Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:39:17 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8787#Comment_8787 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8787#Comment_8787 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:36:06 +0000 howdytom
Adobe/clay/rammed earth and straw bales are good for walls.

Whats your solution and why.

tom]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8788#Comment_8788 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8788#Comment_8788 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:53:17 +0000 StuartB
http://www.livingroofs.org/]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8789#Comment_8789 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8789#Comment_8789 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:36:25 +0000 tony
Second hand slates or tiles]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8790#Comment_8790 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8790#Comment_8790 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:52:50 +0000 jon
Roofing is one of the critical components of a building as it is subject to the full force of the weather. Ideally roofing would be exceptionally long lasting, weatherproof with high durability features, of low embodied impact relative to that durability, able to accomodate increasing layers of insulation over time and possibly able to act as a temporary store for surface run-off (as above). In an absolute ideal world, the roofing would also be independent from the internal structure so as to allow under-cover retro and re-fitting.

Anything else I've missed?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8791#Comment_8791 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8791#Comment_8791 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:23:10 +0000 biffvernon
As for the less sunny side, something that is made of good stuff and lasts a long time is called for. Here's an example of a building with a roof that fits the bill. The rafters are oak, dendro-dated to 1390, and all still perfectly sound. Some of the contemporaneous tiles needed replacing but 600 years is the sort of lifetime that excuses the energy used in firing the tiles. http://www.andersonandglenn.com/architecture5.htm]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8794#Comment_8794 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8794#Comment_8794 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:29:06 +0000 jamesingram
they work well , there easy to get hold of, there commonly used so the supply and fit rates are cheap

since there second hand you could argue the only energy involved is in the reclaimation and transport to the new site

Jim]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8797#Comment_8797 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8797#Comment_8797 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:17:49 +0000 howdytom I like the idea but whats the water proof membrane ? I don 't think we should consider petrochemicals (even BP state that peak oil has been reached, check their web !)

Biff
Have you got/can you get any data on the clay tiles ? earthen ware/stone ware, glazed/unglazed ? must be fairly high fired I would have thought, as the pan tiles around here are lucky to last 100 years.

James
I doubt that there's enough second hand to cope with the planned new build, unless we all start sharing houses again, IE whole families gran-grand-kids !.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8802#Comment_8802 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8802#Comment_8802 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:19:04 +0000 biffvernon The pantiles on my roof must be a couple of centuries old.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8803#Comment_8803 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8803#Comment_8803 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:33:32 +0000 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8848#Comment_8848 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8848#Comment_8848 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:07:30 +0000 jamesingram your right, I was thinking small scale, I doubt there enough secondhand for the 3 million new homes they mentioned in the press
but if the house market stays the same, us plebs may well end up sharing again.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8849#Comment_8849 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8849#Comment_8849 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:19:29 +0000 Chris Wardle https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8850#Comment_8850 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8850#Comment_8850 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:37:52 +0000 Nick Parsons
Nick

P.S. This is more an answer to 'what's a possible clever use for a discarded item?' than 'what's the MOST sustainable roof covering?', but it might engender some debate.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8909#Comment_8909 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8909#Comment_8909 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:58:52 +0000 howdytom Onduline, first I've heard of it, just did a quick search, it sounds promising, do you know if you can get it as pre-insulated panels. Is it a fire hazard ?.
Tom]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8911#Comment_8911 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8911#Comment_8911 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:22:42 +0000 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8917#Comment_8917 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8917#Comment_8917 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:08:14 +0000 richardt
http://www.haybergill.co.uk/aboutus.htm

Personally I prefer profiled steel.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8928#Comment_8928 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8928#Comment_8928 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:39:31 +0000 Chris Wardle
Cost is an important factor in sustainability that, I think, is often overlooked. Saddling yourself with a massive mortgage to pay for reclaimed slate, green oak frames, GSHPs etc, ties you into a conventional lifestyle of working all the hours to pay the bills. Living cheaply breaks that link. I'm trying to head in that direction so always on the lookout for ways to save money on materials, and do the work myself, but still do things the right way.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8939#Comment_8939 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=8939#Comment_8939 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:05:22 +0000 howdytom I've been given some industrial panels from a cold store, they are 6m x 1m x 100mm thick.
outer sheets are plastic coated steel with either rock-wool or polystyrene bonded infill. you can clear span 5m and jump on them with no deformation !.
I was thinking they would make a fantastic airtight roof, maybe counter battened and second hand pan tiled (for looks). warmcel between purlings and plaster board underneath.
Where would the dew point be ? If it is inside the composite sheet can water condense ?

Not the solution for the masses... still hoping someone will suggest that

tom]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9203#Comment_9203 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9203#Comment_9203 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:22:31 +0000 howdytom https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9219#Comment_9219 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9219#Comment_9219 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:07:22 +0000 tony
This would then lead to disastrous consequences.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9229#Comment_9229 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9229#Comment_9229 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:18:38 +0000 biffvernon http://www.williamblyth.co.uk/]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9281#Comment_9281 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9281#Comment_9281 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:21:19 +0000 howdytom tom]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9375#Comment_9375 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=817&Focus=9375#Comment_9375 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:53:01 +0000 howdytom Apparently in Scandinavia they used wooden planks on the roof covered with overlapped birch bark (water barrier), then twigs (for drainage) and sedum on top
sounds as green as can be to me. problem being 20 year life span of birch + finding enough birch bark
tom]]>