Forticrete’s ‘crowning achievement’ for Taylor Wimpey
Forticrete’s unique slate tile solution, Hardrow Slate, has recently been used in a high value- project in one of the UK’s best preserved stone towns. The agreement saw Forticrete supply Hardrow, which provides the same architectural and aesthetic appeal as natural stone, to Taylor Wimpey’s brand-new housing development, Lamberts Place, in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
In total, Hardrow slate tiles were used on 40 roofs on the estate; a premium development consisting of a range of three to six bedroomed homes. As with any building project of this scale, the project came with its own unique considerations. Chief among these was maintaining the aesthetic of the local area.
Chris Pollard, area sales manager for Forticrete, explains: “Respecting the aesthetics of an area is of course a key concern for any new building work, but it’s especially important in regions which are synonymous with particular types of building materials – such as Stamford’s slate.
“Forticrete’s Hardrow solution is an attractive solution for the area. Not only is it in-keeping with the look of Rutland and the surrounding towns and villages, it is a fraction of the price of natural slate – making it the ideal product for use in high-value, extensive projects, such as Taylor Wimpey’s development in Stamford.
“What’s more, Hardrow’s manufacturing process is completely unique. While the base slate is machine made, the hips and valleys of the tiles – which gives Hardrow its distinctive look – are completely handmade. One of the specifications for the Lamberts Place development was that it should reflect the distinctive character of the wider town. Thanks to the unique way in which Hardrow is manufactured, and because no two slates are the same, we believe we have achieved this.”
Rob McLane, Assistant Site Manager for Taylor Wimpey’s Lamberts Place development, added: “Every project has its own individual set of challenges and requirements. For the Stamford development, we needed to ensure that the slates we used were not just high quality and durable, but also that they blended in with the surrounding housing – some of which has stood for decades. Thanks to Hardrow slate, we’ve been able to achieve that.”
Alongside large-scale housing developments, such as Taylor Wimpey’s project in Stamford, Hardrow’s versatility makes it the perfect slate of choice for architects, homeowners, self-builders and roofing contractors, regardless of the roofing applications they are using it for. Manufactured since 1928, Hardrow gives a genuine stone slate appearance and affords roofers extensive pitch capability. Hardrow slate is available in a wide range of sizes and colours and is kitemarked to BS EN 490 standards.
Be it new-build, repair, re-roofing or extension, Hardrow’s wide range of sizes, purpose-made fittings and colour combination make it a durable, cost-effective solution for an array of market sectors nationwide.
Read the full case study on our website.