38 | AUGUST 2020
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
TIMBER ROOFS – WHY?
This topic may seem
a little repetitive by
now – it certainly feels
like it to us, but it is
also very relevant.
Lockdown showdown
Besides online shopping specialist, food retailers and toilet
paper manufacturers I can’t imagine many businesses came
out of the lockdown in a particular good place… quite a letdown
when 2020 had started on quite a high, at least where
Icotherm is concerned.
Obviously we have not been immune to this crisis, comments
Anne-Marie Busch, Marketing Manager. However, the enquiries
volume picked up very quickly when we tentatively restarted
production in May. We are only just getting back to working
with a full team, and our lead times are still much longer than
normal (up to 4 weeks on some products) as the industry suppliers’
themselves are finding it difficult to fulfil the requirements
in a timely manner.
We often get asked either why we
opted to design a timber system, or
why we believe it is the better option
over aluminium says Anne-Marie Busch,
Marketing Manager at Icotherm Roof
Systems.
The truth is simple: roofs are made of
timber, roofs were always made of timber,
and will more than likely be made of timber
for the foreseeable future. It is a reliable
material, that can be worked to create
complex, bespoke solutions, recyclable,
with excellent insulation properties, and
it can be adjusted whilst on site. So, as
far as the decision to use this material for
the system, the answer was always going
to be obvious.
Because roofs just aren’t made with
aluminium… which again is the reason
why the systems using this material end
up having to use timber to make up for
the metal’s issues when constructing a
solid roof solution. Timber is used to stop
cold bridges (and condensation risks), and
installers end up with a mix of aluminium
and timber, all amalgamated together,
for a much more complex and lengthy
installation.
At Icotherm we are 100% invested our
timber solution. We offer a roof system
with excellent ventilation, fully supported
by all required structural calculations,
that has passed insulation and condensation
risk analysis with flying colours.
We are always looking at ways to improve
performance and develop solution
that will help installer get the roof up
quicker – for example replacing most
of the bolts requirements with faster
screwing options. We also offer a gable
solution that does not require tie bars for
a completely uninterrupted ceiling.
We have committed a lot of resources
to ensuring our roofs perform at the
highest standards and believe that
timber systems are the best long-term
roofing solutions.
If your customers are looking for a
conservatory transformation the Icotherm
roofs range would offer them all
the options they need.
Contact them on [email protected]
for a quote.
The somewhat confusing Green Home grant announcement
doesn’t appear to have had any impact on us, as the
focus for this immediately shifted to windows and doors.
And to be honest it is pretty much impossible to find any
information on the matter whatsoever. So to answer anybody
who might have been asked about it, right now, we do
not know if our roofs would fall under the eligible (and still
elusive) products list.
So right now Icotherm is doing well and this lockdown
showdown is definitely in our favour. We have had the most
consistent order volumes rate to date and what we believe
can only be a consistently growth in homeowners wanting to
increase usable home space through the use of conservatory
roof replacements or the additional of single story extensions.
More people are working from home, and for many this will
become a regular event, so provisions must be made.
Reassuringly
compliant,
so let them
know about it
Icotherm has opted to partner
with a new Approved Inspector’s
firm, announces Anne-Marie Busch,
Marketing Manager. The aim of
certifying a roof system for building
control compliancy is a twofold
solution:
• The systems house wants to
ensure their roof is up to the task,
whilst providing you, the installer,
with a solution that will make
your work easier when getting
your installation building control
approved.
• The other important role of the
compliancy certification and
having a roof registered is to
give the homeowner the reassurance
that their roof is a genuine
product. Ball & Berry Ltd will do
this for us; as part of the application
process they will check the
original Icotherm paperwork and
register the roof reference, allowing
us to double check it is indeed
a roof we have manufactured.
“This protects our customers
against competitors claiming to use
a high specification roof like Icotherm’s
when in fact they are not.
It also protects Icotherm’s product
and brand by ensuring only genuine
products are sold under our name,”
says Anne-Marie.
For further information and
to obtain the Ball & Berry Ltd
certificates and/or application
form, please contact Anne-Marie
at [email protected]
www.ballandberry.co.uk