ELC Roofing in Sudbury earns top industry award in recognition of company's toughest ever project at Old Mill House in Aldeburgh

A Sudbury company says it has “made a mark” on the national stage, after winning an industry award for a restoration project described as one of the biggest and most challenging it had ever undertaken.

ELC Roofing, based on Woodhall Business Park, earned top recognition at the 2021 Pitched Roofing Awards for its large-scale renovation work on The Old Mill House in Aldeburgh.

Staff spent a year slating the five-storey Georgian windmill, which was built in 1824 and placed on the market for £1.2 million in 2016, having been converted into a four-bedroom property.

Such was the scale of the project that ELC Roofing’s managing director, Edward Carlo, stated it was unlike anything they had ever attempted before.

In honour of their efforts, the team picked up the accolade for ‘Best use of slate for a domestic project in England’ at the award ceremony, hosted by TV presenter Jenny Powell at The Midland Hotel in Manchester at the end of November.

Mr Carlo, a former Sudbury Upper School pupil, said ELC Roofing’s position as such a small firm, nominated alongside much large companies, made the award all the more significant.

“We were the youngest and smallest company there,” he told the Free Press. “For us, we have made a mark.

“To be honest, we were a bit of a dark horse for the award. We were the youngest and smallest company there. The other companies probably go to the awards every year.

“Suffolk is about 10 years behind in the building trade, because most modern buildings are being built in London, Cambridge and other big cities.

“To be one of the youngest and smallest teams there, pull off one of the hardest refurbishments, and bring the award back to Suffolk, is massive. It’s the best thing in the world for us.”

ELC Roofing was one of 11 winners at the Pitched Roofing Awards, which was founded by Roofing, Cladding and Insulation (RCI) magazine and is now in its fourth year.