Jul 21 2005
Housebuilders WE Black are generally faithful users of Eternit Building Materials' double-cambered natural clay plain tiles but they knew something even more special was required for the redevelopment of a country house in the Chilterns.
While one single house on more than two acres was demolished and replaced with only five new houses at Shootersway, Berkhamsted, they were keen that each had its own identity.
So while some of the roofs feature their usual choice - Eternit's Acme tiles - others feature two other types of Eternit tiles.
In addition to the Acme tiles in Century colour, the manufacturer's 150-year-old single-cambered Hawkins range in Staffordshire Blue and Dark Heather colours were used on some of the properties to give them an additional classical country home feel.
WE Black's Blegberry development comprises five three-storey, 3,500ft2 houses in a private gated road adjoining protected green belt land so the use of natural materials was particularly important.
Eric Gadsden, managing director of WE Black, said: “We use Eternit roof tiles very extensively on our developments because they work perfectly with the local Buckinghamshire bricks and the finished look gives a lovely mature feel to the scheme. They are a big plus for us when it comes to both selling and planning.”
Beaumont Roofing fixed the plain tiles to varying roof pitches including detached garages, alongside half-round ridge tiles, valleys and granny bonnets on the many hips as well as vertically on the side of some of the dormer windows.