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Case Study

Easy Slate Specified for Full Roof Replacement at Horatio House Following Primary Roof Covering Failure and Severe Water Ingress

Horatio House, Portishead

Horatio House, located at 24 Harbour Road, Portishead, is a vital community building that houses the Portishead Library and is closely associated with the Portishead Youth and Community Centre. Serving as a central hub for local residents, it provides access to library services and information about youth and community activities. Over time, the building’s original primary roof covering failed, leading to significant water ingress and internal damage. To preserve the building’s integrity and ensure long-term protection, a full roof replacement was undertaken. The project aimed to resolve the water ingress, restore the building envelope, and protect internal finishes. To meet these requirements, the Permavent Easy Roof System’ was specified for its exceptional waterproofing capabilities, to futureproof the roofing structure.

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Location

Horatio House, Portishead, Somerset

Requirements

The re-roofing project at Horatio House aimed to resolve persistent water ingress caused by the failure of the primary roof covering, which was previously a low pitch interlocking slate effect tile. To protect the building’s internal finishes and maintain its structural integrity, a full replacement of the roof was essential.

The solution was to source a roofing system compatible for a low-pitch slate installation and offer a cost-effective, durable solution suitable for the building’s large roof area. Permavent Easy Slate was specified to ensure a roofing solution that is both waterproof, durable and visually consistent with the original design, meeting the client’s requirements for both performance and aesthetics.

Why Permavent was chosen

Horatio House, located near the Bristol Channel, is exposed to a wide range of challenging weather conditions. The area experiences above-average rainfall and strong coastal winds, particularly in exposed locations, which frequently lead to roof tile/slate displacement and subsequent water ingress.

Given these environmental factors, selecting a roofing solution that could withstand such conditions was essential. Permavent Easy Roof System was therefore specified for its proven durability, weather resistance, and ability to provide long-term protection in coastal environments, as well as preserving a traditional aesthetic and enhancing overall flexibility and resilience.

How Permavent was installed

To accommodate the building’s low-pitch roof, the Easy Slate system was used, allowing the slates to be installed at the low roof pitch while maintaining compatibility with the structure and preserving a traditional slate appearance. All junctions, penetrations, and roof edges were meticulously detailed to ensure long-term waterproofing integrity and a visually cohesive finish.

The re-roofing of Horatio House successfully addressed the previous issues of water ingress. The combination of Permavent Easy Slate and Permavent Heavy Duty Butyl Tape enhanced the weathertightness properties of the roof further, by comprehensively sealing the multiple penetrations created by counter-batten fixings. restoring confidence in the building’s envelope and ensuring its continued service to the Portishead community.