Soprema’s Pavatextil P insulation board, made from recycled denim jeans and cotton fibres, wins the specification for the much-needed roof refurbishment of the All Hallows Church in Leeds – a tight-knit hub that goes above and beyond to serve the community and its needs.
The brief
York-based company, Native Architects, was approached by the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of All Hallows, Leeds, in a bid to help them with their leaking roof.
The heavily attended church was experiencing severe water ingress due to the existing tiled roof which was no longer fit for purpose.
Originally built in the 1970s, the church had a relatively low-pitch roof, meaning tiles had slipped off over time and had been damaged by vandalism as well as being exposed to the elements.
“Not only did the roof leak, but it had very poor thermal performance,” says Chris Walker, Director at Native Architects.
“We developed a design to remove the existing tiles, and to replace it with a zinc roof due to the durable qualities and long lifespan of the system.”
A much-needed community hub
The client required a roof system which was not only robust, but proves as sustainable as possible to ensure running costs – especially in the current economic climate – are kept to a minimum.
The church itself goes above and beyond simply providing a place of worship, it is a much-needed community hub. More than 100 volunteers proactively help with the church’s charitable initiatives, such as its cafe Rainbow Junktion. This project intercepts food that would otherwise be thrown away from supermarkets, restaurants and a number of other sources, and turns it into healthy, nutritious meals for anyone that needs it, on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis, sometimes providing meals for up to 100 people each day.
The church also provides a Neighbourhood Forum which is an inclusive approach to welcoming new members to the church, reaching out within the diverse cultures and communities in the area.
Insulation specification
Given the nature of the building and its importance to the local community, Native Architects knew the church required a sustainable insulation solution that would stand the test of time, as well as having excellent thermal and acoustic qualities.
Chris continues:
“Originally, we considered a mineral wool insulation solution for this project but it was ruled out on the grounds of cost. Also, because the church has an acoustic ceiling with perforated boarding over the main worship space, our other concern was that any glass fibre or mineral wool would potentially drop through onto the congregation below. Because of this, and following consultation with approved distributor, Unity Lime Products Ltd, we changed the specification to Soprema’s Pavatextil P cotton fibre-based thermo-acoustic insulation.
“We really liked the idea of the product being recycled from cotton and polyester fibres, originating from recycled textile, and it offered the essential thermal and acoustic performance required for this project. It was also a more cost-effective alternative to a wood-fibre product, as well as being easy to install for contractors, and didn’t itch or irritate operatives during installation. The team at Geoff Neal Roofing (GNR) really enthused about using it.”
Because of the softness and supreme quality of the cotton insulation, Pavatextil P is easily adaptable during installation, fitting comfortably into any awkward areas, making installation straightforward for the roofing contractors, GNR of York.
Standing the test of time
The cotton fibres within Pavatextil P have hydrophilic and hygroscopic properties, which are exposed to anti-bacterial, fungal and flame-retardant treatments making them resistant to dust mites and mould.
This highly sustainable insulation can be installed between timber or metal frameworks, on the inside of walls and sloped roofs, as well as attic floors – making it versatile as well as offering exceptional sound-insulation properties. It also delivers against thermal losses in winter and heat transmittance in the summer.
A community restored
This valued community centre and much-loved place of worship has been transformed, and the client is safe in the knowledge that the insulation installed continues to give that much needed thermal performance.
Providing comfort for life, Pavatextil P keeps occupiers warm in winter and cool in summer and guarantees the quality of the air with an A + classification for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions.
The church, with help from a small Government grant, managed to raise the funds for the roof refurbishment themselves, thanks to its ongoing fundraising efforts.
All Hallows has now also managed to raise enough money to re-clad the church tower; a refurbishment which has also been designed by Native Architects. Soprema is pleased to have supported this second phase of building works, by making a charitable donation to the church.
- ARCHITECT: Native Architects, York
- ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Geoff Neal Roofing (GNR)
- Sq. M: 480
- SECTOR: Commercial
- PRODUCT: Pavatextil P