SLATE ROOFING

Slate Roofing

Slate Roofing Tiles

Chinese Slate Tiles

This synthetic slate roof was produced by Davinci.
While slate is the most expensive roofing material on the market it is also the most durable and one of the more attractive. Literally cut from slabs of stone, slate roof tiles are most commonly grey but do occur in a variety of colors. Prices for slate commonly range from $600-$1000 per square compared to the price of asphalt shingles which is in the $60-$100 per square range. On the upside, slate roofs regularly last over 100 years and in rare occasions have been known to last twice that long!

Slate roofs require little maintenance, are very resistant to molding and insects and are fire proof. Slate is a heavy roofing material and can only be used on roofs that are properly supported for such weight. Most residential homes would require additional materials and labor to increase the roof's strength, adding to the expense of installing a slate roof. Should your slate roof need to be repaired, it is important to have the work done by a roofing contractor experienced with slate. Not only does slate require a certain amount of expertise to install correctly, it is a brittle material which can crack and/or break if walked on.

The highest quality slate in the U.S. comes from Vermont , with other quality slate materials found in Pennsylvania, or imported from countries such as Spain , China , or Canada. You can also buy synthetic slate, which is made from either a mixture of slate dust and glass fiber resin, or a combination of cement and fiber. Synthetic slate isn't as fragile as real slate, and it maintains many of the same protective qualities.

While slate has historically been a popular roofing material, today it is not installed as widely and frequently as in the past. The decline in popularity of slate can largely be tied to the advent of cheaper and easier to install materials, asphalt shingles being chief among them.

Pros:

Long life
Long warranty
Good weather resistance
Environmentally friendly
Cons:

Material expense
Expensive to repair