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Converted Mill Apartments - Huddersfield

Concrete Artificial Roof Slate

Fibre cement slate roofing on converted Textile Mill apartment complex in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

• Commercial property development using modern man-made artificial slates
• Roof area: 980 metres square of roof (both buildings)
• The textile mill converted into high quality modern residential apartments for sale.
• Existing Yorkshire stone roof slates were removed and returned for salvage
• The existing rotten timber roof structures were stripped off and disposed of
• An internal steel frame and new roof timber structure was installed by the main contractor
• KK-Roofing Contractors installed the new roofing system and artificial slate onto the steel structure

Breathable Roofing Membrane

• A waterproof, breathable roof membrane is installed to provide secondary protection under the roof
• The membrane was trimmed to relevant sizes to ensure total roof coverage
• The roof membrane was intalled onto the new roof timbers using wooden battens fixed securely at the correct gauges.

Diminishing Random Effect Roof

• Gauges are based on the slate height with the largest concrete slates at the bottom and smaller slates towards the top - this gives the roof an attractive diminishing random effect.
• New, artificial glass reinforced cement slates were loaded onto the scaffold
• Our roofers secured these artificial slates onto the wooden battons using plastic slate pegs
• Battens and concrete slate tiles were laid in courses according to the manufacturers instructions. Instructions are based on:
  • The type of roof effect required
  • The selection of product
  • The local environmental conditions
  • The sizes of the slates
  The resulting effect is called a 'diminishing slate roof' where the size of slate diminishes towards the apex of the roof.

Windows & Gutters

• Commercial grade alumiumium seamless gutters and matching alumiumium down pipes were supplied and installed. The guttering has a deep profile to accommodate the anticipated large rainwater volumes based on calculations using the catchment area of the roof.
• Velux™ windows were 'trimmed out' (timber frames created to accommodate the rooflights) into the roof structure awaiting window installation.
• The Velux skylight windows were installed into their appropriate flashing kits installed into the pre-trimmed locations within the roof structure.

Lead and Leadwork Installation

• Sheet lead was installed in all roof valleys
• Lead aprons, soakers and flashings were fitted to all chimney stacks to coincide with the slate laying operation
• Ridge tiles were installed along the roof ridge and fully bedded in cement. The sides and collars of the ridges are skimmed with cement to prevent ingress of water.
• The strap verges are fixed in cement. These provide full weatherproofing to the verges (edges).
• Along the main mill building deep gully runs along where the two roofs slope down to meet each other. Into the gully we installed a lead gutter and ornate rainwater outlet feature. Our expert plumbers have the know-how and skills necessary to design, and create (form) decorative outlets from welded sheet lead. The outlet was then dressed (positioned) with integrated stepped flashings. This high quality installation ensures a long lifespan free of problems and full weather protection to the existing stone work and around the outlet feature.

Patio Flat Roof System

• A convenient flat patio roof that can be used by residents. The built up felt roof fully drains, allows human traffic and is designed to be an attractive social area
• The roof has a relaible 3 layer felt system with a top flagstone decking
• The roofing felt is fully bonded using a 'hot works' process where hot bitumen is applied to the entire flat roof area.
• Felt upstands were installed around the perimiters which aid/direct drainage of rainwater
• Ornate flagstones are installed onto the patio deck area
• 225mm Lead flashings is installed above the felt upstands and provide full weatherproofing for the roof

Storage Buildings

• Around the complex the main contractor constructed a number of small storage buildings. We installed matching artificial slate roofs as required
• Prefabricated roof trusses were supplied and placed in alignment, fixed and braced to form the new roof structure
• Breathable, waterproof roof membrane was trimmed to size, wooden battons were securely fixed at the correct horizontal gauges which mechanically fixed the membrane to the roof. Glass reinforced cement slates (identical to the Mill slates) were installed using plastic slate pegs.
• The strap verges were installed in cement to provide full weatherproofing.