Roof with a view
Even in a county as striking as Cornwall there are views and then there are views. Admittedly, working on Cornwall’s flat roofs we are lucky in that we benefit from a more ‘birds-eye’ view than most, but even so when we were asked to contribute towards the refurbishment of Castle Gayer we got views in plenty.
Purchased by new owners in 2012, this fantastic property has uninterrupted views of St Michael’s Mount and across the bay. Its new owners, in conjunction with Koha architects and Cornish Heritage builders scheduled a number of improvements and renovations, all of which have been beautifully documented on the bespoke castlegayer.co.uk website.
Koha architects are a Penryn based architectural practice which specialises in designing “highly customised and elegant buildings that respond to the specific requirements of our clients and the unique context of a site.” Cornish Heritage builders specialise in “restoration, renovation and conversion projects and providing continuing high standards of excellence and workmanship for clients throughout Cornwall.”
In conjunction with the renovations, as approved Kemper system contractors we were asked to undertake some work on the main roof, balcony and garage areas. This required the use of two Kemper products namely: Kemperol V2 10 and Kemperol 2K-PUR liquid applied warm roof covering.
Kemperol V210 is a polyester based system which forms an elastic, seamless, yet highly vapour permeable membrane. Suitable for use on roofs and balconies Kemperol V210 is durable and tear resistant and can be used on complex structures.
Kemperol 2K-PUR is a solvent-free, odourless, wet-on-wet, fleece reinforced liquid roofing and waterproofing system. It has many properties in common with V210 but because it is solvent-free it is recommended for areas in which solvent-based products would be disruptive. Accordingly this product is widely used in schools and hospitals, in food preparation areas or plant rooms. With roughly 80% of the resins coming from the tropical castor plant which is a renewable resource, Kemper 2K-PUR is also recommended for eco-projects on areas such as roofs, balconies and terraces.
Both of these Kemper products are strong and durable and have good weather resistance; a prime consideration when the Cornish weather is taken into consideration. Interestingly they are also suitable for green roof projects, having good ‘root resistance’ and for ‘wet areas’ such as fountains and outdoor walkways. This project gave us the chance to work on an interesting property with a fascinating history and the added bonus of being able to get a new perspective on St Michael’s Mount in the near distance.
