Creating a rural idyll with a mixed colour blend of handmade clay roof tiles

 

Contractors – MJL Construction Associates

Products – bronze and purple brown handmade clay tiles

This charming renovation in a rural Surrey village sits very happily in its surroundings, an area of outstanding natural beauty.  Originally an uninspiring 1952 bungalow, the house has been completely reconstructed using quality building materials, sourced as locally as possible.

Given the prominence of the roof in the overall design, selecting the right roof tiles was a top priority for the homeowners. Their journey began at the Farnborough HBR Show where they went in search of inspiration and met Bernie Fyans Dreadnought’s South Area Sales Manager.  Dreadnought were showcasing a variety of roof tiles from their ranges of Classic Handmade, Handcrafted Rustic or Machine Made tiles and the exhibition provided a great opportunity to see the product up close.  These self builders felt that Dreadnought’s tiles had a distinct quality about them, and they were taken with their range of natural clay colours.

They ordered samples of Dreadnought’s Classic Handmade range and laid them in situ on the ground of their plot to get a feel for how the various colour options might work together.  With some guidance from Bernie, they settled on a mixed blend of Bronze and Purple Brown tiles, the rich, warm tones of the bronze tiles sitting well with the darker bluey/brown hues of the Purple Brown.  

These renovators were keen to create a building that would last into the future, who’s appearance would mellow and improve with age, and also be as sustainable as possible. They have incorporated 21 large inroof solar panels which can produce an impessive 70KW on a sunny day, as well as heat pumps. 

The roof is quite complex, with several different sections to it and some high level roof windows which allow you to see straight through some parts of the roof and out to the trees beyond.  Rather than a timber framed construction, the house uses traditional construction and the oak beams are there to support the roof structure.  The roofer, Andy from MJL Construction Associates has done a lovely job of laying the tiles.  Their natural clay colours complement the beautiful handmade bricks, sourced locally from Lamb’s Bricks, as well as the local Bargate stone and locally sawn oak beams.  A number of ventilation solutions have been thoughtfully integrated, including at high level, all the way along the ridge line.  We think the new house looks idyllic!