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Sensitively re-roofing Houndsfield Primary School
The challenge
Houndsfield Primary School faced several challenges that required a sensitive approach to its roofing project. With the original roof being more than 100 years old, it was showing significant signs of wear and leakage, which directly impacted the school environment and required immediate upgrades to ensure a safe and effective learning space for students. With multiple leaks and moisture ingress affecting the timber structure beneath, a complete roof replacement was essential.
Sourcing traditional Welsh slate for the project proved difficult due to a combination of high demand and limited supply, posing both logistical and financial challenges. Alongside the need to find suitable material, the project's timing coincided with the start of the academic year, requiring careful planning to minimise disruption for pupils.
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The solution: Cambrian Slate
The solution to Houndsfield Primary School's roofing needs came in the form of Redland's Cambrian Slate, an engineered interlocking slate that combines the elegance of natural slate with modern engineering. Comprising over 60% recycled Welsh slate, Cambrian Slate provides the traditional aesthetic required for the school while offering enhanced performance and ease of installation.
The use of Cambrian Slate addressed the challenges of sourcing traditional slate, as it was readily available and delivered the desired slate aesthetic. The interlocking design not only facilitated a straightforward installation process but also ensured a uniform and sleek roof appearance.
A key challenge presented by the original roof design was the sprocketed eaves. To accommodate these changes in pitch - amounting to a 10-15 degree shift over the lower courses - the team introduced a lead flashing.
Alongside the Cambrian Slate, the project benefitted from BMI Redland's SpecMaster service, which provided tailored specifications for the roofing works. This service ensured that the specific project requirements were met, as well as enabling the team to submit a detailed and costed bid for funding through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). Once completed, a 15-year SpecMaster whole roof guarantee offered peace of mind, ensuring that the complete roof system would perform to the highest standards for years to come.
Specialist roofing contractor, Russell Trew Limited, played a crucial role in the success of the project. Their expertise in heritage roofing allowed them to effectively blend modern materials with traditional aesthetics, ensuring the renovation works were carried out sensitively while delivering on performance to provide the school with a long-lasting solution.
The impact
Central to the school’s requirements on this re-roofing project were two considerations. Firstly, ensuring the new roof corrected the problems that were arising with the previous aged roof, with water ingress significantly impacting the school environment. Secondly, the appearance of the roof was important. As a building with a proud 100 year history, maintaining the original appearance was important – and the re-roofing works needed to be sensitive to this aspect.
The use of Cambrian Slate at Houndsfield Primary School not only resolved the immediate issues of structural integrity but also revitalised the school’s appearance – while remaining faithful to the building’s heritage.
Overall, the renovation of Houndsfield Primary School's roof is reflective of the strong planning, skilled team, innovative materials, and commitment to preserving heritage while embracing modern performance standards. With completion of the project achieved within four months, the 892m2 roof now boasts a strong traditional appearance, while delivering the performance required for a modern school environment.
