Natural Slate Re-Roofing - Sennen Cable Station

We have recently been working on a substantial re-roofing contract at the historic cable station at Sennen, Land's End, on behalf of JATA Construction.

This is a significant project in one of the most exposed and dramatic locations in the whole of Cornwall, and it is one we have been proud to be part of.

The scope of the work involved a complete re-roof across multiple roof sections of the cable station building, with new natural slate fixed throughout and fully supported scaffolding erected across the entire structure to allow our team to work safely at height throughout the programme.

A Demanding Site Location

Sennen, at Land's End, is about as demanding a location for roofing work as you will find anywhere in the United Kingdom. Sitting at the very tip of the Cornish peninsula, the area is fully exposed to the Atlantic weather systems that roll in from the west, bringing high winds, driving rain and salt-laden air throughout the year.

For a building like the cable station (which has significant historical and operational importance) the standard of roofing work carried out here needed to be of the very highest quality, using materials capable of withstanding the conditions this location will throw at them for decades to come.

Working With JATA Construction

We were appointed to this contract by JATA Construction, carrying out the roofing element of what is a wider renovation programme at the cable station. Working alongside a main contractor on a project of this scale requires careful co-ordination, clear communication and the ability to deliver our element of the programme on time and without disruption to the wider build.

This is exactly the kind of commercial roofing project we are experienced in delivering, and our team has worked professionally throughout to meet the programme requirements.

The Roofing Work

Felt, Battening, New Slate

With the old covering stripped back, new breathable roofing felt was laid across the rafters before fresh battens were fixed horizontally across the slope, creating the framework ready to receive the new slate.

The slate was then fixed in place, with each slate nailed securely to the battens beneath. The finished slate covering is striking, with a consistent dark blue-grey colour that gives the roof a clean, high-quality appearance that will weather beautifully over the years ahead.

A Large, Complex Roof Structure

The scale and complexity of the roof structure at the cable station is considerable, as the images show clearly. Multiple roof slopes of different orientations come together across the building, requiring our team to work methodically across each section in turn, co-ordinating the delivery of materials and the movement of the scaffolding as the work progressed.