5,000 linear metres of SR Timbers’ graded PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten have been used in the recent refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Leeds. Built in 1890, the distinguished Victorian building is one of the city’s oldest and most recognisable landmarks.
The slate reroof was part of a wider renovation with NRA Roofing & Flooring Services appointed by main contractor Clegg Construction, to carry out this sensitive yet technically demanding roof replacement. The project’s scope included the complete removal of the existing slate covering and its reinstatement using high-grade natural materials, carefully selected to replicate the original detailing while meeting modern performance standards.
AccuRoof – the specification division within SIG Roofing – assisted with the selection of roofing products. The new roof was created using a breather membrane from Permavent, graded Premium Gold roofing battens from SR Timber, and premium-grade Spanish Slate SIGA 112s for durability and aesthetics from SIG Roofing.
The SR Timber PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten was specified as it meets the specifications outlined in BS 8417:2011+A1:2014 (preservation of timber) and is graded according to BS 5534:2014+A2:2018. Additionally, it is one of the few battens that has passed assessment by the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). The CCPI assists in the process of clarity for anyone purchasing construction materials like graded timber batten. It is driving the industry to a point where all product information provided by manufacturers, merchants or distributors is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date, and unambiguous. It gives buyers an increased confidence in the purchasing process.
The graded timber roofing batten provided support for 16,000 SIGA 112S Spanish slates, which were used on the project, a like-for-like slate ideal for the heritage roof. The SIGA 112s Spanish slate was sourced from the Leon Region of Spain. It is a smooth, dark blue/grey slate available in two thicknesses 5mm and 7mm, and numerous sizes. Due to its similarity to slates produced in the Vale of Ffestiniog, the SIGA 112s have been awarded Snowdonia National Park approval.
The result is a re-roofed structure that honours the past and secures the future, exemplifying true heritage craftsmanship. Shaun Revill, Trading Director for SR Timber said: “It is always great to see our PREMIUM GOLD® graded roofing batten being used on such a prestigious project. It was proposed for this project by the team at AccuRoof, who focus on ensuring compliance when specifying roofing products, so that the contractor NRA Roofing was assured of the performance and quality of the batten supplied.
“In a volatile timber market, we have seen lower quality batten enter the UK market, posing risks to both safety and performance. We do not want to see timber’s reputation as a sustainable and reliable construction material be damaged by cutting corners to focus on the lowest price and an increasing usage of ungraded roofing batten. It has become our mantra to ensure we promote the importance of only using quality timber batten, graded according to BS 5534.
“Prestigious projects like this one at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds are great examples of reputable roofing contractors ensuring they use the best possible roofing materials. The Yorkshire-based slaters from NRA Roofing leveraged extensive experience working on this project. They tackled challenging features, like the curved slating on the front elevation, which is an intricate and labour-intensive task that involved careful planning with string lines, precise grading and sorting of slates, adjusting batten spacing, and shaping each slate to recreate this design element. Well done NRA Roofing and thank you for choosing SR Timber PREMIUM GOLD® roofing batten for the project.”
