Marketing Language and the CCPI

The marketing of pitched roof underlays should avoid the phrase “easy to install”, which is subjective and depends on user experience. Pitched roofing is a skilled trade, and suggesting that an underlay is “easy” to install implies it can be done well even with limited experience.

For that reason, the phrase features in the Words and Phrases to Avoid Using document, published by the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI).

Nevertheless, pitched roof underlays can include features and characteristics that make them as user-friendly as possible for experienced installers.

Case Study: Reroofing St Mary’s Barton, Headington, Oxfordshire

The Challenge

Essential repairs and renovation are being carried out on St Mary’s Barton, a parish church built in 1958. Although not particularly old, the church holds architectural significance. Designed by NF Cachemaille-Day, who was behind some of the most “revolutionary” 20th century churches in the UK, the reroofing works needed to respect the heritage of the building.

The Solution

The pitched roof specification was the responsibility of the roofing contractor. Speakman Roofing proposed Proctor Air® as their preferred underlay.

Key Quote

“We use Proctor Air on nearly every project. The feedback from our installers is that it’s good to use. It gets all the little things right that matter to the people using it.”
Andrew Speakman – Director, Speakman Roofing

Why Installer Feedback Matters

Feedback on the positive and negative aspects of a construction product, such as a pitched roof underlay, can significantly influence how that product—and its manufacturer—are perceived in the marketplace.

Speaking on the Proctor Podcast, Will Jones, Head of Business Development at Proctor Group, explained:

“Third party certification provides confidence that a product does what it says and can be used in a certain application. But you can’t appreciate a product until you’ve tried and tested it. There’s nothing better than using a product in the field. How did it perform? Were there any problems with it?”

If a product is difficult to install, even for an experienced contractor, manufacturers need to understand that. Otherwise:

  • Contractors may complain to merchants and suppliers and switch to alternatives.

  • Feedback may reach architects, preventing future specifications.

John Johnston, Sales Director at Proctor Group, added in the same podcast:

“At Proctor Group, we pride ourselves on making products that are fit for purpose. Contractors sometimes speak to us about cheaper alternative products they’ve had a bad experience with, and we carry that feedback into our product development processes.”

Products in Practice: Proctor Air at St Mary’s Barton

At St Mary’s Barton, Speakman Roofing selected Proctor Air® because it was already part of their standard specification.

Andrew Speakman, Director, Speakman Roofing, explained:

“We use Proctor Air on nearly every project. The one product can cover all eventualities so it’s cost effective – we don’t have to stock different rolls of different membranes.”

A cost-effective product is not necessarily the cheapest. Proctor Air’s value lies in being reliable, well-liked by installers, and proven in use.

“From the first time we trialled Proctor Air, the feedback from our installers was that it’s good to use. It gets all the little things right that matter to the people using it.”
Andrew Speakman – Director, Speakman Roofing

What Makes Proctor Air a User-Friendly Underlay?

When installers assess a pitched roof underlay, practical questions matter:

  • Does it tear easily?

  • Does it cut well, or do the edges fray when trimmed with a knife?

  • Is it lightweight but strong enough for site handling?

According to Speakman Roofing, Proctor Air® performs well across these criteria.

Performance Characteristics

While the headline benefits of Proctor Air are its low vapour resistance and air permeability, additional technical strengths also support on-site performance:

  • Mullen Burst Strength – excellent results mean the fabric resists normal roof installation loads.

  • Slip Resistance – a high coefficient of friction improves safety during installation as part of safe working practices.

Building Performance

As an air permeable, low resistance (APLR) membrane, Proctor Air also delivers building-level benefits:

  • Air permeability provides consistent ventilation and uniform airflow in cold roof spaces, removing the need for roof vents.

  • Vapour permeability allows moisture to pass from the roof space. With an Sd value of 0.015m and a vapour resistance of 0.075 MNs/g, it is one of the highest performing vapour permeable membranes available.

This combination reduces condensation risk and avoids the need for additional venting—particularly valuable for heritage and refurbishment projects.

Andrew Speakman concluded:

“The air permeability of Proctor Air makes it very versatile for us. St Mary’s Church featured a traditional pantile on a mortar-bedded creasing tile eave. Proctor Air gave us a breathable roof without sacrificing the traditional elements, and while maintaining the original appearance of the building.”