Keeping a weather eye aloft

Few would disagree that the Roseland Peninsula truly justifies its designation within Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rugged cliffs and hidden coves provide ample opportunities for walkers and wildlife watchers as well as those who prefer to spend their leisure time on the water.

Those walking the Roseland coastal paths may be forgiven for being curious about a small building on the cliffs above Portscatho. Step closer and you’ll see that it is home to the National Coastwatch volunteers who keep an eye out for those who may be in distress in the waters along this stretch of coastline.

As a charity the National Coastwatch Institution deploys more than 2,400 volunteers in 54 sites around the UK. These volunteers look out for boats or water-sports participants who may be in distress and co-ordinate rescues where required. Clocking up over 262,000 surveillance hours in 2017, this charity is helping to protect lives around our coastline.

The charity’s Portscatho station has the reputation for being arguably the organisation’s smallest lookout. Indeed the National Coastwatch Institution’s website comments that “With three people inside, someone has to step outside if the chart needs turning over.”

Small or not, with the Coastwatch providing such an important safety service it is vital that whatever the weather its volunteers have a dry area from which to work. So when the flat roof on the Portscatho station needed replacing the National Coastwatch Institution turned to Pellow Roofing.

As you would expect from its exposed position on the headland the Coastwatch building takes a fair pounding from wind, rain and summer sun. The solution therefore had to be robust and provide good waterproofing cover whatever the Cornish weather. Danosa Danopol fitted the requirements perfectly.

With a high dimensional stability, high tensile strength and high puncture resistance the Danosa Danopol membrane is a good choice for flat roofs in exposed situations. It also has good UV and weathering resistance. Equally importantly given its situation in a natural environment, the Danopol membrane has very good root penetration resistance; meaning that seeds dropped by birds or blown by the winds won’t be able to take hold.

It was a pleasure to work on this project, helping to keep such an important safety service warm and dry. And as you can see from our photos, while we were working on the roof the Roseland Peninsula lived up to its reputation as an outstanding part of Cornwall.