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Reclaimed materials and traditional finishes helped us to breathe new life into the roofs of this beautiful Manor House.
Welsh slate is the toughest natural slate in the world, with a longer product life than any other slate. With plenty of life left in many of the existing roof slates, they were carefully removed, graded according to their condition and stored ready for reuse. These reclaimed slates were then reused to cover the front elevation of the Manor as well as some of the lower roof surfaces. This approach keeps cost down, is kind to the Earth’s resources and ensures Welsh Slate supplies last for the future. A high quality breathable membrane was employed in place of traditional bitumen felt. This tough, hard-wearing man-made material is an energy-efficient green alternative to traditional roofing felt, and reduces condensation and the amount of ventilation required in the roof space. The project featured Clay Ridges with a Roll Profile. Each tile was pegged with individually hand-made inserts to maintain the level and line of the roof, further strengthening it against the wind and elements. In the main roof each of the five Velux roof windows was fully refurbished, with new lead flashing. Velux windows open up the loft space, allowing natural light to flood in and creating extra living space. Further lead flashings were added on all roofs to waterproof edges, abutments, and feature parapet walls. Handmade Roll Profile lead ridges were created for the lower conservatory roof to compliment the Roll Profile Ridges on the main roof whilst enabling a reduced contour to keep elegant proportions. Alloy fixings were used on all the roofs. These traditional fixtures are non-ferrous, long lasting and reduce the risk of nail sickness, increasing the life of the roof. All chimneys were carefully re-pointed to extend their life, and new Sand and Lime Haunches were applied to maintain the historic finish and comply with listed building regulations. |