ROOFING FEATURE
Upgrading historic Epsom home A historically listed home in Mountain Road, Epsom known as Stoneways was built by one of Auckland’s most prominent architects of the time, William Gummer as his family home. It was 1926 when Gummer was best known for his design of public buildings such as the original Auckland Railway Station, the Dilworth building and the Domain Watergardens, while in Wellington he designed the National Museum. Stoneways was named after the lava flow beneath and reflects Gummer’s personal statement on domestic architecture with its blend of Georgian, Spanish Mission and arts and crafts influences. When the current owners needed to replace the roof the historical elements of Stoneways were a prime consideration. At issue were the various horizontal roof areas and vertical features including penetrations and outlets. In researching the application Neuchatel Mastic Asphalt as a replacement material, the owners contacted Mohan Roofing Services Ltd and were “over the moon” to learn there were three UK-qualified Neuchatel Mastic Asphalt spreaders with 82 years of experience between them. Mohan Roofing Services removed the existing membrane and laid the waterproofing material as follows.• 2 x 10mm coats Mastic Asphalt roofing grade on black sheathing felt to various horizontal area • 2 coats Mastic Asphalt to 13mm thickness to all vertical areas including penetrations and outlets • On completion, two coats of aluminium paint as a UV protection for the Mastic Asphalt were applied Able to outlast all other bituminous materials (it can last up to 60 years), Neuchatel Mastic Asphalt has been in use in New Zealand for over 100 years and around the world for a lot longer. It is fully
Stoneways (top), voted by Metro magazine as one of the best homes ever built in Auckland is having a makeover. Below: Anthony Sheppard (left) and Paul Hampstead (centre and right) remove the old membrane from the Category 1 Heritage building.
recyclable, non-toxic and is unaffected by water. Mohan’s spreaders have each completed a four year apprenticeship in the UK before moving to New Zealand. Stoneways with its historical significance, turned out to be the perfect job for the spreaders in their new country. The home is constructed in reinforced concrete and brick with a plastered finish and is set in 1,211 sqm of grounds. The original formal gardens and a native woodland at the rear disappeared when the property
was subdivided some decades ago but the essential character of the home remains with a street frontage framed by two ancient puriri trees. Stoneways was recently upgraded to a Category 1 Heritage building and has been cited as one of the best eight houses ever built in Auckland (Metro, November 2009). Undoubtedly the new long life roof will add to the significance of the upgrade of the building as the present owners progress its renovation.
Issue 64 • Autumn 2013 25