Slate roof shingles can outlast nearly any other roofing material on the market, while bringing the beauty of natural stone and its own unique properties to a home. Newer materials may have replaced slate shingles as the predominate roofing material used today, but the characteristics of slate ensure that it will never go out of style.
What is Slate?
Slate is a fine grained, metamorphic rock, formed from volcanic clay and ash, settling into layers, and hardening as it cooled. Slate is easily cut and cleft on these layers, easily forming the stone into sheets. These sheets can then by cut to form tiles, which can be used for many building purposes including roofs.
Slate can be quarried from all over the world, and its location is what lends many of the types of slate their color and beauty. Vermont slate is a popular, domestic material, which is a fairly uniform gray in color. Slate which comes from Wales may have more purple tones, while slate which is quarried in Brazil may be black or green in color. Chinese slates and Indian slates are among the most varied, ranging in colors from rust reds, to deep blue greens, some containing large chunks of pyrite.
The Benefits of a Slate Roof
Slate roofs have several benefits for homeowners. Their unique beauty and style can enhance any home. Slate tiles are available for roofing in various sizes, thickness and styles.
Available in a wide range of colors, including lavender, green, gray, gold and even a shade verging on red, slate tiles can compliment any home colors scheme, while providing the home with a look all its own.
Slate roof tiles are also extremely durable. If installed correctly, a slate roof can be expected to last up to 150 years, without costly maintenance or repairs. Along with this durability, comes a natural fire resistance. Slate tiles can help protect homes form airborne sparks from forest fires, neighboring home fires and fireworks.
Potential Drawbacks to a Slate Roof
Any homeowner considering installing slate roofing tiles should also consider potentially undesirable characteristics, to help them make an informed decision. Slate roofs can be extremely difficult to install, adding additional costs to the project. Many roofers have not worked with slate tiles in the past, and if attempting to install them like other tiles, they may run into difficulties that can compromise the roof of the house. If using slate roof tiles, be sure to use a contractor who specializes in their installation to avoid these issues.
While a slate roof, if properly installed can be left untouched for up to 150 years, the slate tiles cannot handle frequent handling. This means that they should not be walked on by workmen installing a satellite dish, or for other reasons. If someone must go on the roof for any reason, care needs to be taken to ensure that the tiles take as little direct contact as possible. Slate is a fragile material, prone to splitting and spalling along its layers, which means that a workman dragging a ladder across it could damage several tiles.
If damage does occur to slate tiles, it can be extremely difficult to repair and replace them. Slate is a very varied material, quarried and sold in lots. Each lot is different than the next, making it difficult to match materials for repairs. One way to avoid this problem is to purchase extra material and keep it on hand in a garage or shed, incase of damage or necessary repairs.
Slate tiles are also extremely heavy. A slate roof will weigh between 800 and 1,500 pounds for every 100 square feet installed. This means that a homeowner considering the use of a slate roof will need to have the home’s structure evaluated to ensure that a slate roof can be safely installed.
If care is taken choosing, installing and maintaining a slate roof, the beauty and durability of the roof will last for years to come. The beauty of the home and the unique style of the material will be enhanced with the coming years, making slate roof tiles a worthwhile investment for many homeowners.
What is Slate?
Slate is a fine grained, metamorphic rock, formed from volcanic clay and ash, settling into layers, and hardening as it cooled. Slate is easily cut and cleft on these layers, easily forming the stone into sheets. These sheets can then by cut to form tiles, which can be used for many building purposes including roofs.
Slate can be quarried from all over the world, and its location is what lends many of the types of slate their color and beauty. Vermont slate is a popular, domestic material, which is a fairly uniform gray in color. Slate which comes from Wales may have more purple tones, while slate which is quarried in Brazil may be black or green in color. Chinese slates and Indian slates are among the most varied, ranging in colors from rust reds, to deep blue greens, some containing large chunks of pyrite.
The Benefits of a Slate Roof
Slate roofs have several benefits for homeowners. Their unique beauty and style can enhance any home. Slate tiles are available for roofing in various sizes, thickness and styles.
Available in a wide range of colors, including lavender, green, gray, gold and even a shade verging on red, slate tiles can compliment any home colors scheme, while providing the home with a look all its own.
Slate roof tiles are also extremely durable. If installed correctly, a slate roof can be expected to last up to 150 years, without costly maintenance or repairs. Along with this durability, comes a natural fire resistance. Slate tiles can help protect homes form airborne sparks from forest fires, neighboring home fires and fireworks.
Potential Drawbacks to a Slate Roof
Any homeowner considering installing slate roofing tiles should also consider potentially undesirable characteristics, to help them make an informed decision. Slate roofs can be extremely difficult to install, adding additional costs to the project. Many roofers have not worked with slate tiles in the past, and if attempting to install them like other tiles, they may run into difficulties that can compromise the roof of the house. If using slate roof tiles, be sure to use a contractor who specializes in their installation to avoid these issues.
While a slate roof, if properly installed can be left untouched for up to 150 years, the slate tiles cannot handle frequent handling. This means that they should not be walked on by workmen installing a satellite dish, or for other reasons. If someone must go on the roof for any reason, care needs to be taken to ensure that the tiles take as little direct contact as possible. Slate is a fragile material, prone to splitting and spalling along its layers, which means that a workman dragging a ladder across it could damage several tiles.
If damage does occur to slate tiles, it can be extremely difficult to repair and replace them. Slate is a very varied material, quarried and sold in lots. Each lot is different than the next, making it difficult to match materials for repairs. One way to avoid this problem is to purchase extra material and keep it on hand in a garage or shed, incase of damage or necessary repairs.
Slate tiles are also extremely heavy. A slate roof will weigh between 800 and 1,500 pounds for every 100 square feet installed. This means that a homeowner considering the use of a slate roof will need to have the home’s structure evaluated to ensure that a slate roof can be safely installed.
If care is taken choosing, installing and maintaining a slate roof, the beauty and durability of the roof will last for years to come. The beauty of the home and the unique style of the material will be enhanced with the coming years, making slate roof tiles a worthwhile investment for many homeowners.
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