A Queen’s Award in Innovation is made to Permavent Ltd for introducing and selling slate and tile roof designs.
Through them, weather resistance and longevity of slate and tile roofs are significantly improved.
The Easy Slate involved high impact plastic and rubber seals fitted under slates sealing them from wind-induced water ingress and separating tile surfaces to prevent capillary action.
Subsequent enhancements included side verges replacing concrete grouting which does not bond effectively with slate, seals for roof edges and for valleys between pitched roofs.
The commercially successful designs, tested at the Building Research Establishment, do not compromise traditional roof appearances. They’re suitable for building refurbishment and conservation, enabling construction of new buildings with lower roof pitches than previously possible.
