Brazilian Slate Roof Complements Surroundings

Overview

This four-bedroom home is situated in Lewes, Sussex. It was originally a barn comprising three flint walls and an asbestos roof. It was converted under Class Q, a change of use of an agricultural building to a residential dwelling. The goal was to create a beautiful, well-insulated home that was inexpensive to run, yet in keeping with its surroundings.

The original design was created by an architect, and whilst Southern Living stayed true to the proposed design, there were a few practical and aesthetic tweaks made. The main one was that the original proposal included a zinc roof, which the contractor felt was out of context with the 300-year-old flint walls, which are also prevalent on the main house on whose grounds it originally was part of. In consultation with Andrew Lund at the SIG Roofing branch in Lewes and after reviewing a number of different slates the Brazilian greenish slates were chosen to complement all the other natural materials and the surroundings.

Flint Barn before

The new house design incorporated a large steel frame to support the weight of the new slate roof. Everything was fabricated on site. The flint walls were attached to the frame, as opposed to the frame resting on the walls, so there was no danger of the original structure having to support such a huge roof or being put under further strain.

The detailing on the house is quite unique, with Southern Living having designed the interior as well as the soffits and fascias, which were fabricated in a small workshop on the farm from galvanised steel to continue the agricultural theme and to complement the colour of the slates the flint walls and the sweet chestnut cladding over time.

The property was also fitted with a heat pump, underfloor heating, and solar panels to minimise energy costs.

Southern Living is a Brighton-based building company that specialises in design-led construction for both residential and commercial properties, offering a full range of services to clients across East Sussex.

Products Used

The Brazilian slates from SIG Roofing were selected for their greenish colour, which complemented both the flint walls of the structure and the surrounding countryside.

Circa 3000 slates were purchased to complete the 154 m² roof. The slates’ competitive price compared with Welsh slate was an additional attraction, and because they were available from stock at the local SIG Lewes branch, timely delivery was straightforward.

Summary

This was the first slate roof undertaken by Southern Living, and they were delighted with the result.

Kevin Mills, Director of Southern Living, Brighton, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with the SIG Roofing branch in Lewes since I started my business back in 2010. I still enjoy purchasing from Andy Lund at the branch because they understand roofing, can offer practical advice and an overall great service.”

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