Sandtoft tile proves alternative to local slate

Cassius, the large-format clay roof tile from Sandtoft helps major housebuilder maintain the aesthetics of a Welsh borders village.

For the development of 25 houses ranging from 2 bed terraces to executive 4 bed homes at Elm Tree Park, Llanymynech, Welsh slate would at first seem the obvious choice due to its widespread use on the village's established properties.

However the high cost of slate - both in terms of material and its installation - meant it wasn't the ideal option from a commercial perspective.

As a result, housebuilder Galliers Homes, began researching alternatives before being introduced to Cassius by roofing contractors, Roofrite (Shropshire) Limited.

This new generation tile offers an authentic slate appearance thanks to a realistic slate colour which is fired into the tile in the kiln, ensuring complete and lasting colour permanence.

Meanwhile, Cassius' large format, interlocking design and open gauge means it actually fixes with the speed and efficiency of concrete, resulting in dramatically reduced installation costs.

Nigel Clarke, Director of Galliers Homes, explains: "There are many issues to be considered when building in a village like Llanymynech.

It's not enough that you specify first-rate materials in order to create attractive, high-quality homes, you must also be sympathetic to the surrounding area.

At the same time, as a commercial housebuilder there is an obvious need to maintain margins.

"For these reasons, Cassius was the ideal choice as it fulfilled each of these conflicting needs.

It allowed us to replicate the strong aesthetics of slate at a fraction of the cost.

Plus, as a clay tile, Cassius won't fade like other man-made slate alternatives such as fibre cement or concrete".

Meanwhile, Nick Oldridge, Sandtoft's Director of Sales and Marketing commented: "Cassius is becoming an increasingly popular choice for housebuilders, thanks to its quality, its performance and its ability to deliver the best of both worlds in terms of slate's appearance with concrete's fixing costs.

And because it's made from clay, it also allows the specification of a slate alternative made from a natural rather than a man-made material.

This is a particularly important benefit when sustainability is so high on the political, economic and social agenda.".

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