New Road Court Apartments

Specifying a roof tile that withstands extreme exposure in a coastal environment

The apartment blocks’ location in a coastal environment significantly increased exposure to wind-driven rain and uplift forces. Although the original roof was just 12 years old, it was suffering from multiple problems, including broken tiles, moss growth and blocked drainage paths that created water ingress risks – particularly at valley junctions.

The roof’s complex shape was another challenge, with multiple pitches ranging from 29° to 55° and several penetrations and abutments. After reviewing the roof's challenges, it was determined that a profiled tile would be the best choice. Marley Double Roman tiles were specified in Mosborough Red. Measuring 420 × 330 mm, with a minimum 75 mm headlap, these tiles have a flexible, easy-to-lay open gauge, and their shape is designed to resist wind uplift and manage water drainage efficiently.

To further support weather resistance, perimeter tiles were twice fixed, and local/general zones were nailed and clipped in accordance with Marley Fixing Specifications and BS 5534.

“The double-profiled shape is much more suitable for this roof than the plain tiles that were used previously,” explains Chris Marshall, Marley Regional Sales Director, South West. “For roofs of such height, in such an exposed coastal location and with so many penetrations, slopes, details and abutments, the Marley Double Roman will provide improved weather resistance and support long-term performance,” he adds.

Developing a compliant roofing specification with Marley SpecRite

The team at Ferrier Hart Thomas used Marley’s SpecRite tool to generate a project-specific specification that would provide the required weather resistance, while meeting the requirements of BS 5534:2014+A2:2018, the code of practice for slating and tiling, which requires roof tiles to be fixed using mechanical fixing methods. The specification also accounted for:

• Varying roof pitches across the development
• Increased wind uplift requirements due to coastal exposure
• Complex detailing at ridges, hips, valleys and abutments
  
  

Specifying the Marley Roof System - a set of compatible components that can be combined to form a complete roof – ensured that all roofing elements were designed to work together, reducing risk and improving long-term performance. The complete roofing specification included:

• Tiles: Marley Double Roman in Mosborough Red, 420 × 330 mm, minimum 75 mm headlap
• Underlay: Marley Universal Vapour Permeable (MA33150), with sealed laps
• Battens: JB Red treated battens, machine-graded to BS 5534
• Fixings: Solofix clips and stainless steel nails
• Ridges: Marley Universal Ridgefast system
• Hips: Marley Universal Hipfast system
• Verges: Marley Universal interlocking dry verge system
• Eaves: Marley Universal eaves vent system
  
  

While Marley’s dry-fix systems were selected for ridges, hips and verges, the client requested that the raking valleys be finished with traditional mortar bedding. Mechanical security fixings were incorporated with the mortar bedding to meet wind uplift resistance requirements.

Throughout the project, Chris worked closely with the contractors to provide technical guidance and support. “This project shows the value of a system-led approach when specifying a roof,” he explains. “With the help of Marley’s SpecRite tool, the team developed a roofing system that addressed the local environmental conditions and the complex roof design. It also helped to ensure compliance with current standards.”

Managing roof tile deliveries on an occupied residential site

As the buildings remained fully occupied throughout the re-roofing project, work was carried out in phases to minimise disruption to residents. Access was also complicated.

At the front, it was restricted by ground-floor retail units with constant customer flows. Meanwhile, rear access was limited by gardens, fences and narrow walkways.

To help overcome these complexities, Marley liaised closely with the contractor and arranged for deliveries to be scheduled in smaller loads and at precise times.

“On occupied projects like this, flexibility and communication are essential,” Chris explains. “By working closely with the Camilleri Roofing team, we were able to adapt deliveries to suit site conditions. This helped to support a smooth installation process while minimising disruption for residents and businesses,” he adds. 

A complete roofing system for long-term performance and peace of mind

The completed roof at the New Road Court Apartments is designed to be durable and low-maintenance, providing high performance in a challenging coastal environment. By using the full Marley system, planned with our SpecRite tool, we were able to create a reliable and compliant specification for a complex roof design.

Technical support was provided throughout the project, providing advice and guidance on dry-fix systems and ventilation strategies. We also carried out site inspections to validate installation standards, enabling us to provide our 15-year Roof System Guarantee.

The project has also been recognised by the wider industry and was shortlisted for the NFRC Roofing Awards 2026 in the Roof Tiling category.

To learn more about Marley’s complete roofing system or discuss your project requirements, please get in touch. You can also register online to gain access to our SpecRite specification tool.