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Lightweight materials show their appeal as Vertigo delivers distinct aesthetic in London
A
s the trend for dry, lightweight con- struction continues to grow, so has demand for lightweight construction
solutions. One such solution is Vertigo, the first range of fibre cement slates on the market that have been specifically designed for use on vertical facades. A recent project in London demonstrated
how the innovative Vertigo system from Marley Eternit has helped to create a distinc- tive, contemporary dormer conversion. The home owner specified the Vertigo fibre
cement slates to create a clean cut, precisely engineered, slate panel aesthetic for his dormer loft conversion and roof extension, forming a contrast against the riven tiles used on the existing roof and differentiating it from other roof extensions in the area. The first of its kind in the UK, Vertigo
consists of small 600mm by 300mm slate like panels which can be quickly fixed onto battens, with the desired amount of insulation in between. The fibre cement slates perfectly adapt to the contours of the building, provid- ing a second protective skin. As the home owner explains: “There
are hundreds of similar roof extensions in Chiswick, all determined by the same stringent local planning requirements. We appointed PRS Builders to carry out a flat roof dormer conversion for us but we wanted something different, we didn’t want a ‘me-too’ extension. The idea was to create as modern an aesthetic as possible, using an innovative material, not the same type of vertically hung tiles used on other conversions in the area, but still working within the planning constraints.
“We originally chose zinc but it proved to
be too expensive and not eco-friendly enough. When we heard about Vertigo, we changed the specification as it offered the stand out aesthetic we were looking for but was a more cost effective and sustainable option.” The Vertigo slate range is very easy to fit
and has three different installation methods to give more design flexibility and freedom. On this project, PRS Builders fitted the Vertigo fibre cement slates using a panel installation, so that the regular bond panels give geometric precision. However, it can also be fitted using a traditional method of instal- lation, which gives a natural slate appearance with slate hooks or another option is broken bond, where panels are staggered to give a close boarded effect. The home owner adds: “We’re really
pleased with the finished effect, the extension blends in with surrounding roofscapes but at the same time, the Vertigo finish offers some- thing a little bit different - a distinctive, yet under-stated, aesthetic that sets ours apart from all of the other similar dormer conver- sions in the area.” Charlotte Hughes, marketing product manager from Marley Eternit, comments: “As architects, specifiers and self builders look to create stand out residential designs in urban areas, fibre cement is becoming an increas- ingly popular material, not only for the roof but also for vertical slating as it offers a strik- ing aesthetic, is lightweight and easy to fit. We developed Vertigo to give more flexibility to specifiers and designers who want to use fibre cement slates across the whole building enve- lope. This innovative method of vertical
slating uses invisible fixings to provide clean lines and a modern aesthetic and is perfectly suited to new build or refurbishment work.” Lightweight, weather and temperature resistant and available in eight different colours from blue/black to terracotta, Vertigo slates can be used to create beautiful, distinc- tive and elegant vertical cladding solutions for a full range of building types. Perfect conti- nuity between the roof and facade can be achieved by using Vertigo in combination with Marley Eternit’s Birkdale or Rivendale fibre cement roof slates. Vertigo also boasts superb sustainability credentials, helping to achieve environmental credits with a ‘very good’ BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing accreditation and its own Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Fibre cement also offers sustainability benefits throughout its whole life cycle, as it can be fully recycled at the end of its use. Waste fibre cement can be ground down and used to replace limestone and shale in clinker production, the essential ingredients for Portland cement. The options for architects using light-
weight materials are becoming greater, and in this case Vertigo has proved its versatility, blending a non-traditional material into a tra- ditional aesthetic. Fibre cement, alongside other lightweight materials will continue to be seen in greater frequency on buildings across the UK, as architects continue to seek effective ways of achieving stand out results.
01283 722588
www.marleyeternit.co.uk/vertigo
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF FEBRUARY 2017
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