Roofing of a 17 - 25 degree roof on a G2 Listed cottage

[L1zzy]

Does anyone have any experience of a using manmade slates? I'm in the process of working with a conservation architect on replacing an existing 1970's extension with asphalt roofing with something made of either oak or Douglas fir. The main issue we seem to be facing currently is that I have a very low pitch (17-25 degrees max) on the existing roof and the roof of teh main cottage has a slight twist to the pitch. The architect and builder have both said man made slates can look ' uncomfortable' Any thoughts/comments welcome

 

[biffvernon]

A shallow pitch like that makes it suitable for a 'green roof' - waterproof membrane, earth, flowers. Very pretty.

 

[Gervase]

That's a very shallow roof, so ordinary slates are certainly off the menu - but I'm with your architect on the ersatz variety - they tend to look like slightly shiny cardboard, and don't really suit old buildings.
The heavier, thicker stone tiles, like Pembrokeshire heavy slates, would look nice, particularly with gradd sizes to reflect the twisted pitch of the main roof.
Or what about good ol' corrugated iron - it's been around since the 1850s and is a good, honest material. A coat of red oxide, or just leave it to go grey, and it can look rather nice. I'm a fan of zinc, too, with the standing seams. A lot cheaper than lead (which is another alternative) and eminently weather-tight. It's light, too, (like the corrugated iron) if the dimensions of the timbers are an issue. Or there's copper (not as cheap these days) which can weather to some striking colours.

 

[Nemesis]

For uncomfortable - read pretty nasty really.

 

[Me!]

I know someone who used some man made slates and sprayed them a few times with a very weak solution made from compost or manure. Within a couple of years they were covered in lichen, and were a much better match with the originals.

 

[Lime]

I know someone who used some man made slates and sprayed them a few times with a very weak solution made from compost or manure. Within a couple of years they were covered in lichen, and were a much better match with the originals.

My observations of man-made slate is that anything and everything grows on it after a while.
The surface deteriorates and gives plants a root-hold I suppose.

I don't like the look of them at all and they can be seen for what they are at any distance.

 

[L1zzy]

Thankyou to you all for your responses - sorry I have got the flu so have only just got around to reading them. I greatly apprecaite the green roof idea and also the corrugated roofing idea too as these seem to fit most with my own thoughts too. Sadly said architect i have 'let go' as we seemed not to communicate too well and i wanted more solutions than problem notification! if you know what I mean - I have now contacted DCRS (dorset rural Skills Centre to see if they can recommend anyone. If anyone on here knows of an architect eco friendly and conservation minded in dorset I'm on the hunt.man made slates sound horrid. :shock:

 

[Craig]

Thank you for mentioning the Dorset Rural Skills Centre - I have never come across this place. What a great place!

 

[L1zzy]

Hi Craig - Happy to promote this group as they are a great bunch and Rob Buckley is always helpful - he was in teh Independent last week - an articles on Sustainable building. I went on one of their lime Pointing days at Corfe Castle last year - excellent. I can't tell if you're Dorset based but if you are they sell Lime Putty ,Eco paints etc. Go visit.

 

[thiambal]

OK, lets be clear.....Man made slates look rubbish!

I'm a fan of zinc, too, with the standing seams. A lot cheaper than lead (which is another alternative) and eminently weather-tight.

If done properly no doubt that is true, but I know of one zinc roof on a very prominent building that they have never yet managed to get water tight!

 

[Nemesis]

I seem to recall Tower Bridge has zinc for a roof - or at least originally it was supposed to have (when Horace Jones was the architect, although his plans were altered after his death).

 

[Matey Plumber]

Confused - what is man-made slate?
To some extent all slates are man made in that they are dug out, cut, split and trimmed but they were formed initially by geological forces.

Other things are usually tiles aren't they?

Matey Plumber aka Pedantic Slateophile

 

[thiambal]

Commonly accept term. Man-made as opposed to natural slate

http://www.cembritblunn.co.uk/roofing.asp

 

[Nemesis]

'Contessa slates will last the life time of a building if installed correctly and have been widely used on major projects such as supermarkets, schools, hotels, city offices and prestige buildings.'


Well, how long is a lifetime with a modern building?

Discuss...

 

[Moo]

At least that's more precise than the 'lifetime guarantee' one gets with things like saucepans. I've often wondered whose lifetime they mean.

 

[Becka]

I'd never believe a 'lifetime guarrentee', my ex's dad ran a hairclip selling business which gave every clip a 'lifetime guarentee' if challenged on it he just replied 'yes, guarenteed for the lifetime of the clip :O)' which wasn't long at all, at least in my unruly mane, bout 2 weeks at most generally (though i got mine free so i didn't complain ;O) )