Over 30,000 of SSQ’s Del Carmen Ultra grade slates are being installed at the former St. Bernard’s Hospital building in West Ealing as part of a mass renovation, which will see 92 new properties created within the Grade II listed building.
Chosen in order to blend sympathetically with the traditional aesthetic of the building, SSQ’s 50cm x 25cm Ultra grade Del Carmen roofing slates are being nailed into place over 4,000 square metres of the renovated site, which is set for completion in November 2016.
Operations Director for property developers, Westcombe Group, Sunil Pankhania, said: “St. Bernard’s Hospital covers a very wide area, so it is essential that we get the appearance right, as it will certainly stand out. SSQ’s Del Carmen slates were not only cost effective, but incredibly aesthetically appealing too. The appearance of the slate complements the building very well, which is obviously important, given the listed nature of the property.”
Head of Marketing at SSQ Slate, Haroun El-Helw, said: “It’s encouraging to see that our Del Carmen slate has been chosen for installation on a renovation project of this nature – any work carried out on a listed building must be done with care and attention, with materials selected that will sympathetically complement the overall structure.
“Our Del Carmen slate has previously been selected for use by English Heritage and Historic Scotland, so we’re confident that it will suit the new development at St. Bernard’s Hospital perfectly. What’s more, we can guarantee that it will last for at least 100 years, ensuring the building will continue to look good for many years to come.”
SSQ’s Del Carmen slate is tested to NF228 standards – the world’s leading slate standard introduced in France which tests for water absorption levels, flexural and transversal strengths, density and the carbonate and non carbonate content. This independent testing procedure ensures that NF certified slates will not rust or leach and importantly, will not fade over time, meaning the slate can retain its appearance for years on end.
