Glidevale Protect boosts sustainability at Swansea social housing scheme

A range of trusted product solutions from leading manufacturer Glidevale Protect has been specified and installed to help create energy-efficient and healthy homes by property development specialists Castell Group for use on a new affordable housing scheme constructed in Llansamlet, Swansea.

The Samlet Road development has seen the Castell Group create 35 new homes, comprising a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and 2 and 3 bedroom houses, for those who need it most, in partnership with social housing provider Caredig. The new build development has been designed to build on a fabric first approach and includes a host of sustainable features to improve the quality of the living spaces and ensure energy costs are reduced where possible, including integrated in-roof solar PV panels which have been installed throughout. Glidevale Protect was on hand to provide a combination of a high performance pitched roofing membrane and ventilation solution to meet the project’s specific requirements.

Glidevale Protect supplied products from across its roofing and construction membrane ranges, including the new Protect A1 Solar pitched roofing underlay. Protect A1 Solar is a high performance, heavy-duty type HR impermeable roofing underlay designed for use on all cold and warm pitched roofs where in-roof solar PV panels are installed. Used with the correct ventilation strategy, the underlay reduces the risk of interstitial condensation forming on the underside of solar PV panels.

To further reduce the risk of condensation forming in the roof space, Glidevale Protect also provided a selection of roofing ventilation solutions for the Samlet Road development. These included over fascia vents and rafter rolls to achieve low level ventilation at the eaves and the Protect Fulmetal UniRoll dry-fix ridge and hip system for high level ventilation at the ridge. The flexibility of Glidevale Protect’s roofing solutions enabled them to be installed throughout the scheme which comprises a mix of timber frame houses and flats as well as traditional masonry build apartments. 

The timber frame homes used on the development also feature Glidevale Protect’s low emissivity TF200 Thermo reflective external wall breather membrane to help achieve lower wall U-values and improve the thermal efficiency of the properties.

Supply chain collaboration was vital to the successful delivery of the scheme, with the technical team at Glidevale Protect working closely with specialist roofing contractor Alex Baul Roofing and the main contractor Castell Group to devise a suitable ventilation specification to accommodate the solar PV roofing elements. This development also saw Glidevale Protect work with established supply chain partner and manufacturer of the timber frame structures LoCal Homes, part of the Green Square Accord Group. LoCal Homes provides both traditional and closed panel timber frame systems, working with contractors and housing associations to create award-winning affordable housing that can be produced at volume and pace.

The use of local supply was also important on the scheme with both Protect A1 Solar and Protect TF200 Thermo membranes being produced close by at Glidevale Protect’s factory in Merthyr Tydfil. 

Commenting on the project, Donna Rosser, commercial manager with Castell Group said: “The use of solar PV panels throughout the Samlet Road housing development is a key feature and one that has been integrated specifically to improve the energy efficiency of the properties and contribute to lower fuel costs for residents. It’s vital that the roofing membrane and ventilation system works as efficiently as possible and the risks of any moisture ingress behind the solar panel arrays are minimised. We needed a robust solution and Glidevale Protect proved to be the perfect partner in terms of its wide range of roofing products available as well as the technical support and expertise the team brought to the table.”

Mike Doolan, sales and partnerships manager at LoCal Homes added: “Our ethos is built on partnership and collaboration and having worked with Glidevale Protect for upwards of seven years, we consider them a key supply chain partner. We chose to use Glidevale Protect products on this project because of their quality and reliability of performance. We work within a fabric first design and the excellent aged thermal resistance of Glidevale Protect’s reflective membranes allow us to easily meet the low wall U-value requirements of both our open and closed paneled systems.”

The scheme has been shortlisted in two categories, Building Project of the Year and Residential Property of the Year, at this year’s Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) Awards.

To find out more, visit www.glidevaleprotect.com, call 0161 905 5700, or email info@glidevaleprotect.com or follow Glidevale Protect on LinkedIn.