Longworth is one of the UK’s leading envelope contractors, offering a complete turnkey service of design, installation and project management.

Over the years, we’ve become renowned for being an industry innovator. Building on our established reputation for being master craftsmen in the use of traditional metal products such as zinc, copper and stainless steel, since 1999 we have extended our skills and expertise to cover the whole of the external building envelope. And all to the highest of specifications.

Experience and detailed market knowledge of customer needs, supplier skills, legislative and environmental drivers and the emergence of new technologies have all contributed to our current market standing.

We combine this with outstanding customer support, safe working practices, technical understanding and quality workmanship - all of which have been achieved through constant investment in training and certification of our people.

At Longworth, we have a proven track record of working with all of the major UK developers to complete projects on time, on budget and on demand.

Offering complete turnkey services — design, installation and project management.

Pre-Construction Advice

Our team can provide valuable product and design advice at any stage of a project. With years of experience and long-standing relationships with product manufacturers, our engineers ensure that projects remain within budget without compromising architectural integrity.

Project Management

We utilise a collaborative project management programme to ensure we deliver projects on time, within budget, and most importantly, safely.

Fabrication

Our in-house fabrication service can deliver a wide range of high quality bespoke roofing and cladding solutions, utilising computerised folding and cutting machinery to ensure a precise and consistent end product.

Design

The latest computerised design systems equip our design team with the ability to provide clients, architects and main contractors with a complete plan for the construction project. For the more intricate designs, we have the facilities to produce a 3D image to assist with the design. All of our designers have been trained up to BIM Level 2.

Planning

For each project we provide a strict planning service. This includes producing detailed plans, method statements and risk assessments. The end result is a structured project following a critical path. We communicate with the client at every step of the way and our contracts manager is assigned to oversee the project, co-ordinating between the client, design, and site teams.

Commercial

We commit ourselves to providing the most economical service available. We are not tied into any one supplier or system which means value engineering is always available. Our partnering mentality is ideal for those who wish us to become involved from an early stage, which can often result in cost reduction of other trades such as steelwork, masonry, etc.

We have extensive experience of working within a range of sectors.

Public & Commercial Buildings

Over the years, Longworth has undertaken a wide range of roofing and cladding works, from office space to state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.

Retail & Residential

More than a third of consumer spending goes through our shops and it is the UK’s largest private sector employer with 2.9 million employees.

Transport

Modern and efficient transport infrastructure is as important today as it has ever been.

Leisure

The range of building types in the leisure industry means that we have to be adaptable and competent in a wide range of methods, design, products and environments.

Health Care

Our team has completed a large number of projects in the health care sector, from new build highly-aesthetic designs to functional, cost-conscious projects.

Education

We pride ourselves in expertly handling the building process of schools, colleges and universities all over the country.

We've got them all covered.

Three benefits of zinc roofing and cladding 27 Feb 2019

 

Three Benefits of Zinc Roofing and Cladding

Longworth get asked all the time to provide quotations for zinc roofing and cladding. Recently we have seen a big spike in the amount of enquiries for zinc products, it’s obvious to us why project specifications are including zinc more and more but to make it clearer for everyone else, we’ve put together 3 reasons “Why people should opt for zinc roofing and cladding”.

 

1. The aesthetic qualities of zinc roofing and cladding

Zinc is an incredibly versatile product. It can be formed and shaped to suit a whole host of interesting roofing and cladding designs, from traditional standing seams to complex and highly architectural shingle patterns. It’s malleable enough to form difficult and intricate details and flashings around chimneys, abutments, penetrations while still being tough enough for extreme environments. The natural patina of zinc means that it ages very well. As the years go by, your zinc roofing and cladding will weather and age with increasing beauty. Zinc has the ability to blend old with new and vice versa. Zinc looks equally at home on a traditional mansard roof as it does on a hyper-modern construction as well as lending a touch of heritage to a modern extension on a traditional domestic house. You’re not limited to a natural zinc finishes either. Advanced modern technology allows our trusted suppliers to apply pre-patinated finishes and bespoke colours through the full spectrum.  With a long list of aesthetic finishes, it’s easy to see why, on the face of it, zinc roofing and cladding is increasing in popularity.

Zinc roofing and cladding The Bund The Alchemist Media City Salford Longworth Artez Living Ventures

The Bund in Salford Quays uses a contrasting standing seam zinc roofing and cladding to achieve a highly architectural finish on polyhedron shaped building. The zinc is finished in a Rainbow Gold colour.

 

2. The eco-friendly properties of zinc roofing and cladding

As well as the obvious aesthetic qualities, Zinc is has some brilliant environmental properties. It requires much less energy to produce compared to other traditional roofing metals such as steel, copper and aluminium due to its low melting point. At the end of the useful life of a building, the zinc roofing and cladding can be removed from the building and be completely recycled! Which in turn means that zinc roofing and cladding can be produced from recycled materials. Zinc also has low toxicity levels which means it has a clear water run-off and will not damage soil and ground water supply. Zinc is also widely used to fabricate rainwater goods. What a brilliantly useful and green life cycle! If you’re considering zinc for your next project then remember that the fantastic eco-friendly properties of zinc are looked upon very favourably by planners. Whats not to like?

Tower Wood Activity Centre in the Lake district in VMZINC Pigmento Green. Blends seamlessly with it’s natural woodland surroundings on the edge of Lake Windermere.

 

 

3. The robust nature of zinc roofing and cladding

Quite possibly a little know but superb quality of zinc, is its ability to keep out the corrosion. The top layer or patina of zinc is a result of the zinc reacting with water and oxygen and locking away carbon dioxide in a protective layer called zinc hydroxyl-carbonate [source: Zaso] that gives it it’s distinctive bluish patina. This unique quality is why zinc is used in the galvanising process of steel and iron to prevent it from rusting. It’s also how zinc is able to be “self healing”. When scratched, zinc will react with water and oxygen and form the protective patina layer. Zinc is also not degradable by UV light. All of these tough qualities made it very popular in the mid 18th century when it started to be produced in larger quantities. The vast majority of Paris still has original zinc roofs from that era. In theory, a well installed zinc roof by a reputable contractor should last in excess of 100 years.

Zinc roofing and cladding VMZINC pigmento Red Smokehouses Longworth

Smokehouses, North Shields. VM Zinc, Pigemento Red zinc roofing and cladding in a C5 marine environment on the banks of the River Tyne at the estuary to the North Sea.

 

 

What are you waiting for?

If you’re thinking about using Zinc on your next project and you would like to speak to experts with over 150 years of experience in roofing and cladding then call us, we’re really friendly and very knowledgeable. Wisdomous even. Contact us on 0845 634 1370 we would love to hear about your new project.

 

What our clients say

"Longworth’s expertise in the traditional metal roofing trade proved invaluable. We would like to thank them for working closely with us to achieve our original vision."

Katy Heath, Nightingale Associates