Cefil UK’s single ply membrane has been chosen by architect Rodić Davidson Architects to waterproof a custom-designed and built home in the Kent headland of Dungeness.
The company says the recently completed North Vat is the best example of new architecture in the region since Conder’s rubber-coated wunderobjekt and Nord’s tarred Shingle House.
Shepway District Council allow architects to reinvent what exists in Dungeness if they follow the pitches, ridgelines, and footprints of what they are replacing. North Vat replaces an existing fisherman’s cottage in Dungeness’s unique shingle landscape.
The house was conceived as a cluster of small shed-like structures, referential to the local vernacular of pitched roof huts scattered along the beachfront.
In addition to providing the waterproofing covering, Cefil’s Integrated Fixing Point (IFP) UK was also asked to provide a unique detailing solution enabling the client to clad the entire building in timber.
Fixed at carefully designed centres, top hat profiles were then attached to the fixing head of the IFP, to which the timber cladding was attached, creating the visual effect conceived during the project’s design. The IFP is a low-profile (45mm) fixing point, used to attach a variety of items to a roof structure without impairing the waterproofing.
It uses the simple principle of a washer to mechanically seal the flange. The membrane flange becomes the washer, meaning there is no need for any gasket, glue, sealant or other perishable part, and the seal will last as long as the membrane. This principle has been tested to air pressures of 2 bar with zero drop, rather than uncontrolled compression of the flange, this has been developed under constant pressure technology. This mechanism ensures that the membrane is sealed and subjected to a controlled compression that remains constant even when under loadings such as the wind uplift expected in Dungeness. All forces applied to the fixing point are transferred directly to the fixing plate without affecting the roofing membrane flange. Bespoke details were also designed for the low profile rooflights, using Cefil laminated metal to produce robust weathering details without compromising the sleek design.
Cefil’s technical team worked closely with the architectural team to provide robust solutions to some challenging details. Bespoke ventilation details to the gutters and chimney stacks were utilised within the seamless design to ensure a hidden, but essential, component of the design. The last challenge was presented by roof windows, designed to be almost flush with the flat roof membrane and in-line with the pitch of the roof. Even more challenging was the inclusion of ventilation details to these windows. By working together with all the trades and incorporating specialist knowledge from all disciplines, the finishing touches to this unique project were provided.
