02 — THE SETTING

A secluded estate within the North York Moors

The house occupies an exceptional rural setting north of Pickering, close to Newton-on-Rawcliffe and within the North York Moors National Park.

The wider estate extends across several hundred acres of landscaped parkland, woodland and agricultural ground and incorporates a lake, boathouse, ancillary accommodation and traditional outbuildings.

The scale and quality of the setting demanded roofing materials capable of complementing both the architecture and surrounding landscape.

03 — ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH

A new building rooted in traditional materials

The previous house was demolished to create a more efficient dwelling better suited to contemporary family use.

However, the replacement was designed to retain a strong connection with the architecture of its predecessor, including traditional massing and replicated features such as the distinctive stone turret.

Natural Welsh slate and rolled lead sheet were therefore entirely appropriate materials for the principal roofscape.

07 — RAINWATER MANAGEMENT

Managing water through the structure

Several roof areas required rainwater to be directed through the building rather than discharged conventionally at the eaves.

This demanded particularly careful treatment of the interface between traditional leadwork and the internal drainage system.

Purpose-made lead outlets were fabricated and connected to copper pipework, creating robust transition points before connection into the wider drainage system.

The outlet geometry, falls and surrounding leadwork were considered together so that rainwater could be collected efficiently while maintaining appropriate weathering around each penetration.

This is an important example of roofing design extending beyond the visible roof covering itself.

10 — MATERIALS

A deliberately restrained material palette

The roof relies on a relatively small number of high-quality materials used consistently across a very large building.

• Penrhyn Welsh slate, 500 × 300mm County Grade
• Code 6 rolled lead sheet to principal flat roof areas
• Code 5 rolled lead sheet to flashings, gutters and ridges
• Code 3 lead soakers where appropriate
• Proctor Roofshield vapour-permeable membrane
• Treated graded softwood battens
• Exterior-grade timber substrates
• Copper drainage connections
• Compatible stainless-steel and copper fixings

12 — TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

Standards and guidance behind the work

Roofing Regulations + Standards →
BS 5534 Slating + Tiling →
BS 6915 Leadwork →
BS 8000 Workmanship →
Lead Roofing →

13 — INDEPENDENT CONSULTANCY

Surveying and specification for complex roofing projects

Large and technically demanding roof schemes benefit from properly coordinated design, specification and inspection before construction begins.

Strut Building Surveyors provides independent roof condition surveys, building-envelope consultancy, defect investigation, repair specifications, contractor procurement and project management.

The consultancy operates independently from Neal Roofing where professional advice or oversight separate from the contracting function is required.

Strut Building Surveyors →