Welsh Slate has supplied its Cwt-Y-Bugail slates from north Wales to re-roof the fourth primary school for South Lanarkshire Council in Scotland.

For the latest project, 53,000 dark blue-grey slates from the Cwt-Y-Bugail quarry were used to re-roof West Coats Primary School in a Conservation Area in Cambuslang.

The 16in x 8in (400mm x 200mm) slates and 16in x 12in (400mm x 300mm) county-grade slates-and-a-half were installed by Forster Roofing Services as part of a £6million refurbishment of the school.

Welsh Slate’s products have also been used to roof the new-build Lamington, Abington and Leadhills primary schools, as well as Lanark Memorial Hall.

The Council’s Architectural Officer, Thomas Tallan, says of West Coats: “This is a Grade B listed building so the external fabric refurbishment works had to meet Historic Environment Scotland and planning consent.”

Welsh Slate’s natural slate roofing fitted the bill perfectly, being a close match to the existing slate that was being replaced and matching many of the traditional buildings surrounding the school.

Welsh Slate advised the council on the suitable type, size and thickness for the site’s location and to meet Historic Environment Scotland’s approval.

The 1,600m² roof area on upper and lower levels, including two mitred hip turrets, involved pitches of 41º, 49º and 65º, with the slates being double nailed with copper over a boarded roof. There are also some internal panels and a new turret.

Thomas Tallan says the slate has been well received and that it enhances the area.

Steve Scott, Managing Director of contractor Forster’s, says: “Welsh Slate performed very well. It was quite a complex build that had to take account of a resident bat colony.”

The roof includes interesting features, such as the zinc witch’s hat detail on the tower block and lead chimney ducts. The old slates had to be stripped off first, with as much as possible salvaged re-used it on the internal roof sections.

Bat boxes were installed and an entrance to the existing roof space created to provide a shelter for bats.

The 18-classroom school is constructed of local sandstone, with black cast iron gutters and downpipes.