The marketing of pitched roof underlays should avoid the phrase ‘easy to install’, which is subjective and varies by experience.
Roofing is a skilled trade, and the term can wrongly suggest that an underlay can be fitted without expertise. For this reason, the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) lists it among phrases to avoid. However, products can still highlight features that make them practical and user-friendly for professionals.
A case in point is the re-roofing of St Mary’s Barton in Headington, Oxfordshire. Built in 1958 by noted architect NF Cachemaille-Day, the church holds architectural significance, so repairs required careful specification. Speakman Roofing, contracted for the project, selected Proctor Air® as the preferred underlay.
Director Andrew Speakman said: “We use Proctor Air on nearly every project. It’s cost effective because one product covers all eventualities. More importantly, our installers like using it – it gets all the little things right.”
Installer feedback plays a vital role in product perception. As Proctor Group’s Will Jones explained on the Proctor Podcast, certification shows a product performs as claimed, but ‘you can’t appreciate it until you’ve tried and tested it in the field.’ Feedback informs manufacturers, prevents product rejection and influences future specifications.
Proctor Air is valued for being lightweight yet strong, supporting safe installation. Beyond usability, it delivers technical performance: high air permeability and low vapour resistance, reducing condensation risk and avoiding roof vents – a key advantage for heritage projects like St Mary’s Barton.
