buildings. The project involved upgrading the roofing system of a housing association's properties spanning a total area of 290 square meters. Saltash Construction, a reputable main contractor, was tasked with implementing the project. Benefits and Challenges Slate 2000's robust composition ensured long-lasting performance, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and repairs. The product's Titanium Grey colour provided a modern and visually appealing finish to the housing association's properties, significantly improving their appeal for residents and building owners. The roofing material demonstrated excellent resistance to harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain, strong winds, and extreme temperatures, thus ensuring the longevity of the roofs. The installation of the Slate 2000 required skilled labour and meticulous attention to detail due to its specific design and interlocking mechanism whilst coordinating the installation across multiple housing association properties within a specified timeframeProject Outcomes The application of Slate 2000 transformed the appearance of the housing association's existing roof, making it more visually appealing and modern. The durable properties of the Slate 2000 lightweight roofing panels significantly increased the lifespan of the roof, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and repair costs. This also improved the long-term value of the housing association, offering improved durability, weather resistance, and a refreshed aesthetic, which contributed to the overall satisfaction of the residents. Conclusion The utilization of Slate 2000 in the housing association project executed by Saltash Construction proved to be a successful choice. The product's aesthetic appeal, durability, and weather-resistance qualities enhanced the project's overall value, ultimately benefiting the housing association and its residents. This case study demonstrates the positive impact of choosing high-quality construction materials and the importance of skilled execution in infrastructure improvement projects.

The Woodside Green Christian Centre is a charitable trust renowned for its work with children in the west-Croydon area, its new £1.7million home providing an outstanding example of how imagination can use the versatility of natural roofing slate. The church lies at the heart of the centre and is surrounded by meeting rooms, apartments, offices and operational areas. Above them, the various roofs provide a slatescape that showcases what can be done with roofing slate – providing you have the imagination and skill! Visit our website to read in full.

This case study highlights the successful implementation of Britmet’s flat-to-pitch conversion system, BritFrame, and lightweight metal roof tile, Slate 2000. The project, carried out by Jennings Roofing encompassed a total area of 500 square meters and aimed to improve the infrastructure of the existing roof. This case study examines the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of utilising Slate 2000. This case study highlights the successful implementation of Britmet's Slate 2000 roofing system and Britframe structural solution in a social housing project. The client, a new customer of Britmet, discovered the systems at the UK Construction Week (UKCW) exhibition. Impressed by the innovative design and features, the client expressed interest in utilising Britframe for a flat-to-pitch conversion project in their social housing development. The client is a housing association responsible for managing and maintaining a portfolio of social housing properties. They were seeking an effective solution to address various issues with one of their buildings, including an ageing roof with multiple repairs, inadequate insulation, and inefficient rainwater management. The objective was to enhance the building's aesthetics, improve water tightness, increase energy efficiency, and minimize future maintenance requirements. The initial meeting between the client and Britmet took place at the UKCW exhibition, where the client became acquainted with Britframe, a lightweight and versatile structural solution. Intrigued by its potential, the client arranged for an on-site visit to further assess the feasibility of utilising the Britframe and Slate 2000 roofing system for their project.Slate 2000 is a durable and aesthetically pleasing lightweight roofing material that offers long-term performance and weather resistance. It's stylish design and robust properties make it an ideal choice for enhancing the visual appeal and durability of roofs and cladding. During the initial site visit, Britmet's team evaluated the existing roof condition, rainwater management system, and insulation levels. After careful assessment, they provided the client with a budget price estimate for the proposed project. The estimate included the cost of materials, labour, and necessary ancillary items. To streamline the project, the client signed a Project Assist agreement with Britmet. This allowed Britmet to obtain planning drawings and submit the necessary applications on behalf of the client. Additionally, Britmet provided structural calculations, design drawings, and rainwater calculations to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and best practices. The main objective of the project was to convert the existing flat roof to a pitched roof using Britframe and install Britmet's Slate 2000 roofing system. This conversion offered numerous advantages, including improved water tightness, increased insulation, and resolved rainwater management issues. Notably, the internal gutters, which had caused maintenance problems, were relocated externally as part of the new design.Beyond functionality, the new roofing system and structural solution significantly enhanced the building's aesthetic appeal. The modern design of Britframe, combined with the stylish appearance of Slate 2000, seamlessly integrated the property with its surroundings. The improved visual aesthetics added value to the social housing development. One of the key benefits of choosing Britmet's Slate 2000 and Britframe was the assurance of minimal maintenance requirements. Unlike the previous roof covering, which had undergone numerous repairs and reached the end of its life, the new system was designed to be durable and long-lasting. This eliminated the need for ongoing maintenance and reduced future costs for the housing association.Through the adoption of Britmet's Slate 2000 roofing system and Britframe structural solution, the social housing project achieved its objectives of enhanced aesthetics, improved water tightness, increased insulation, and efficient rainwater management. The collaboration between the client and Britmet, from the initial meeting at UKCW to the successful implementation of the project, demonstrated the value of innovative roofing and structural solutions in the social housing sector.

The Bodmin Jail on the edge of the Bodmin Moor in Cornwall was originally built by military engineer John Call during the reign of King George III in 1779, as part of the ground-breaking Prison Reform. The buildings in their current form were completed by 1881. The later 19th century saw part of the site transferred to the Admiralty, and the Bodmin Royal Naval Prison was established by 1887. The building is statutorily listed at grade II and has been renovated as a luxury 70-bedroom boutique hotel and a museum.Over the course of history, the roof structure and slate have suffered significant degradation, which has given Mallino Developments Ltd. the challenge of immediate renovation. Twelve Architects, a London-based firm are behind the design of the hotel, while the main contractor C Field Construction and engineers ARUP Group turned the design into reality. Close attention was paid to the design aesthetics required to achieve a contemporary looking roof structure on the historic building.

The oldest street in Coventry features a newly built housing development that remains in keeping with the area’s historic background, thanks to the installation of Cembrit’s Jutland fibre cement slates. Far Gosford Street is setting of many historic stories. Now, it features a new gated community, comprising 30 three and four bedroom mews style houses. Kilby Mews forms part of a wider multi million pound private and public sector regeneration project to develop Far Gosford Street.

Stoneworld have supplied Brazilian Slate and Raj Green Sandstone paving and pool copings

As showcased on a recent episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs, CUPA 12 natural slate has been specified for a spectacular new build project in Chichester. Selected to enhance the property’s modern aesthetic, the slate roof also complements the rural surroundings, which include a wildlife pond along with a variety of plant life. Property owners Daniel and Nina Rowland both work professionally within the construction sector; Daniel heads up architectural firm Studio Fuse, while Nina is an interior designer. Combining their skills, they decided the time was right to embark on a new adventure; leaving London to design and build their own home on the South Coast of England. They purchased a period property that happened to back onto a stagnant pond, which consisted of local drainage overflow. Daniel and Nina put together a design that would see the old house demolished and a new building constructed. Likewise, the pond was to be transformed into a crystal-clear natural swimming pond – a highly ambitious undertaking. Ideally, this would attract local wildlife, such as frogs, newts and sparrows, resulting in a beautiful waterside home. In terms of the design of the new-build property, the couple wanted the house to be eco-friendly and have a contemporary, spacious and natural aesthetic. It was to be built from structural insulated panels (SIPs) clad in Siberian larch and flint, with large glass windows. Timber decking would then connect the house to the natural swimming pond. When it came to the roofing, Daniel commented: “We considered using a standard seam metal roof but we went with slate to compliment the natural material palette we have used throughout the rest of the house.”Darren Stigant, Director at NJS Roofing, the roofing contractor on the project made the product recommendation: “Although this project looks quite simplistic, the different roof pitches added a certain amount of difficulty to aligning the mitred hips. Having sourced products from CUPA PIZARRAS many times in the past, I suggested the company’s CUPA 12 slate which was available in 400 x 250mm palettes. Utilising this smaller size, as opposed to the usual 500mm x 250mm, helped us to achieve the finish we required on the mitred hips.“I really like the way CUPA 12 lays, and it requires minimal sorting and grading, which simplifies the process significantly. What’s more, it’s very good value for money, providing a really impressive finish.”CUPA 12 is a non-carbonated slate that is formed by tectonic compression, giving the product a smooth, matt surface. The dark grey colour provided an effective contrast with the timber and glass. The CUPA 12 natural slate is also high performing with outstanding weather resistance, as it has been tested to achieve a water absorption rate of 0.11% and a rating of T1 in thermal cycle tests. Thus, making it a long-lasting product with a functional life expectancy of 100 years. What’s more, not only is CUPA PIZARRAS officially a carbon neutral company, but CUPA 12 has also been assessed and certified by BRE Global, solidifying itself as a sustainable choice and bolstering the environmental credentials of Daniel and Nina’s new home.  Kevin McCloud, presenter of Grand Designs commented: “This design joins together nature and architecture – in every sense it’s beautiful.”Daniel and Nina were delighted with the house and the CUPA PIZARRAS roof, “The slate is consistent in its appearance, which compliments a more modern build, but it still has a soft natural aesthetic. We are very happy with the finished roof and would highly recommend CUPA PIZARRAS slate to others. It is great quality, and our roofer loved working with it.”

In a small town just outside Stirling in Scotland is this beautiful, traditional property built from Scottish sandstone. The new owners have extended and completely refurbished the house, originally built in 1870. Although modernised and featuring some contemporary features the original charm has been kept.In order to maximize natural light, a total of 10 Clement Conservation Rooflights were installed. These not only look beautiful in the traditional Welsh slate roof but also improve thermal efficiency and are low maintenance.The homeowner said: “We are delighted with our Clement Conservation Rooflights. We have now fitted ten into our period house renovation and they look great.“Quality wise they are solid and well built, no problems with manual winders, and the double glazing, sound proofing and heat retention is brilliant. We searched around and Clement seemed a good price for the quality. Dealing with them as a company has been a pleasure, always helpful with sound advice and never a delay in delivery dates.“We have been lucky enough to work with very talented and courteous craftsmen and suppliers - like Clement, who went the extra mile to make sure that we fully understood the options available and helped us create the perfect home.”

A modern timber canopy for a communal outdoor area was designed for residents at a flagship development.

Opened in 1927, the HH Wills Physics Laboratory was built as a tribute to HO Wills, head of the Wills tobacco empire, founder of the university and its first chancellor. The grade II-listed building recently benefited from a restoration project that has rejuvenated its exterior. The original, very old, possibly reclaimed, Cornish Delabole slates were in poor condition with more than half being unsalvageable; ‘blown’ from water penetration. Please visit our website to read the full article.

Trowbridge County Hall.

The Lodge Trust, Market Overton.

Park Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

Riverside Meadow, Shrewsbury.

Raasay House, Scotland.

Ormond Green.

Orchard Gate, Kent.

Hounds Road, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol.

Duncan Macmillan House, Nottinghamshire.

Churchill Place, Mill Hill, London

Knockroon Estate, East Ayrshire