Slate Flooring
As one of the leading producers and suppliers in the world of natural fine-grained metamorphic rock products for building and construction industry use, we are known globally for our vast array of excellent quality roofing slabs, plus we offer a comprehensive range of products made from stone that can be utilised for flooring and other architectural applications. All of our products are backed by expert design services and a technical support team so that customers can be confident when choosing and using any of our products. Our aim is to lead the marketplace and to provide only the best quality products and service to our customers, and since our inception in 1983 this has been the driving force behind our success. At that time the building industry was demanding our products on an ever increasing basis and today from our head offices in North West London we have a minimum stock holding of no less than one million high quality items so that there is always products available for our clients. Our warehouse is also based in the same vicinity as our head office, which is within easy reach of the country’s motorway network, so that we can guarantee prompt delivery of our product throughout the UK. So if you are in need of something special for a private or corporate building contract do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss your needs, as we are confident we have the products and the services to accommodate your request.
Natural Slate Roofing
SSQ’s well-known products include the Del Carmen range of roofing material that is synonymous with quality. Sourced from the quarry of the same name in the north west of Spain near Leon, we have a long-term partnership so that customers can enjoy exceptional products that are backed by guaranteed levels of performance. To ensure that we have a consistent supply of high quality products we are committed to developing a high profile presence internationally, evidenced by our logistics office being based in Orense, Spain, which supports our international business. We are also equally dedicated to the quality of our products and each of our roofing items are both properly tested to EN 12326 and qualify for the CE marking, which means that they can be used for building and construction work in the UK and in Europe. All of our roofing and floor slates from both our own and independent quarries are subjected to rigorous quality control checks so that the specifications we advertise our always met. Three full time QC inspectors are thus employed to monitor production, workmanship and the specification of all products produced by independent quarries that will carry our SSQ name. Of course we must include the caveat that as the fine-grained rock may have taken over 450 million years to form, the exact specification cannot be guaranteed and natural variation of some kind should be expected. However it is this exact natural variation that makes this roofing material so unique and desirable.
Ample Advice and Assistance
As well as providing high quality products to customers up and down the country we also offer a design advice and technical support service. This is made up of general advice about roofing details, such as verges, ridges, valleys, hips and working around any obstructions in the surface of the roof, and specialist advice regarding complex roof designs and shapes such as circular roofs and diminishing and random courses. If you are looking to create low-pitch roofs as low as 17.5 degrees we have a design service to accommodate this desire, plus if you are in need of advice about heritage projects or certain conservation areas using slate roofing material we are more that willing to help. When it comes to the choosing, buying or even specifying of roofing materials we can offer excellent technical advice plus can recommend what items would be optimum for your particular roof. In addition to this we can arrange fir a NBS specification service so that you can complete your specification in the format you require. Furthermore information about the best fixing method including head laps, roof load-bearing and grading can be offered in the form of an installation method statement that is tailor made for your particular roof. Other services of this nature include providing onsite advice and supervision during the construction process, holding RIBA-accredited seminars regarding CPD, and the provision of product brochures and technical data sheets. So whatever product you need and whatever project you are undertaking, we can help.
Useful Fixing Tips
In the past roofing tiles were fixed with wooden pegs, a practice that brought about two very different methods. In the United Kingdom pegs were replaced with nails, and on the continent the pegs were replaced by S-shaped metal hooks or tingles. There are numerous related factors that need to be considered when designing a successful roof and this includes what method of fixing should be used. In terms of determining this method it is important to look at the site’s exposure level, the pitch of the roof, the type and size of the fine-grained rock, the roof’s shape, and its aesthetics all in relation to the design. It is crucial that you are aware of these two methods when shopping for roofing slate supplies as they both have advantages and disadvantages which will influence the design and have a bearing on the success of the finished roof. In areas of the UK where the exposure level of a site is considered to be severe, such as Cornwall and Scotland, the method of hook fixing is commonly used as it offers greater resistance to wind lift. If you are primarily concerned with the aesthetics of your roof then the nail fixing method is best as with hooks the ends are visible as opposed to nails that are covered by the overlap of successive rows resulting in a smooth appearance. Maintenance and wastage also need to be taken into account, so familiarise yourself with both methods before commencing a roofing project.
A Class Above
When it comes to conserving some of the UK’s most precious architectural heritage so that future generations can enjoy it, there are two major considerations. First is that the building’s construction is properly protected, and second is that the look and feel of the place is accurately preserved. As the quality of our roofing slabs is of a very high standard, it has been approved as an alternative to indigenous fine-grained rock by a host of the UK’s principal conservation agencies such as English Heritage, Cadw and Snowdonia National Park Authority. In our Ultra range can be found the most consistent, durable and strongest of our products and our best of the best range is made up of three very different forms that have been used in certain areas of the country. For slate flooring prices and prices on any of our products simply peruse the website and find the material you like before getting in touch via the contact details provided. Of our architectural rocks the Riverstone Honed has a smooth, flat surface with a wonderful gun metal grey colouring making it ideal for wall and floor tiles or as a dramatic feature panel. If you need something that’s a little thicker then our Heavy Range should do the trick as their extra weight makes them ideal for use in places that suffer from severe exposure. Given that they are also backed by a 30 year guarantee, you can also be confident in their longevity.
Environmentally Aware
In the current economic and environmentally-concerned climate it is essential that companies are conscious of their environmental impact on the world and that they focus on sustainability. As such it is vital that we act responsibly and reduce the impact we have in the environment, plus have a policy of transparency when it comes to answering questions about any of our products and services. The nature of our business means that we mine and ship a natural mineral that is in finite supply from quarries located in areas all over the world. In addition we operate within the construction industry that accounts for around half of Britain’s materials used and almost a third of its road freight. We are thus acutely aware of our responsibility and are keen to reassure customers that in fact using floor slates and other similar products has a remarkably low impact on the environment. For example, in terms of sustainability, although it’s impossible to know how long stocks will last, the products made are expected to last a lifetime. Therefore, good quality roofing slabs may well outlive the building they are used on and can thus be salvaged and reused. Comparing the environmental impact of a building material can be done using two methods, both of which evaluate and present information against different criteria such as carbon footprint and durability; if you would like to know more about this and to see our results then please download the relevant brochure from the website.