Preserving Cornwall’s Heritage

One of the best aspects of our work as Cornwall Flat Roofing and waterproofing specialists is the variety of projects which we are called on to undertake. One minute we are creating an elegant balcony for a new build project, the next we are repairing or renewing the flat roof of a commercial building. And the next call may be asking us to tank a basement, to line a pool or to waterproof the base of a new wind turbine.

But there are some jobs which stand out, particularly when they involve helping to preserve Cornwall’s heritage. This was the case when we were asked to undertake some work at the King Edward mine on the outskirts of Camborne. Not just important in Cornish terms, King Edward mine is also part of a world heritage site, being the oldest complete early twentieth century mine site left in Cornwall.

Thanks to a number of grants from a range of bodies including the European regional development fund and the Heritage lottery fund, over the last couple of years King Edward mine has been undergoing a new lease of life with further works ongoing. Phase 1 of the conservation and renovation project was formally completed in September 2015, with HRH Prince Edward formally inaugurating new business units which had been created within existing buildings on the site.

Our current involvement with the site requires us to waterproof and insulate flat roofs in areas such as the survey building, boiler house and main museum. Working on any flat roofing project requires a careful choice of waterproofing product to ensure that it meets both the required specifications and also is sympathetic to the overall design. This is particularly important on a heritage site with Cefil membranes being chosen for this project.

Cefil UK provides market leading waterproofing systems which are sustainable, watertight and have good fire resistance properties. They are dimensionally stable and, important in the Cornish climate, have superior UV degradation resistance. Cefil products are environmentally friendly, being produced in line with the ISO14001 environmental management system; with a long life expectancy and can be recycled at the end of their useful life.

The ongoing King Edward mine refurbishment not only provides business units, its museum also tells the story of tin and copper mining in Cornwall. We are proud to play our small part in helping to preserve one part of Cornwall’s heritage for future generations.