Clay Pantiles TECHNICAL Q & A Tom Woodhouse, Site Services Manager at Marley, answers contractor queries about pantiles. Pantile roofs are a beautiful and iconic part of British architecture, particularly in certain parts of the country such as Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Humberside, the South West and some parts of Eastern Scotland. However, despite their good looks, traditional pantiles do have a reputation for being tricky to install to modern fixing standards. Below, we answer some common pantile queries: Above and below: The Eden pantile from Marley. 1What is the minimum pitch for a clay pantile? It really does depend on what tile you are using. Traditional machine-made clay pantiles tend to have a minimum pitch of around 30 degrees, while handmade pantiles can be even steeper. However, our new Eden pantile can be used down to a low pitch of just 22.5 degrees, giving contractors a low pitch traditional option, where up until now there hasn’t been one. If you need a lower pitch than this, there are several interlocking clay pantiles on the market that could be suitable. For example, our rustic Lincoln interlocking pantile can be used down to 17.5 degrees and our Melodie interlocking pantile has a very low minimum pitch of 12.5 degrees. So, there are a number of options for low pitch projects and if you need advice, our technical team can advise you on the best solution. 2Can I use a dry fix system with a pantile? Again, it depends on the tile you are using. Some handmade and traditional machine-made pantiles aren’t suitable for use with dry fix systems because they have deep and sweeping rolls, with natural variations in size, which means there can be gaps. However, both of our clay interlocking pantiles and our new traditional pantile, Eden, have been specially designed to be compatible with our Dry Fix systems. While BS 5534 requires all ridges and hips to be mechanically fixed, this doesn’t have to be dry fix. For some pantile projects, particularly sensitive refurbishments or projects in conservation areas, sometimes dry fix isn’t the right option aesthetically. In these cases, we offer a mechanical fixing kit to ensure BS 5534 compliance while maintaining traditional aesthetics. 3Do I have to install to BS 5534? The short answer is yes but, actually there are some special exceptions for heritage and historical projects, in which case you need to check with your local planning office first. However, for the majority of new and refurbishment projects, pantile roofs will have to meet BS 5534 fixing requirements, which means all pantiles have to be mechanically fixed with nails and / or clips depending on location and exposure. Some modern machine-made traditional pantiles do have nail holes drilled into them to make this a bit easier. However, our new Eden traditional pantile has been specially designed with subtle features to make it much quicker and easier for contractors to install it to BS 5534 requirements, including a specially designed SoloFix channel to make BS 5534’s two point fixing easier, a flat back on the rear of the tile so it doesn’t rock during installation and an enlarged nib for easier nailing. Whether you’re using an interlocking pantile, or the new Eden, using a one-piece clip and nail like SoloFix can save up to 30% on roof clipping time. 4Will an interlocking pantile be accepted by planning? It depends on the area and on what type of project you are working on. Our Lincoln interlocking pantiles have been approved for barn conversions in conservation areas and many planning departments across the country are happy for them to be used. However, inevitably there will be some projects, particularly heritage developments or sensitive refurbishments, where an interlocking tile won’t be accepted either by planning or for aesthetic reasons. Our Eden tile has been designed for these very situations. It is a traditional pantile, which even comes in a reclaimed colour for heritage projects, but it has some clever features which make it quicker and easier to install to modern standards. Yet, the design improvements are so subtle that it doesn’t compromise on the traditional character of the pantile, so it is suitable for use on all projects. Contact Marley 01283 722588 www.marley.co.uk @MarleyLtd 32 TC OCTOBER <strong>2019</strong>
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