WELSH SLATE COMPLETES A QUADRUPLE OF SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND

12 July 2021

Welsh Slate has completed the fourth in a series of primary school modernisations for South Lanarkshire Council.

Some 53,000 dark blue grey slates from Welsh Slate’s Cwt-Y-Bugail quarry in North Wales have been used to re-roof West Coats Primary School in a Conservation Area in Cambuslang.

The 16” x 8” slates and 16” x 12” county-grade slates-and-a-half from Welsh Slate, part of the Lagan Group, were installed by Forster Roofing Services as part of the £6 million refurbishment project for the council’s education services department.

Welsh Slate has also been used on the new-build Lamington and Abington Primary Schools as well as Leadhills Primary School and Lanark Memorial Hall.

The 1,600m2 roof area, including two mitred hip turrets, took 53,000 Welsh slates on lower and upper-level pitches of 41˚, 49˚ and 65˚ double nailed with copper over a boarded roof on the external visible roof areas, some internal panels and a new turret.

Steve Scott, managing director for Forster’s, said:

“Welsh Slate performed very well. It was quite a complex build that had to take account of a resident bat colony.”

He added:

“This was a distinct project, as it is a historical building with special periodic features including a zinc witch’s hat detail on the tower block as well as lead chimney ducts, and required complete stripping and re-slating of the main roof to help the building comply with the new building regulations.

“Careful planning of the new slate positions was carried out in line with Listed Building planning requirements. During stripping we carefully salvaged as much of the existing slate as possible and re-used it on the internal roof sections. Bat boxes and an entrance in the existing roof space had to be created to provide a shelter for bats.”

The 18-classroom school was constructed of sandstone walls and eaves, with black cast iron gutters and downpipes.

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