Rowlands Roofing helped restore Wales’ finest medieval hall to its former glory, which is why it won the Heritage Roofing category at the UK Roofing Awards 2018.
Built in 1420, the Grade I listed Llewn Celyn Hall, which is set in Brecon Beacons National Park, is considered by CADW to be one of the best surviving hall houses in Wales. However, the building had become dilapidated and in 2007 the Landmark Trust began raising £4.2m, including £2.25m from the National Lottery Fund to restore the building into an educational and exhibition space.
What Rowlands Roofing says
The apprentices were able to gain valuable experience of using stone tiles fixed on Cleft Oak Lath on elevations where the ceilings were exposed, as well as working on the rare Welsh Open Valley detail.
Workmanship
The team recorded and stripped the tile courses, with good stone tiles sorted for size and graded. The battening was a mixture of softwood and cleft oak in areas where the rafters were exposed. The sympathetic replacement of existing stone tiles required a meticulous approach to achieve an even course.
As can often be the case with these projects, sourcing enough reclaimed stone tiles for the remaining roof area was a challenge. Therefore, the team had to work with the local quarry to the new stones were cut to size and dressed in order match for the existing roof tiles. Because the site was exposed, Rowlands Roofing used BS 5534 to calculate the correct head-lap and side-lap.
Public engagement
Rowlands Roofing took the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills with the public during various open weekends, including talks and demonstrations about the methods of work and materials involved. A highlight was a day organised by the Wales National Roof Training Group funded by the Construction Wales Innovation Centre and CADW aimed at expanding the heritage knowledge of local roofing trainees and apprentices.
About Rowlands Roofing
With over 30 years in the roofing industry, we are experts in fixing and fitting all kinds of roofs, with specialist knowledge of restoring period properties as well as cutting edge contemporary designs. We are passionate about the use of reclaimed materials, having seen time and again how these can transform the look of a property. This technique not only provides an aesthetically pleasing finish that maintains and enhances the character of the property, it also reduces waste and is kind to the environment.
Complexity
Rowlands Roofing were tasked with removing the existing random diminishing stone tiles to allow major roof and structural repairs, before a sympathetic reinstatement of the existing tiles and sourcing matching tiles from a local quarry.
At a glance
- Project: Llewn Celyn Hall
- Roofing Awards 2018: Winner of Heritage Roofing category
- Client: The Landmark Trust
- Location: Brecon Beacons National Park
- Roof covering: Stone tiles (heritage)
- Roofing Contractor: Rowlands Roofing
