A private art gallery in Betws Y Coed has been roofed using CUPA R4 natural Spanish slate, selected by the client and their contractor on the basis of appearance, performance and cost, as well as their ready availability through local stockists.
Work on The Galeri was begun by the owner some three years ago, with locally based Willparr Roofing being tasked with sourcing and installing the thousands of new slates required to weather a structure featuring a dormer window, the valley junction to an existing pitch, and other challenging details.
Widely experienced in heritage roofing projects including churches and even a castle near Chester, Meurig Williams’ career stretches back over four decades to when his company bought slate direct from the Blaenau Ffestiniog quarries.
Now, however, like other contractors and specifiers he finds the cost of any locally produced material prohibitive, while CUPA PIZARRAS offers excellent value for money, and has made natural slate more affordable again.
Crucially, though, CUPA R4 from CUPA PIZARRAS, is one of the few such materials approved by the Snowdonia National Park authority for use in this unique location.
Meurig Williams recounted: “For the Galeri in Betws Y Coed we used 20” x 10” (metric equivalent: 50cm x 25cm) and secured them all to the tiling battens with copper nails; working round the ‘outrigger’ window with its small valley either side, and the main valley where the new building adjoined the house.
“I like the CUPA PIZARRAS slate because it is easy to cut and work while you get fewer breakages than with Welsh slate. Customers also find it far more affordable and of course it has the approved status from the Snowdonia National Park. Since we completed the Galeri roof, the local stockist – Huws Gray – has included photographs of it for their promotional literature; and we have gone on to use CUPA R4 and other CUPA slates on a number of other projects.”
The roofing sector manager for Huws Gray, Jamie Hicks, added:
“We have been buying slate from CUPA PIZARRAS since the Millennium and have built up our sales of the material year on year. Importantly we know we can rely on the quality of the slates as well as deliveries and technical support.”
PRODUCT USED: CUPA 4
Non-carbonated slate formed by tectonic compression. Blue black slate with thin laminations and a smooth surface.
Other case studies
More than 250 roofs are installed per day around the world with our slate.
Natural slate CUPA PIZARRAS has been highly valued by architects and has been selected for important projects within many cultural and historic buildings of interest, modern architecture or the construction or renovation of traditional housing.
Other case studies
More than 250 roofs are installed per day around the world with our slate.
Natural slate CUPA PIZARRAS has been highly valued by architects and has been selected for important projects within many cultural and historic buildings of interest, modern architecture or the construction or renovation of traditional housing.
If you have any questions, our experienced team on slate is at your disposal.
