Known as the best quality and longest lasting roofing materials out there, slate roof tiles have been known to last more than a century. Along with cedar, flat roof, and shingles; your Chicagoland Roofing Service also can provide professional slate and tile roof installation. Although slate it not necessarily ideal for everyone, below we’re examining the advantages having a slate roof installed can bring.
What is Slate?
Slate is stone that has been mined or quarried. Slate shingles are split out by hand and then trimmed and punched at the quarry. Roofs made of slate have been installed in the United States for over 160 years with great success. Since slate tile is a natural stone product, you get a unique and beautiful appearance along with the longevity that it is known for.
Here are some reasons why customers have chosen to have slate roofing installed on their home. Slate advantages:
- Looks. First and foremost, folks love slate because of its appearance and beauty. There is nothing else like it. It is classy. Slate also provides many more choices than one might think with different thickness, sizes and colors.
- Endurance. Many roofing systems are good to last 2 to 3 decades before needing major replacement. Whereas, a properly installed slate tile roof can last over a century and in fact, over 150 years. This is a huge advantage to homeowners.
- Resists Fires. Reliable slate roofing has been stated as one of the most fire resistant roofs that exist. Since the tiles themselves are totally fire proof, it is a great help in preventing fires caused by spreading wildfires, adjacent house fires, and even fireworks.
- Eco Friendly. Waste from roofing can account for up to 5{4c8fd0987a672ac4f7f6915f4c64b1fcd7534767d6f45f4e3d72857a7b8808b2} or more of our total landfill debris in the country every year. Since most of this is connected to typical roofs that have asphalt shingles which need replacing every 20 or 30 years, one can easily see the benefits of installing a roof that will last 4 to 5 times longer than that.
There are three main components needed for a slate roof: 1) Slate, 2) Substrate, and 3) Fasteners.
- Slate: Slate tiles can come from a number of places yet North American slates are a good bet for high quality. We always select slates that have been tried and proven from a trust manufacturer.
- Substrate: The material that the nails fasten into is called the substrate. Usually it is 3/4″, 1″ or 1.5″ boards, gypsum concrete or nailable concrete. It needs to be able to breath and last an extremely long time.
- Fasteners: Slate roof fasteners hold the slate onto the roof. Typically used are copper roofing nails, stainless steel roofing nails, or hot-dipped galvanized roofing nails.
With all the advantages in having a slate roof, there are a few draw backs. The main one is that having a slate roof costs more than your traditional asphalt shingle roof. You must also consider the weight that a slate roof will add to your home and make sure it has the structural integrity to handle that. And it is important that slate tile roofs be installed correctly with professionals that have experience in installing slate roofs like your experts here at Apex Exteriors. Overall considering all the advantages and draw backs, slate roofing tiles are a good investment to your home.
Last Updated on April 17, 2017 by ApexRoofingServices
