By Tapco Roofing Products. 

Why this contractor recommends Tapco time and time again.

Another happy homeowner. Every year Brian Longville adds 70+ TapcoSlate roofs to conservatories on homes throughout Stourbridge and surrounding areas with the same results. Happy homeowners.

“Our customers always remark that the TapcoSlate tiles we use on our conservatory roof projects look amazing,” says Brian, the owner/proprietor of CRI West Midlands. “They tell us the TapcoSlate tiles completely transform the appearance of their conservatory."

He went on, "In most cases the homeowners are excited because a typical conservatory roof means they cannot use that room year round. When we change the roof, we make sure it’s a fully insulated roofing system using TapcoSlate tiles. This way the transformation is not just aesthetically pleasing, but the conservatory is more comfortable. It can be used in any kind of weather, 12 months a year!”

Dependable performance

One of the most recent conservatory installations undertaken by Brian is in the Coleshill area of Birmingham. The customer was exceptionally pleased with the appearance and benefits of the TapcoSlate roof installed in a Pewter Gray color.

As Brian explained to the homeowner, the product formulation for TapcoSlate and its manufacturing processes provide durability, performance and longevity for many years. Authentically-shaped with textured surfaces and riven edges moulded from natural slates, TapcoSlate is almost undisguisable from natural slate. It has an even more refined appearance. The composite product will not crack, break or delaminate.

“We always use TapcoSlate,” says Brian. “We tried other similar products and found the TapcoSlate is the most authentic with the best qualities, so now we stick with this product. We consider it to be the best available composite roofing item on the market. In addition, as installers we find them the easiest tiles to install. Overall, TapcoSlate is a winner for us and for our customers!”

By Tapco Roofing Products. 

Building long-term roofing success with Tapco tiles and solar solutions.

Helping homeowners Emma and Simon Candy make their dream of an energy efficient roof come true has turned into something extra special for roofing contractor Ricky Fletcher with RF Roofing LTD out of Coldstream. For his exceptional work on the project, he is receiving a 2025 Elite Roofing Award from Tapco Roofing Products.

Ricky has fitted more than 75,000 TapcoSlate Classic tiles into place during the past 11 years on at least 30 different projects. However, this was the first time he had ever used the composite slate product alongside solar panels. 

“The amount of solar panels and their positioning on the roof made this a particularly difficult job,” says Ricky. “To get the job started and ensure everything worked out properly I had to rely on all of my 30 years of roofing experience. The width of the TapcoSlate Classic tiles helped out quite a bit. Once the roof was set out properly then it became a fairly easy job to complete.”

Using solar panels

As they started their home preparations, Emma and Simon thought seriously about making their roof “work” hard for them long-term. Working with Eco Power Innovations, their solar system provider, they looked to get the best value solar yield from the roof.

“They managed to design a layout of 25 panels of 405W peak each,” says Simon. “So, our total installed system yields 10.1kWp. We have a 10kWh capacity battery to store surplus daytime energy for use during the evening and night. Since the panels came online in August of 2024, we’ve generated and fed back into the national power grid nearly 50% more energy than we consume.”

Architect's insights

Long before the solar panel and roofing was installed, Emma and Simon met with the team from Allan Corfield Architects (ACA) to gain assistance in creating their bespoke, contemporary home. Their desire was to balance energy efficiency, aesthetic appeal and respect for the rural context of their site.

According to Iga Panczyna, Associate and Senior Chartered Architect with ACA, the homeowners brought the TapcoSlate Classic product into the project after discovering it at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC). Following a review of the technical data, ACA was confident of its suitability for the project. Iga explained: 

The textured moulds and irregular edges of TapcoSlate Classic convincingly reflect the character of natural slate — an important factor in achieving planning approva. There are also practical advantages: the slates are significantly lighter than natural stone, reducing structural loads and easing handling on-site. From an environmental perspective, the slates are made from natural materials, designed for minimal installation waste and offer a long lifespan.

 Unlike some imitation products that struggle to capture the authenticity of natural finishes, TapcoSlate Classic impresses us with its realistic appearance. Its use on the Candy Project in the Charcoal Black color enhances the intended contemporary Scottish aesthetic complementing the rural setting while delivering a clean, modern edge.

 From the carefully considered roof design and renewable energy integration to the successful use of TapcoSlate Classic, the project demonstrates how client vision, sustainable design principles and modern materials can come together to create a home that is both functional and visually striking.

Homeowner's insights

Seeing the Tapco Roofing Products display at the NSBRC was a “real eye-opener” according to Emma Candy, “Both from a distance and being right up next to it you could not tell the tiles weren’t real slate. The product fit in well with our Design Brief in terms of impact and maintenance. Right from the start the goal for the roof was to maximise our solar panels. Next was ensuring the panels and roofing tiles fit seamlessly together to give us a weatherproof and low maintenance structure." 

She went on, "The TapcoSlate Classic product is well suited to support these goals, and Ricky made it happen. We know he and his crew put all their expertise on the line for us to make this a perfect roof. They very much deserve being recognized with this Elite Roofing Award!”

Have you gone above and beyond on a project using Tapco Roofing Products like Ricky did? Consider entering the 2026 Tapco Elite Awards! 

By Tapco Tools. 

How TapcoSlate Classic transformed a home and won the contractor an award.

A three-stage replacement/new-build project that started in 2018 and wrapped up in 2023 transformed the home of Adam Dixon-Chapman. The expansive Oxford project is so exceptional that it has earned its contractor, Visions of Oxford Ltd, a 2025 Elite Roofing Award from Tapco Roofing Products.

Homeowner's vision

TapcoSlate Classic tiles in Pewter Grey were added during the three unique phases of the project to create a clean, modern-looking home. The project transformed and expanded a weary-looking 1960s four-bedroom house into a spacious two-storey home whose exterior shines with grey stonework, stark white rendering and black accents.

“Over six years we knocked out walls, replaced windows, demolished an old garage and built a new one, extended outward in three directions and really changed the footprint of our home,” says Adam. “At various stages, we removed the old brownish concrete roof tiles that were covered in decades of moss and lichen, as well as a large area of flat ply and bitumen roof that was on its last legs.”

 The homeowner made the decision to invest in TapcoSlate Classic after learning about its assets from Clint Ross, owner of Visions of Oxford, Ltd. “This composite slate roofing is realistic-looking, lightweight and impervious to impact damage,” says Adam. “I had never even realized this was a possibility! What really convinced me was when I went to Clint’s house and saw he had actually installed it on his own home. That gave me more confidence that it was a product he truly believed in."

Roofer's commitment

Visions of Oxford has installed TapcoSlate Classic on more than 15 homes in the past decade. According to Clint, he relies on the product as a good investment for his customers because of the product’s appearance, low maintenance needs, long-term dependability and safety aspects.

“I first put TapcoSlate Classic on my new build house and garages in 2015 and we have never installed anything else since then,” says Clint. “I promote TapcoSlate Classic to anyone simply because it’s easy to handle and install, has hardly any wastage and you can walk on it. Plus, it’s a recyclable product and it’s absolutely beautiful on a project once its installed.”

Award-winning project

For the Dixon-Chapman project, Clint stresses that the durability of the product, especially during the different phases of the new build, was a critical aspect. He shared, “I explained to Adam that the TapcoSlate Classic tiles would be easier for the fire escape to get out of the upper windows to walk on (and to also clean the upper windows). These tiles can handle the weight of someone standing on them. The fireproof nature of the tiles, their versatility and expected longevity of the product really sold the homeowners.”

It’s been several years since the project work first started on Adam’s home. During that time Clint has had no call-backs on the roof. With the project now complete, there’s only praise from the homeowner for the Visions of Oxford crew, their work ethics and product selections.

Adam shared some thoughts: 

The team we worked with from Visions of Oxford were always diligent about cleaning up as they went through the project every day. They stayed on the planned schedule, kept me informed and involved and gave me options instead of excuses whenever possible. This company was considerate of my property and the ongoing evolution of the project.

As for the TapcoSlate Classic roof, I’m very pleased with the investment we made. It’s so hardy. I’ve loved not having to stress out about it being damaged when myself or other trades are clomping about on it. It’s basically guaranteed to be maintenance free for many years, so roof repairs will likely never cross my mind again.

For all the exceptional work they did on our project, I’m truly excited that Visions of Oxford has received the 2025 Elite Roofing Award. Really well deserved, and they are great brand ambassadors for Tapco Roofing Products.

If you have a project that stands out like this one, consider entering it into the 2026 Tapco Elite Roofing Awards.