Dilapidated sheltered housing in the Whitchurch area of Bristol has been given a quality makeover using Cambrian Slate, a lightweight interlocking slate from Redland.
Parbrook Court, a council-run complex of five interconnected buildings containing 33 flats built in the 1970s to provide Supported Housing for Older People (SHOP), saw its appearance deteriorate badly as their fibre cement tiles failed.
“The roofs suffered from rainwater penetration and it was clear that continued patch repairs were not a substantial solution in the long term”, said Tom Hughes, Project Surveyor with Bristol City Council – Housing Delivery.
“We had to find a material that was durable and that looked like natural slate to satisfy planning, so we specified the Redland Cambrian Slate on several counts.
“It is made with recycled Welsh slate so the appearance and material was approved by the planning department. The tile has a life expectancy of at least 60 years, its three-point fixing system guards against wind uplift and it has a system guarantee of 15 years.”
Redland Cambrian Slates are suitable for a wide range of projects. Three colours are available: Heather, Langdale Green and Slate Grey – with Slate Grey also being available in a pre-weathered finish.
