02 — EXISTING CONDITION

A traditional roof requiring comprehensive renewal

The Welsh slate and lead coverings across the property had reached the end of their useful serviceable life and piecemeal repair was no longer considered the best long-term approach.

Several areas of earlier leadwork, particularly to the front bay roofs, also required redesign rather than simple replacement.

• Ageing Welsh slate roof coverings
• Deteriorated lead roof areas
• Poorly executed earlier lead detailing
• Chimney stacks requiring masonry repairs
• Insulation levels requiring improvement
• Rainwater goods requiring renewal
• Coach-house roofs forming part of the wider scheme

03 — PROJECT BRIEF

One coordinated roofing package

The client elected to address the roof comprehensively rather than treating the individual defects in isolation.

The work therefore extended across all principal roof elevations, lead bays, chimney stacks, insulation, rainwater goods and the separate coach house.

Advice was provided as the project progressed so that the materials and details could be adapted to the requirements of the building as areas were opened and inspected.

This allowed the project to be treated as a complete roof-envelope refurbishment rather than a series of disconnected repairs.

07 — CHIMNEY REPAIRS

Repairing masonry while access was available

The main roof contained a number of chimney stacks requiring repair as part of the wider scheme.

Undertaking these works alongside the re-roof allowed the masonry and lead interfaces to be addressed before the new slate covering was completed.

Repairs included localised masonry and mortar work using materials appropriate to the existing construction, followed by reinstatement of the associated roof weathering details.

Chimney Stack Repairs →

08 — THERMAL UPGRADE

Improving performance while the roof was open

The project provided an opportunity to improve insulation levels across the main house while the roof coverings were removed.

A combination of rigid board and quilt insulation was used where appropriate to the existing construction and available voids.

Integrating thermal upgrades into a planned re-roof can be considerably more practical than attempting to improve the same areas after the completed roof has been reinstated.

09 — COACH HOUSE

The wider estate formed part of the same scheme

The programme was not limited to the principal house.

The roof areas to the associated coach house were also replaced, allowing the secondary building to benefit from the same coordinated approach to roof coverings, detailing and rainwater disposal.

Including both structures within the same contract helped establish a consistent standard of roofing work across the property.

10 — RAINWATER GOODS

Cast aluminium gutters and downpipes

The existing rainwater goods were replaced with new cast-aluminium gutters and fall pipes.

The system provided the visual weight appropriate to a substantial traditional residence while avoiding the ongoing corrosion issues associated with poorly maintained older metal systems.

Rainwater disposal was considered alongside the new roof coverings so that gutters, outlets and roof edges formed part of one completed weathering strategy.

13 — STANDARDS + GUIDANCE

A roof considered as a complete system

Slate, lead, insulation, timber substrates, chimneys and drainage all interact with one another.

The relevant technical standards therefore inform individual disciplines while the project as a whole must still be considered in the context of the actual building.

BS 5534 — Slating + Tiling →
BS 6915 — Leadwork →
BS 5250 — Moisture Management →
BS 8000 — Workmanship →
Roofing Regulations + Technical Guidance →