Our surveyors spend much of their time identifying problems with roofs amongst other things so we thought that some hands-on experience would be worthwhile, and Julian, Paul Richard and Nathan enrolled on a one-day training course at BMI Redlands training centre in Cirencester to gain some real experience of building a roof.
We started by fitting the eaves ventilation system and then installing the eaves protection system.
Richard and Nathen setting out the eaves ventilation system and fixing to the rafters.
The next process was to set out and lay the underfelt and set the battens out correctly at the right distance.
Nathan supervised by Paul on the roof fixing the battens over the felt.
Once the battens are all fixed and the distance between the battens is right, we were able to start laying the tiles and spacing them correctly fixing by nailing to the battens.
Richard lays the first row of tiles making sure they are correctly spaced by “shunting” the tiles to space them correctly before fixing.
Almost completed to the ridge and then using a mechanical system to fix the ridge tile.
Our visit also included a fascinating tour of the factory starting at the beginning where the sand and cement are combined and the lines where the tiles are formed then checked for quality before being set aside to cure and ready for shipment.
Some great hands-on experience for all of us and a big thankyou to our trainer for the day Stuart and Richard for the factory tour.
On the way up the Cirencester the day before we took the opportunity to visit the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon. A great chance to see a wide range of products and modern methods of construction which we encounter from time to time such as ISC (Insulated Structural Formwork) where the outside walls of a building are made of hollow blocks of polystyrene which fit together then filled with reinforced concrete and outside finished in a variety of materials such as composite cladding or insulated render systems. One of the highlights was the Renovation House which has been specifically built with a range of defects often found in old buildings that need repair on one side of the structure and on the other side with the repairs completed. Again, a terrific opportunity to see the whole process of renovation from start to finish.
