WITH FIBRE CEMENT slates becoming an increasingly popular choice of roofing material, Glidevale Protect can help professional roofing contractors reduce labour time and the risk of condensation thanks to its extensive range of specialist underlays.

Many contractors have traditionally paired fibre cement slates with a low resistance (LR), vapour permeable, breather membrane which necessitates the use of counter battens to reduce the build-up of condensation and achieve compliance with BS 5250 management of moisture in buildings code of practice.

To help save time and money by removing the need for counter battens, Glidevale Protect is encouraging contractors to consider the alternative use of high resistance (HR), vapour impermeable, non-breather membranes with its specialist roofing and technical teams on hand to provide full technical support.

Solutions for Fibre Cement Slate Roofs

The challenge of using fibre cement slate tiles is that the smooth, attractive uniform appearance which makes them so popular also means that this type of roof covering is classed as airtight or air impermeable. As a result, ventilation must be factored in to reduce the risk of condensation forming in the roof space.

Although ventilation at high level or below the membrane at low level is still required to achieve compliance with BS 5250, when used with a fibre cement slate roof, a HR impermeable underlay does not require a ventilated counter batten space and the membrane is designed to prevent moisture transferring to the underlay and reaching the exterior layers above the membrane. Solutions such as Protect A1T3 Plus, A1 and Wunderlay non-breather underlays from Glidevale Protect are ideally suited to this type of application, helping to save both labour time and material costs.

Alternatively, Glidevale Protect can advise on the most suitable type of vapour permeable LR underlay to use with a fibre cement slate roof, and can provide help with ensuring the correct use of counter battens and provision of a ventilated space above the underlay to achieve compliance. Popular product solutions such as Protect VP400 Plus LR, VP300, VP200 and Zytec can all be relied on to achieve a well-protected roof space in both hot and cold roofs.

Solutions for Solar Roofs

Similarly, in the increasingly growing market of PV, where in-roof solar panels are being used, the roof covering should be classified in part as impermeable. Again, the same rules for ventilation would apply. Glidevale Protect has a number of trusted solutions to reduce risk of condensation forming on the underside of the solar panel and to help protect against rotting timbers.

With a HR impermeable underlay such as Protect A1 Solar, counter battening would not be required but ventilation at low level below the underlay and at high level would still be necessary. Other Glidevale Protect pitched roofing membranes such as vapour permeable, type LR underlays can also be used in conjunction with in-roof solar PV panels, however counter battening would be needed.

Thanks to the manufacturer’s extensive range of both LR and HR roofing underlays, Glidevale Protect is well placed to give roofing contractors tailored advice to suit their individual project requirements.

For further technical support and ventilation guidance, contact Glidevale Protect’s technical team at info@glidevaleprotect.com or view Glidevale Protect’s Roofing Underlays brochure online.

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