Product category:
Roofing
News Release from: Sandtoft Roof Tiles | Subject: Hand made tiles
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 August 2005
Wealth of education under a Sandtoft
roof
Sandtoft created and supplied unique hand made tiles for Cambridge University's extension to its Grade II listed library building.
When Cambridge University decided to build an extension to its Grade II listed library building, it chose Sandtoft to create and supply the unique hand made tiles to top off the multi-million pound development Over 25,000 tiles have been specified by Architects Harry Faulkner-Brown Howe for the five-year project, which will convert Cambridge University into the largest open-access library in Europe
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 25 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The main library was designed in the 1930s by Gilbert Scott and to complement the style of the existing main building, it was essential that the roof tiles on the extension replicated the original Tegula and Imbrex tiles.
Nigel Dyer of Sandtoft's Heritage team said: "As the original roof tiles are amongst the oldest clay roof coverings and are long out of full production, we used traditional production techniques that would ensure a 'true' appearance".
"Colour matching was imperative to ensure the end product not only matched with the originals, but enhanced the local vernacular".
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"They are designed to also function as a usable component and be a protective covering." The Sandtoft Heritage team hand-made the tiles using alluvial clay prepared and sanded to suit.
A bat of clay was placed on a wooden former and hand formed using hardwood 'tampers' and 'floats'.
Each tile was then hand cut; adjusted where required and given a final sanding.
Sandtoft created special drying boards, which allowed the tile to shrink to shape, without placing any undue stress on the profile.
The kiln firing technique employed by the leading roof tile manufacturer hardened the tile to create a strong durable product while still retaining the hand-made qualities of the original.
A full technical fixing specification for this project was vital due to the nature of this historic bespoke product, as Tegula and Imbrex tiles are traditionally fastened using vertical battens, as opposed to the current methods of laths, nibs or clips.
It was also necessary to specify a desired gauged layout due to the close fitting of the tiles and their rigid alignment.
To meet the exact criteria specified by the architect for the scheme, traditional roofing industry skills were used throughout the project.
The work is part of three major building projects costing around GBP20 million in total, paid for by sources outside the University.
The majority of funding has come from Dr Gordon E Moore and a private donor with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The building developments will provide major improvements to the accommodation for readers.
These include enlarged reading rooms for users of the Library's most precious manuscripts and rare books, as well as a state of the art photographic and IT resources centre.
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