Good value, ease of installation and first class appearance, were all key to the specification of Cembrit Moorland Fibre Cement Slates on a new housing development in Somerset. Built by Barratt Homes, Wyndham Park, consists of 2, 3 and 4 bedroomed properties, suiting anyone from families, to young professionals.
“Cembrit’s Moorland slates were specified to provide a natural yet modern look, essential for this new housing development, which is in the heart of the countryside,” said Alan Bray, commercial manager at Barratt Homes. “We are familiar with Cembrit products, and know what can be achieved after having the slates installed on a number of our other projects. This development has a mix of external wall finishes, both painted and facebrick. The blue/black Moorland slates are adaptable and look aesthetically pleasing against both.”
The 125 homes were finished in October 2012, and Cembrit’s Moorland fibre cement slates blend in with the scenic location, thanks to their natural dressed edge which creates a similar finish to natural slate at a lower installed cost. They are manufactured to the highest European standards and are suitable for all types of projects and easy to handle and install.
Moorland slates are manufactured pre-holed using Portland cement together with a formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres, making them lightweight and durable. They are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges and a tinted, high performance binder to the back face.
Moorland slates are manufactured in accordance with a quality assurance system to BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 and to the requirements of BS EN 492: 2004 product specification for fibre cement slates and their fittings. The slate has been awarded the BBA Certificate No. 03/4041. Moorland slates are manufactured in a factory which complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 14001: 2004, and has been awarded BV certification, no. 11000072.
Cembrit’s fibre-cement slates are compatible with most common building materials and exceed the strength requirements of Class B (the highest) of BS EN492: 2004 giving an average bending moment greater than 50 Nm/m. They show satisfactory frost resistance after 100 freeze/thaw cycles and during tests, have been found to have a good resistance to chemical attack, as well as vermin and rot proof. The acrylic coating of the slates will reduce the potential growth of moss and lichen.
To add to their impressive list of accreditations, Cembrit has been awarded Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its range of fibre cement roofing and cladding products. Valid for 3 years, the declaration complies with ISO 14025 and follows a life cycle assessment by the European Institute for Construction and Environment. It is an independently audited open-book with an abundance of documentation on the product, its life-cycle, ecological footprint and emissions.