Planning laws have become tighter around building in green spaces over the past decade. As a result, property developers are having to find new ways to create attractive rural properties that provide the right appeal.
In this effort, renovation projects, such as barn conversions, are increasing in popularity. This was the case at Skitham Lane in Preston, where a development team of JR Singleton and ALC Roofing converted a spacious barn into a semi-detached property, with CUPA PIZARRAS roofing products used as part of the extensive renovation.
Set within a small, private complex, the former barn represented a significant undertaking for the project team. For one, the building had begun to show its age, with certain structural elements beginning to deteriorate in terms of quality. Because of these concerns, the planning provisions for the conversion process required significant work, including the full removal of the structure’s roof, which the council believed to pose a safety risk. As such, the team from JR Singleton worked to strip the roof entirely, before handing the renovation back over to specialist roofing contractor, ALC Roofing.
Upon assuming control at Skitham Lane, ALC Roofing worked to install a modern, secure roofing system using CUPA PIZARRAS CUPA 12 slate as the roofing material. The non-carbonated slate, which is formed by tectonic compression, has a smooth matt surface and an average thickness of between 3.5mm – 6mm.
Visually, the slates, procured from CUPA PIZARRAS’ own quarries in northern Spain, helped to deliver upmarket optics across the build, while also matching the barn’s existing slate exterior. The roof and external walls are tied together to create a high-quality, characterful overarching aesthetic.
For Alex Cremona, director of ALC Roofing, the decision to choose CUPA PIZARRAS slate solutions was obvious. He said: “In my opinion, you can never go wrong when using CUPA PIZARRAS slates, which is why I use them exclusively on all my projects. You can always rely on the company to provide high-quality, visually pleasing products in a timely manner, which helps to make my job so much easier on-site.
“On a project like Skitham Lane, the company was able to provide prompt delivery on a large amount of slate, which took almost a month to fully install. Throughout this period, I knew I had the backing of the company, not only on product supply, but on a technical level as well, through my long-standing relationship with members of its customer-representative team.”
Speaking on the completed conversion, Andrew Singleton, director at JR Singleton, commented: “This was an extensive conversion project, which posed a series of difficult technical challenges, including issues with the roof. Throughout the build, we made it a core aim to work to retain the charm and character of the original barn, but in a way that ensured the property was also upgraded and fit for family living.
“We believe that we have achieved these goals and are proud of how the finished development looks. The natural slate supplied by CUPA PIZARRAS and used extensively across the completely refurbished roof played a big part in this effort. The slates have helped us to guarantee structural soundness and long-lasting performance, whilst also delivering strongly in terms of style.”
With the CUPA 12 slates in place, the project now benefits from long-term, maintenance-free roof performance. Due to providing a life span of more than 100 years, the high-quality Spanish slate represents a more cost-effective option than other roofing materials, that may typically only last around 50 years. Finally, as well as being resistant to damage from fungi, moss, insects, animals or birds, the high-quality slate is non-combustible and sustainable as a 100% natural material.
