Innovative roof underlay helps provide healthier homes

Nearly 80 homes in the Woodhouse Close area of Bishop Auckland have received new roofs as part of a programme to upgrade believe housing’s affordable homes in the area. The properties were re-roofed with air and vapour permeable roofing membrane Protect Viking Air, with the aim of increasing ventilation and air circulation within the homes. Protect Viking Air can make an improvement in older homes, which were originally not designed with eaves ventilation. Following a successful trial, the underlay is now being installed on approximately 200 homes in Central Durham.

Building Surveyor at believe housing, Daryl Reed, said: “We decided to modify our specification for re-roofing and use an air permeable membrane to give a good level of ventilation. A lot of our homes were originally constructed without ventilation in their eaves, so this material promotes increased natural ventilation and creates a healthier home.”

Senior Product Manager at Glidevale Protect, John Mellor commented: “We are delighted that believe housing has successfully trialled this innovative pitched roofing underlay, which has the highest air and vapour permeability of its type on the market. Ventilation to the roofspace can contribute positively to the health and wellbeing of tenants; Protect Viking Air can deliver a solution without the requirement for additional ventilation. We look forward to working closely with all teams as the membrane is rolled out for further housing upgrades in the region.”

This installation of the air permeable roofing underlay at Woodhouse Close is part of a 10-year, £138m programme to improve existing affordable homes in the region by believe housing in a range of communities stretching from rural Weardale to the coast. The project aims to make homes cheaper to run, providing high-quality affordable housing. The refurbishments are being carried out in partnership with specialist contractors EQUANS.

Alan Maskell, Refurbishment Director at EQUANS, said: “We actively support and encourage our partners in utilising new technologies and trialling new ideas which will ultimately benefit the lives of residents.”

For more information visit www.glidevaleprotect.com, email info@glidevaleprotect.com or call +44 (0)161 905 5700, quoting ‘believe housing.’ Follow us on LinkedIn.

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Protect Viking Air