residential roofing contractors

NEAL ROOFING / PROJECT ARCHIVE

Sicklinghall
Roof Restoration

Comprehensive roof and external-fabric refurbishment near Wetherby combining new Cwt-y-Bugail Welsh slate, traditional leadwork, lime-mortar repointing and a contemporary standing-seam zinc roof to a new rear extension.

SICKLINGHALL · WETHERBY · WELSH SLATE · ZINC ROOFING · LIME MORTAR

Explore the Project

01 — THE PROJECT

From traditional farmhouse roof to contemporary extension

Neal Roofing, formerly Geoff Neal Roofing, was appointed to refurbish the roof and external fabric of this substantial stone farmhouse at Sicklinghall, close to Wetherby in North Yorkshire.

The project developed in phases. The existing pantile roof was replaced with new Welsh slate, the masonry elevations were repointed using lime mortar and, following construction of a new rear extension, Neal Roofing designed and installed a bespoke warm-roof system finished in natural standing-seam zinc.

NATURAL SLATE ROOFING →
ZINC ROOFING →
SPECIALIST LEADWORK →

PROJECT

Roof Restoration

MAIN ROOF

Circa 3 Weeks

LOCATION

Sicklinghall

MATERIALS

Slate + Zinc

02 — EXISTING CONDITION

A relatively recent roof that already required replacement

The farmhouse had previously been converted and reroofed using interlocking pantiles, but the roof coverings and several associated details were not performing satisfactorily despite being only around ten years old.

The owners wanted to take the opportunity to improve both the technical performance and appearance of the property rather than continue repairing a roof they no longer considered appropriate.

The external stonework had also been pointed extensively in cement mortar, areas of which were failing and were unsuitable for the traditional masonry.

03 — DESIGN APPROACH

One property, two distinct architectural languages

The principal farmhouse was deliberately treated in a traditional manner using Welsh slate, leadwork and lime mortar.

The rear extension offered the opportunity to take an entirely different approach. Its steel-frame construction, large rooflights and contemporary architecture suited a natural zinc standing-seam covering.

The result combines traditional and modern roofing systems without attempting to disguise the distinction between the original house and its later addition.

residential roofing contractors

Welsh Slate

New Cwt-y-Bugail natural slate used across the traditional farmhouse roof.

Traditional Fabric

Lead detailing and lime-mortar masonry repairs formed part of the wider restoration.

zinc roofing Wetherby

Zinc Extension

A bespoke standing-seam warm roof designed around two large rooflights.

04 — SCOPE OF WORKS

Roofing, metalwork and masonry within one refurbishment.

The project ultimately extended well beyond simple replacement of the original roof covering.

Traditional House

  • Removal of existing pantiles
  • New Cwt-y-Bugail Welsh slate
  • New breathable membrane
  • New treated battens
  • Lead ridge details
  • Secret gutter detailing
  • Rooflight flashing renewal
  • Insulation improvements

Extension + Fabric

  • Standing-seam natural zinc
  • Warm-roof construction
  • Stainless-steel perimeter gutter
  • Bespoke outlets and drainage
  • Zinc perimeter cappings
  • Rooflight interfaces
  • Lime-mortar repointing
  • Stove flue interface

05 — WELSH SLATE

Replacing pantiles with natural Welsh slate

New Cwt-y-Bugail Welsh slate was selected to provide a cleaner and more refined roofscape while retaining the traditional character expected of the stone farmhouse.

The previous interlocking pantiles were removed in their entirety and the roof was rebuilt using a new vapour-permeable membrane, treated battens and natural slate.

Lead ridge details were formed over timber rolls, while the interfaces around existing rooflights and parapet details were also renewed as part of the scheme.

Natural Slate Roofing →
BS 5534 Slating + Tiling →

06 — LIME MORTAR

Repairing the masonry as part of the wider envelope

The stone elevations had previously been pointed using cement-rich mortar, areas of which were failing and were visually inappropriate for the traditional masonry.

A wider repointing programme was therefore undertaken using NHL 3.5 lime mortar blended consistently with suitable aggregate.

Treating the wall and roof fabric together allowed the weathering performance of the whole external envelope to be addressed rather than limiting the project to the slate covering alone.

07 — ZINC ROOFING

Designing a standing-seam roof around the new extension.

The contemporary rear extension was constructed around a steel frame and incorporated two substantial rooflights.

The roof was designed as a fully insulated warm-roof construction at a low pitch, finished using natural zinc formed into standing-seam trays.

The geometry required careful coordination between the rooflights, perimeter cappings, wall interfaces and drainage system.

The zinc was therefore not simply selected as a surface finish; the entire supporting build-up and rainwater strategy were designed around its technical requirements.

ZINC ROOFING →
METAL ROOFING GUIDANCE →

08 — WARM ROOF CONSTRUCTION

Building performance beneath the metal covering

The zinc roof was formed as a warm-roof construction so that insulation could remain continuous across the new structure without introducing a ventilated void beneath the metal covering.

The build-up incorporated a structural deck, vapour-control layer, rigid insulation, upper deck and specialist separation layer beneath the standing-seam zinc.

Careful detailing around the rooflights and perimeter interfaces was particularly important to maintain continuity of insulation, weathering and vapour control.

09 — PERIMETER GUTTER

A concealed stainless-steel drainage system

A large perimeter gutter was incorporated around the zinc roof to collect rainfall from the low-pitched roof surface.

Stainless steel was selected for the lining because of its durability and suitability for forming the longer gutter sections and bespoke outlet details required by the design.

10 — OUTLETS

Managing water through the building

Two principal outlets were created to discharge the perimeter gutter.

One required the rainwater route to pass internally through the building above a utility space before emerging through the gable wall and discharging into a hopper head.

These interfaces were treated as part of the roof design from the outset rather than as drainage components added after the roofing work was complete.

11 — ROOF PENETRATION

Integrating a stove flue through the zinc roof

A wood-burning stove was installed within the extension, requiring a twin-wall flue system to penetrate the finished zinc roof.

The penetration had to be coordinated carefully with the warm-roof build-up and standing-seam layout to maintain weathering integrity around the flue while respecting the required clearances for the appliance system.

Hot Box carried out the stove and flue installation in coordination with the roofing works.

Hot Box →

12 — PROJECT RECORD

Before.
During.
Completed.

The photographic record documents the transformation of the principal farmhouse roof and the subsequent construction of the contemporary zinc extension.

It also captures the technical interfaces that distinguish the two phases of the project: traditional Welsh slate and leadwork to the existing property, followed by modern hard-metal roofing to the new addition.

13 — TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

Standards and guidance behind the work

Roofing Regulations + Standards →
BS 5534 Slating + Tiling →
BS 6915 Leadwork →
Metal Roofing →
Zinc Roofing →

14 — INDEPENDENT CONSULTANCY

Surveying complex roof and building-envelope projects

Projects combining traditional and modern roof systems can benefit from detailed investigation, build-up design, specification and professional oversight before work begins.

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

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

Strut Building Surveyors →

The Lead Lads®

Specialist architectural leadwork, traditional detailing, technical guidance and rolled lead sheet.

THE LEAD LADS →

The Reclaimed Company®

Traditional roofing materials, architectural salvage and reclaimed construction products.

EXPLORE THE MARKETPLACE →

Hot Box®

Stove, chimney and flue services including specialist twin-wall installations through complex roof systems.

VISIT HOT BOX →

15 — PROJECT OUTCOME

Traditional roofing and contemporary metalwork on one property

The completed project brings together two very different roofing approaches without compromising either.

The farmhouse has regained a traditional natural-slate roofscape supported by improved detailing and restored masonry, while the rear extension is deliberately contemporary in standing-seam zinc.

Together, the two phases demonstrate Neal Roofing’s ability to move between traditional slating, leadwork, masonry conservation, warm-roof design and precision hard-metal roofing within the same property.

NEAL ROOFING / PROJECT ARCHIVE

Welsh slate. Standing-seam zinc. Building-envelope expertise in practice.

The Sicklinghall project forms part of the Neal Roofing archive documenting substantial residential, heritage, commercial and technically complex roofing projects delivered across Yorkshire.

The archive records real buildings, technical problems, materials and construction details — preserving the practical knowledge accumulated through completed roofing work.