Call us now on 01356628560
Call us now on 01356628560
The impressive turrets on this stunningly designed Muir Homes development exemplify Forster Roofing’s high level of slating craftsmanship.
The exclusive 44 home development on the banks of the River Dee include 10 homes with conical turret features. 888 Cupa Galicia slates were expertly cut and installed onto the turrets of the Cairness house type. A further 744 were installed on the Dornoch and 456 on the Balmoral.
The main roofs of the homes were tiled with Mini Stonewold mockbond Charcoal and Farmhouse Red concrete tiles.
Having worked with them for a number of years, Muir Homes selected Forster Roofing for this project as a result of their experience and reliability in delivering sensitively finished projects and the high calibre of their slating workmanship.
The high quality finish, demonstrates Forster Roofing’s competence in delivering projects of this nature.
The beautifully crafted homes on this exclusive CALA development provided the ideal setting for Forster Roofing to showcase their exceptional clay tiling skills.
Sandtoft clay double pantiles and thin edged slate look-a-like clay tiles were specified to create a natural finish, adding to the beauty of these distinguished homes.
Forster covered the roofs of this 19 home development, which included the 190m² Ramsay and 180m² Lewis house types. The works involved extensive detailing. Features on several of the house types were finished with Sandtoft clay plain tiles to further enhance the beauty of the homes.
Forster Roofing have been roofing CALA homes since the 90’s and this stand out development which required enhanced clay tiling skills and labour intensity, exemplifies the high standard of workmanship that Forster deliver on all their roofs.
The Site Manager was subsequently awarded an NHBC Pride in the Job award for this development.
Architects Yeoman McAllister created a stunning design for this mansion house near Dunning in Perthshire. Forster completed the slating works which covered an area of over 1,000m², across 23 roof panels including a spectacular turret. Cupa Heavy 3 Spanish Slate was selected due to its rough surface and close resemblance to the traditional highland slate Ballachulish. 16 valleys and 5 mitred hips were expertly cut to create a striking roof scape. Due to the extended rafter lengths (extending to 9.7metres in locations) and steep pitching, special consideration had to be given to ensure safe working practices during the works.
Forster successfully delivered an 11 home solar PV retro-fit programme in Garmouth for Aberdeenshire social housing landlord Osprey Housing.
Eleven, eight panel (2kWp) solar PV systems were fitted, on the most southerly facing roof of each home. Due to the lack of southerly facing roof area on one of the homes a split south east/south west array was installed. SolarEdge power optimisers were connected to each panel to optimise the performance across the panels on both roofs.
Power diverters were also fitted in each home, meaning that any solar-generated-electricity not used by the resident, is diverted to heat their hot water tank, further reducing the amount of electricity they need to buy-in from their energy supplier during the day. “This is what really sold it to us”, explained Osprey Housing Energy Support Officer, Jane McWhirr, “as it means that all tenants will benefit, regardless of whether or not they are at home during the day. It was an ideal solution for these properties, which due to being off the gas grid, tend to have high electricity bills.”
The works were completed within a week as programmed, minimising any disruption to the residents. In order to help the residents maximise the benefit from the free electricity generated by the panels on their roof, Forster provided an eight page guide full of useful tips.
The eight panel systems could save the Garmouth residents as much as £200, depending on how much electricity they use during daylight hours. “One tenant said her weekly spend on electricity has already gone down from £20 to £15.”
“Forster have been a great contractor to work with,” said Jane, “they have been very open, with lots of information freely provided at each stage. Everything ran smoothly, with minimal disruption to tenants. Forster were flexible enough to work around our tenants’ availability and even provided each household with a user guide. It’s brilliant to hear that our tenants are already seeing the benefit of the new PV systems, and the improvement in the energy efficiency rating has meant that these homes are now meeting EESSH (Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing). Following the success of this, our first programme of PV, we are now considering rolling out PV programmes across other schemes.”
“We were delighted to be selected to work on this project, and it was really pleasing to receive such positive feedback from Osprey and their tenants” said Forster Energy Managing Director, Steve Scott. “PV provides a great solution for meeting the EESSH and tacking fuel poverty. It is cost effective and less intrusive than other measures and can have a significant impact on the Energy Efficiency ratings of homes and other buildings”.
The project was delivered through the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) Energy Efficiency & Refurbishment framework. “We are really pleased with how this project was successfully delivered, it’s a great example of our Energy Efficiency & Refurbishment framework working well. Forster demonstrate the excellence we strive for at SPA, they have effectively safeguarded our client and demonstrate a suitable opportunity to procure an energy efficiency solution,” said Clive Feeney, Head of SPA Operations.
Forster were offered the ideal platform to showcase their combined roofing and solar PV service on a mixed Barratt Homes East Scotland development of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and apartments in Edinburgh.
Solar Century 265Wp SunStation in-roof, interlocking panels have been fitted in conjunction with Russell Highland, Anthracite roof tiles on the first of three social housing apartment blocks. Five of the twelve arrays (one, eight panel 2.12kWp, two, six panel 1.59kWp and two, four panel 1.08kWp) have been installed to-date. Given the long roof elevation, careful consideration of the array spacing was essential to tie in with the roof tiles.
The arrays will provide power to the apartment block communal areas, including corridor and stairway lighting.
Barratt Homes’ modern, well situated, executive apartment development provided an ideal opportunity for Forster to further showcase their combined roofing and solar PV installation service.
Having worked with Forster for over 20 years, and following successful installations at the Devona Gate, Pinefield and Evolution developments, Barratt Homes North again selected Forster to install Solar Century’s C21e, fully integrated, 50Wp PV tiles on their ten block development in the centre of Aberdeen
Forster carried out all the PV installation works, including electrical and commissioning, in conjunction with the roofing works. Without any visible flashings or weather-proofing, the sleek, almost invisible C21e tiles marry perfectly with each course of tile, to create the ultimate in PV roof integration. To-date, three of a total of five, 128 panel, 6.4kWp arrays have been fitted in conjunction with Russell, Grampian Slate Grey roof tiles.
The arrays have been connected to the landlord supply, providing power to communal areas including the corridor and stairway lighting within the blocks.
The Victorian townhouse detailing and individuality of the Scotia homes (part of the Charleston new urban village development on the outskirts of Aberdeen) allowed Forster to showcase a range of slating and tiling skills. To-date, Forster have tiled and/or slated over 150 plots (including flatted blocks and a mix of housing) at Scotia’s flagship North East development.
The eclectic individual design of the homes – a standout feature of the Scotia homes – encompassed a mix of roof materials (natural slate, clay and concrete tiles), colours and detailing, including slating of a conical turret, mansard roofing and mitred hip slating on hips above dormers and bay windows. The extensive detailing and subsequent sequencing meant that the Forster slaters were required to work interchangeably with the other trades.
Our most experienced craft slaters were selected to meticulously cut and fix the slate to the mitred hip of the slated conical turret. The individuality of the homes presented a great opportunity for some of our ‘New Build Roofing’ apprentices to develop invaluable experience in a wide range of tiling and slating techniques.
This beautifully designed, 49 home McCarthy & Stone flagship retirement living development in Haddington provided a great opportunity to showcase Forster’s slating craftsmanship.
The development was McCarthy & Stone first using an off-site manufactured timber kit (until now all their projects have been traditionally built), and included a two storey, 46 home, H shaped apartment block and a row of eight terraced cottages.
The outward facing elevations of the 1,645m² roof of the apartment block and 568m² roof of the cottage block were expertly slated by one of Forster’s craft roofing squads, with 58,000nr. SIGA 35 Spanish slate. Forster also carried out the tiling works either side of the box gutter on the inside elevations of the apartment block (invisible from the ground). Several Forster apprentices worked on these tiled elevations.
Due to the specific ventilated ridge detail the zinc ridging had to be refabricated to a size of 18” (standard is 14”). The extensive detailing and subsequent sequencing of trades meant that the Forster slaters were required to work interchangeably with the flat roofers and plumbers.
Picturesque rural Perthshire is the setting for A & J Stephen’s traditionally styled country home development. The prestigious, flagship 42 home development designed by renowned Scottish architect James Denholm, showcases some outstanding slating craftsmanship. Dark blue/black, Cupa Heavy 3 slate was specified on this development to compliment the authentic, natural finish of the homes.
The 326m² Plot 18 roof is one of over a dozen plots slated by Forster on the development to date. Following discussion with Forster, Stephen adapted the specification to a smaller 300mm x 200mm slate size to suit the windy, exposed nature of the site and to blend in with the surrounding vernacular. Two of our longest serving craft slaters laid the 14,600nr. 300mm by 200mm and 1,245nr. 300mm by 300mm Cupa H3 slates – including the expertly cut mitred hips on the garage, front dormers and entrance porch roofs.
This 49 plot social housing development in Cowdenbeath provided the perfect opportunity for Forster Roofing to showcase their fully integrated roofing and in-roof solar PV service for volume house builder Bellway Homes.
Two (0.5kWp), three (0.75kWp) and four (1kWp) panel systems were installed, depending on the size of the house type. The GSE in-roof fixing system was specified to integrate with the plain tile roofing works. The roof and solar panel installation were delivered by the same roofing squad, who had received additional in-house solar installation training. This ensured continuity throughout the project.
The power generated by each solar array will be fed directly into the homes, thereby reducing the tenants’ requirement to buy in electricity from the grid, which will subsequently allow them to take control of their energy bills.
This well situated city centre development of executive apartments presented Forster with yet another opportunity to excel in their ability to combine roofing and solar PV installation services.
Having worked with Forster’s for over 20 years, and following their success on the previous Devona Gate and Pinefield sites, Barratt Homes again selected Forster’s to install fully integrated PV tiles (including all electrical and commissioning works) in conjunction with the roofing works at the Evolution development.
Russell, Grampian Slate Grey roof tiles were fitted along with 454 Solar Century C21e PV tiles on five of the sites 13 flatted blocks. This included a 172 tile (8.6kWp) and 144 tile (7.18kWp) array on the two prominent entry blocks. The electricity generated is being used to provide power for communal areas (ie corridor and stairway lighting) within the blocks.
We were involved in an exciting sustainable showcase development in Dunfermline in the Spring of 2012. The innovative project, a partnership between Kingdom Housing Association & Fife Council, involved 27 new houses which for three weeks in May 2012 became ‘The Housing Innovation Showcase’. The house designs and ground-breaking construction methods demonstrated the benefits of using these construction systems across mainstream affordable housing.
Forster installed Marley Solesia integrated roof PV tiles alongside Marley Duo Modern interlocking tiles for developer Springfield Properties on behalf of ‘Future Affordable’ who used a terrace of three homes to demonstrate how the 2010, 2013 Low carbon and 2016 Zero carbon Scottish Building Standards could be achieved.
The mid-terrace property, used to demonstrate how the 2013 building standard could be achieved was fitted with a 1.44KwP system using 16 number (90wP) PV tiles. The end terrace property, used to demonstrate how the 2016 standard could be achieved was fitted with a 2.88KwP system using 32 number PV tiles.
The discreet, integrated nature of the PV tiles was a big talking point throughout the Showcase and demonstrated how the government’s stringent carbon reduction targets can be achieved through the inclusion of roof PV, without detracting from the appearance of the building.
Involvement with the high profile Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village development provided us with the perfect platform to showcase our competence in delivering sensitive projects, present innovative product solutions and provide integrated solar PV services.
Forster were selected by Mactaggart and Mickel, one of the “City Legacy“ consortium of development partners, to deliver a ‘one stop’ integrated solar PV roofing and roof window installation service to almost a third of the 703 homes at the development in Glasgow.
Forster designed, installed and commissioned 1, 1.25, 1.5 and 2.25kWp in-roof and ballasted flat roof PV systems to 225 homes. Black trim 250Wp panels and an in-roof mounting system (for the pitched roofs) were selected by City Legacy to create a sleek design and finish for this prestigious development.
As the homes were designed with room-in-roof, City Legacy sought a solution as to where to position the string inverters. Forster found the solution, introducing our client “Mactaggart and Mickel” to micro-inverters which can be installed on the roof under the PV panels (instead of in the home). The micro-inverters’ control over individual modules allow them to isolate and tune the output of an individual panel, meaning a single failing module or inverter will not take the entire string offline.
Given the stringent build programme and high quality standards set, Forster’s track record of successfully delivering high calibre contracts combined with their ability to provide the solar PV works in conjunction with their roof tile and roof window installation services, ensured the contract ran smoothly.
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Email: enquiries@forstergroup.co.uk
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