On-site
training, top quality workmanship and a market-leading 15-year guarantee led
Trivallis, one of the largest social landlords in Wales, to choose the
free-of-charge roof specification service offered by Redland – the UK's leading
manufacturer and supplier of pitched roof systems – when it needed to re-roof
the Maerdy estate in Rhondda, South Wales.
Built in
the early 1960s, the 96 properties on the Maerdy estate were due for re-roofing
having reached the end of their design life, explains Lee Tapper from
Trivallis, Surveyor and Clerk of Works on the project.
The
decision to involve Redland and its SpecMaster service was common sense, he
says.
"The
service ensures that we meet the current British Standard, we get the technical
advice that we need and we get the guarantee from Redland which means we know
we don't have a problem with the roof for 15 years. We know that our properties
our watertight and that our roofers know exactly what they're doing”, Lee says.
This
element was particularly true for this project because the specification was
for Renown tiles in Breckland Brown fixed with nails throughout, but reinforced
on the first five or six courses with Redland's own award-winning fixing, the
Innofix Clip to guard against high winds.
"I'd
been to South Cerney and been trained in how the Innofix Clip worked but my
operatives hadn't - and there were too many of them to take up there",
says Damien Lobb, Contract Manager with the roofing contractor, Jefferies
Contractors. "So Redland sent down one of its training staff on our first
day on-site to show our teams how it worked and that was very beneficial".
While the
roofs were installed, the Redland Specification Manager visited the site
regularly to inspect the quality of the work and provide any further technical
support as required. In Damien's opinion, the service provides security and
peace of mind for both the client and the contractor.
"It
reassures the client that we're carrying out the work to the right
specification and it reassures us too, because we know we're following the
correct specification and so it's all under warranty", he says.
Developed
for architects and professional specifiers, the SpecMaster specification covers
every detail of the complete roof – including slates, tiles, fittings,
accessories, fixings, ventilation, underlay and battens – and covers every
aspect from the tiling, performance specification and British Standards
compliance to best practice for flashings and carpentry.
To
simplify Damien Lobb's ordering, the specification comes with all the relevant
Redland product codes and a material list to assist quantity surveyors and
contractors. It is also compiled in an NBS-based format so it can be readily
incorporated, along with other relevant NBS sections, into a formalised project
specification.
SpecMaster
specifications comply with all current and relevant British Standards, meeting
the requirements of BS 5534:2014 (Code of
practice for slating and tiling); BS 8000:2013 – Part 6 (Workmanship on
building sites. Code of practice for slating and tiling of roofs and
claddings); and BS 5250:2011 (Code of
practice for control of condensation in buildings)
