Spanish slate featured in the photo above is one of our more popular slate roof coverings slate roofs have a life expectancy of 100+ years. All our slate roofs are laid using 50mm copper nails using copper nails are 10x more effective rather than using a clout nail as they are less likely to corrode. Most failed slate roofs are due to the wrong nails being used as over the years the nails start to corrode and eventually the head of the nail pops of causing the slate to slip.
Just like the spanish slate WELSH Slate featured in the photo above is also a popular choice of slate used. The welsh slate is harder than spanish slate and absorbs less water, making it a bit more durable. Welsh slate is more expensive than spanish due to its durability and it's also very hard to get your hands on new welsh slate which comes at a cost when you can. These slates are fitted also using 50mm copper nails to prevent the nails corroding and stop the slates from slipping out of place.
Scotch slate is mainly used on old heritage buildings and buildings which are listed where the roof cannot be replaced with any other roofing material. Scotch slate is one of the hardest types of slating which requires a large amount of skill and knowledge. When a listed building that has a scotch slate roof that needs to be replaced the roof needs to be stripped stacking all the slates to one side then roof then needs to be felted with a breathable membrane. The slates then need to be sized, dressed and re holed if necessary. larger slates are laid at the bottom , where water collects gradually decreasing in size towards the top, a pattern known as diminishing courses.
Westmorland slate is a natural slate, a hundred times older than mankind and a material that has been quarried for over 400 years to create stunning and weathertight roof coverings.
Westmorland Green roofing slates are produced in three different formats.The three roofing slates formats are:
Patterns – are cut to fixed dimensions of length and width: the width never being less than half the length. Where a roof has a shallower pitch, larger sizes of pattered slates can be used.
Sized Slates – are of a stated length but of random widths: the widths will never be less than half the length and not greater than a square.
Sized slates are ideal for roofs, where there is a lot of cutting required, i.e. at verges, hips and valleys, as the widest of the slates can be selected for these areas.
Randoms – are supplied in random lengths and widths: the width never being less than half the length.
Randoms are ordered by reference to the maximum and minimum required lengths, for example 460mm to 225mm (18” to 10”): they must be sorted on site by length and are laid to courses which diminish from eaves to ridge.
Concrete roof tiles is our most popular choice of roof covering for pitched roofs due to it being the cheapest source of roof covering for a pitched roof but also its durability most concrete tile manufacturers guarantee their product for 30 years , but a concrete tiled roof can last between 40-50 years if fitted correctly to the right spec etc. Tiled roofs should be felted with a breathable membrane , tile battened with 25x50 treated timber and clipped and nailed where needed depending on the pitch. You get the choice of about 5-6 colour choices from terracotta which is used in the picture above , Grey , Brown , Old English , Anthracite grey and around 4 different tile profiles such as ludlow used in the photo above , mendip , modern , double roman and a few others. There is also about 5 tile manufacturers to choose from they all vary in price but most large interlocking concrete tiles are the same price. concrete tiles can be used on any pitch above 15 degrees
Clay tiles are also another form of roof covering we offer, clay pan tiles featured in the photo above are usually only ever used on old listed buildings or on new builds which are trying to tie in with existing buildings and are going for the old heritage look as you can see in the photo above this house was built onto the old existing tower so we used a marley lincoln pan tile to try and keep the look the same as the old building.
The Rosemary name is synonymous with clay plain tiles, adding distinction and character to pitched roofs for over 175 years. Today, a range of single and cross-camber tiles combine the quality of handcrafted clay with the reliability of modern machine-made techniques. Produced from the finest clays, Rosemary is offered in a range of weathered, brindled and single colours that create striking and attractive roofs. Rosemary roof tiles are rarely used unless the building is listed or are trying to achieve the old heritage look due to there costing rosemary tiles are very costly and time consuming to lay making the overall roof installation more expensive than just a standard tiled roof. The correct batten size which should be used is 38x25mm this allows enough space for the eave tiles and the first course to be installed. Rosemary tiles cannot be installed on anything under 35 degree pitch.
Concrete plain tiles are similar to rosemary tiles apart from being made with clay they are machine made with concrete meaning they are cheaper than the clay rosemary tile by about 20 pence per tile which is a lot spread over a big project. concrete plain tiles are mainly used for features as shown in the picture , dormers , vertical tiling etc. The correct batten size which should be used is 38x25mm this allows enough space for the eave tiles and the first course to be installed. Concrete plain tiles cannot be installed on anything under 35 degree pitch.
Torch-on roofing, or torch-down roofing as it is also known, is a flat roof covering solution that involves three layers of modified bitumen (felt) melt-welded onto the roof surface and each other with the use of a blowtorch to create an impenetrable, waterproof seal.
Traditionally, the three layers used in this process are a vapour control sheet, reinforced felt and a cap sheet with mineral finish. Using three layers of felt is required by building regulations for habitable areas of a home. For sheds and garages, only two layers may be needed.
The dangers of applying these layers with the use of a hot flame makes torch-on felt roofing a job best left to the professionals. Torch-on felt roofing can last anywhere between 15 and 25 years, depending on whether it’s a 2 or 3-layer system.
Single ply is a flat, synthetic polymer based roofing material that, as the name suggests, provides a waterproofing layer in a single sheet. Usually supplied in rolls, the material is either entirely homogeneous or contains a reinforcement layer. Sealed at the joints with heat, adhesive or mechanical means, it can be adhered, mechanically fixed and/or ballasted into flat, pitched or green roof systems.
Single ply roofs are lightweight, flexible, cost effective, swift to install and safe, which makes them increasingly popular for both new build and refurbishment projects. Single ply is expected to last between 30-40 years.
Lead work is something we are always carrying out whether it be lead dormers like pictured above , lead valleys , lead side slips, lead box gutters, lead flashings etc. Lead is one of the most durable materials you can use on your roof with life expectancy up to 100 years. There is many lead substitutes but nothing will come close to lead itself, we 100% recommend lead over all other substitutes.
UPVC fascia,soffits,gutters,cladding like pictured above has became fairly popular over the years due to the great colour choices to choose from it really brings the home to life and overall freshens it up. Great for replacing old wooden fascias etc with , with little to no maintenance doesn't need painted or treated like wood just needs a clean every few years