Roof Technology
‘ TRADITIONAL ’ TECHNOLOGY
‘ Traditional ’ is a term often associated with timber fenestration products , but its properties match up to everything you ’ d need in a modern roof . Take the Icotherm roof range , for example . Made from solid timber , and manufactured in Lancashire , a location which holds such significance in our country ’ s industrial heritage .
Here , Sales Director Neal Harper discusses how , as homeowners continue to look to gain extra space in their homes and replace outdated conservatory roofs ( even replacing replacement roofs ), the barrier to timber is something that Icotherm has been working hard to break down .
In Neal ’ s own words , when people choose aluminium over timber for their conservatory and extension roofs , he says : “ look in your loft . House roof frames have been made from timber for centuries , and still are , so why wouldn ’ t you choose it for your conservatory too ?”
“ We want to help our customers promote timber to their customers , and that starts with giving every installer everything they need . We are sure we have the perfect product in terms of cost , performance , sustainability , legislation and regulation . But we back that up too .
“ Taking cost , for example . It isn ’ t just the price tag on the product – as attractive as this is to the homeowner . It ’ s the value we add to the price our customer pays to us too . There ’ s technical support , here at on our training floor where fitters can come and build the roof before they install in on site . It ’ s the marketing and sales support we provide , a consumer-focussed online presence to generate brand awareness and lead generation for our customers , and it ’ s all-in-one delivery , all to site . Anything that makes things easier for the installer .
“ When it comes to performance , timber has inherent features and benefits for ventilation and insulation , and it is a futureproof solution when we talk about sustainability and energy efficiency – both as a raw material and the products we build with it . There is another fantastic quality to timber though – you can always make it fit ! This is especially useful when
installing a replacement roof ; timber is flexible and malleable compared to aluminium .
“ Legislation and regulation is in our fabric at Icotherm . We jokingly call Dave Jackson , Icotherm ’ s owner and MD the ‘ voice of legislation ’, but in reality , we take it extremely seriously . It is vital for installers to understand the importance of legislation and regulation and the implication it has on the products they sell and fit . But we know how complex and confusing it can be , so we want to simplify that too .
“ We want installers to have complete peace of mind in our products . We know we have the perfect product , and we want to provide the perfect package of service and support too .
“ Icotherm ’ s modern approach to solid roof solutions – spanning every part of product , service and support – is an
exciting future prospect for any installer . While timber will almost always be considered as traditional , there is perhaps nothing more forward-thinking than considering the long-lasting performance of a product , sustainability of materials and future growth of installers ’ businesses .
“ Using C24 standard timber – from Germany – two trees are planted for every tree felled that goes into building the Icoroof , Icoview , Ico600 and Icospan roofs . Timber is not only a considered choice in terms of protecting the planet . As an organic material that ‘ breathes ’ it provides natural ventilation and with U-Values of 0.12 for the Icoroof , it boasts insulation performance that exceeds the changes to Part L regulations in 2022 .
“ And , it ’ s cheaper than aluminium .”
www . icotherm . co . uk
68 JUNE 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM