A new chapter in waterproofing

Completed in 1910, Truro Cathedral is remarkable for a number of reasons. Not only was it the first cathedral to be built on a new site since the 1200s, the cathedral is also only one of a scant few in England to boast three spires. Perhaps more importantly for Cornwall, the presence of a cathedral means that Cornwall boasts the most southerly city in mainland UK.

Following the consecration of the main building, worshippers had to wait nearly sixty years before a chapter house was added in 1967. Now some fifty years further on, that building is undergoing a renovation as part of the ongoing cathedral renovation project.

Working in and around Truro the cathedral is a constant presence, soaring as it does above the city. At Pellow Flat Roofing we were therefore delighted to be invited by Coastal Construction to play our part in helping to ensure the continuity and stability of this magnificent building. In particular our flat roofing and waterproofing expertise was called on to undertake mastic asphalt repairs to a section of the chapter house roof.

As the mastic asphalt section on our website highlights, “When a smooth water proof coating is required, Mastic Asphalt fits the bill.” Not only that, because it is applied in liquid form it can be smoothed around protuberances such as pipes and ducts, giving an integrated waterproof finish even on uneven surfaces. This was particularly important when working on the chapter house roof as the presence of integrated roof lights brought a three dimensional aspect to the project.

Of course, working as we do in Cornwall any roof covering has to have good UV and thermal resistance properties. With summer sun and winter storms to contend with, waterproofing solutions have to be robust and long lasting. Here again mastic asphalt fits the bill and with the added benefit of having carbon zero status and being 100% recyclable, this product ticks many of the boxes. This project called for a mastic asphalt roof covering but it has many applications including bridges, walkways and car parks.

We’d like to thank Costal Construction for giving us the opportunity to work on a project associated with such an iconic building. We feel privileged to have played our part in the ongoing restoration of Truro Cathedral.