The roof is often the most striking feature of a building and can be the most original and least altered part of its fabric. In Scotland, a myriad of materials have been used as roof coverings from natural slate, stone, metals and fired earth tiles to heather, marram grass and broom for Highland thatching.
The purpose of the roof can be easily summarised which is to collect all rain and snow and shed from the building and increasingly important, offer a degree of insulation and prevent the spread of flame in the event of a fire. It must also be able to deal with the moisture that is generated within the building and environmental issues primarily wind which will cause materials to lift and tear and heat which causes them to expand and contract.
Rather less obvious and a surprise to many people is the fact that roofs can account for up to 40% of the total volume of a building and can be roughly equivalent to a storey and a half of the building’s height.
This day will look at the barriers and opportunities to preserve the character and appearance of our traditional roofs including skills and availability of materials.
Join us for an alternative Masterclass with opportunities to view demonstrations of traditional roofing practices and a chance to ‘have a go’ (so don’t wear a suit!). All PPE will be supplied (except for site boots)
See details here.