The UK is extremely fortunate to have a wealth of well preserved, historic buildings that attract visitors from all over the globe. To maintain these properties, a huge amount of work and money needs to be invested to ensure that they are still around for generations to come and for many to appreciate. But there are a few fundamental things that it’s worth considering in terms of heritage roofing which we will cover in this blog.
Protecting your roofing
In terms of roofing, failing roof tiles need to be replaced with new ones to safeguard the structure and interiors of these heritage properties. Moreover, these heritage projects are often far more complicated than installing a standard roof on a volume housing project. Manufacturers, architects and bodies such as Historic England often work together to achieve the desired end result.
The heritage roofing sector is dominated by clay, and it is common for bespoke tiles to be created for projects where the original roof design needs to be strictly adhered to and mass-manufactured products aren’t ideal for this. After clay, it is also typical for natural stone, natural slate and thatch to be used on heritage projects.
Heritage roofing contractors
Roofing contractors who have plenty of experience working on historic buildings will work with a high level of craftsmanship due to the high demands of heritage roofing. Heritage roofing is highly methodical and has to be carried out to specific standards, which indicates extensive planning is called for. Conservation boundaries need to be considered, with necessary analysis and documentation carried out. It isn’t just a question of building or restoring a house, then putting a roof on top.
Modern roofing tiles have been developed with a host of design features that make installation as easy and straightforward for the contractor as possible. Not the case with traditional roof tiles. They are frequently more tricky to fit and require traditional installation methods (such as using lime and mortar). This indicates that the pace of work is much slower, but an exceptional finish that is faithful to the original build is considered more important than a quicker installation.
Here at James Dunn Roofing, we provide heritage building renovation. We have the experience to preserve the original architecture and character of the property. James Dunn Roofing Ltd has over 35 years of experience in the restoration of classic buildings. Based in Oxford and servicing Oxfordshire, we have what it takes to renovate buildings with a long history. To find out more about what we do, please visit our website or feel free to contact us.