Green Roofed Cliff-side Home in Pembrokeshire
Building a home within a designated area of natural beauty is never going to be an easy challenge. When you also add in the fact that it’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it can become an even bigger task.
This is what architects Kinver Kreations set out to do when designing this 3-bedroom home within the heart of the Welsh National Park. By working together as an experienced team, the architect Kinver Kreations, Flex-R – the UK’s largest supplier of EPDM – and Randell & Janes Roofing have overcome the many challenges on this unusual site to deliver a stunning installation.
The Project
A SSSI is a formal conservation designation and describes an area of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna or flora it contains. Gaining planning permission on a SSSI can be difficult and having worked on similar projects before Kinver Kreations knew it was essential to work closely with the Planning Authority to achieve a design that blended in with its surroundings but also met the client’s modern requirements.
The final design is a contemporary and unique low impact green dwelling with large walls of glass to capture the coastal views and a curved roof covered in living plants, giving the impression that the property is growing out of the hillside.
Why EPDM for this roof?
When it came to the roofing membrane, Kinver Kreations had no hesitation in specifying an EPDM product for this dwelling, having used it on some 50 or 60 previous projects. The final design features a large, curved roof with six rooflights and four chimneys to work around finished off with a green roof, getting the detailing correct would be essential to its success. Knowing the demands on this roof Flex-R recommended RubberBond FleeceBack.
Taking the tried and tested method also counted when choosing their roofing contractor. Kinver Kreations wanted assurances that the installation would be professional and backed by robust warranties and therefore decided to work again with Flex-R approved, local roofing contractor, Randall & Janes Roofing.
“We have worked with Flex-R and Randall & Janes Roofing on a number of projects and I know that the support will be there from start to finish. Flex-R and the contractor offered reassurances before the work even started, coming out during the quotation stage to make sure every detail was covered.”
Plan Ahead
Planning and preparation are essential when delivering a successful job especially on a restricted site. This was certainly the case at Cwm Mawr where access for the roofing contractors was on foot down a quarter of a mile of narrow track!
Flex-R worked with Randall & Janes Roofing and Kinver Kreations on every step of the project, advising on specification during the tender stage and visiting the site before work started to plan the installation with the roofing contractor. Graham Matthews from the Flex-R technical team was also on hand throughout the project to provide on-site assistance and support.
The installation
Flex-R specified a fully bonded AVCL which the roofing contractor was able to lay on to the ply deck in a single day, providing a temporary waterproofing solution while the rest of the roofing works were completed. Randall & Janes Roofing prefer working with the 45m2 rolls of RubberBond FleeceBack, some of the largest rolls on the market, which can cover sizeable sections of the roof at a time.
When working in an area which presents roofers with some of the most challenging weather conditions in the UK it’s important to plan your roof and protect your work as you go. Following advice from Flex-R, the contractor split the roof into four areas, working on 3m sections at a time. This allowed them to install and waterproof each area and create secure night seals, protecting the completed works and preventing the insulation from becoming wet.
Randell & Janes Roofing applied a glass tissue faced PIR, spray applied polyurethane adhesive before installing the RubberBond FleeceBack membrane. The product leaves few seams allowing the building to be waterproof in less time whilst still maintaining a high-quality finish. Drainage and pipe seals were applied to the upstands.
Randell & Janes Roofing are Specialist Registered Installers (SRI) and have worked with RubberBond FleeceBack for over 10 years. Their experience and local knowledge of the area was essential when working in such an open and exposed location and with multiple detailing points. Flex-R work hard to build an ongoing relationship with their roofing contractors and ensure installers are fully trained, supported and confident when using their products.
Collaborative working
Working together has helped to deliver on this project and Kinver Kreations couldn’t agree more.
“Working with Flex-R and the roofing contractor were so important on this project. The experience of Randall & Janes Roofing, their extensive knowledge of the product and the support from Flex-R made every stage of the project so easy for us. Through collaboration we’ve achieved an excellent result for the client that looks stunning in this setting.
“RubberBond FleeceBack has been the ideal product on this project, due to the flexibility of the product it has met the tricky challenges on this roof perfectly and because it offers superior protection and long-term durability it can meet whatever coastal weather is thrown at it.”
For help with your project, call us on 01494 448792, email [email protected] or use our contact form.
Aerial Photography by Kinver Kreations. Used with Permission.
