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Slate roof tiles are one of the most instantly recognisable roofing materials, well known for their high level of curb appeal, timeless appearance, and durability. And choosing the right slate tiles for your roof can make all the difference when it comes to getting the look just right. There are quite a few different options out there, which can make it easier to find the perfect ones for your property.
Before we move on to the different types of slate tiles that are available, let's take a look at why you would be choosing slate in the first place. Slate tiles have many benefits that appeal to homeowners all over the UK. One of the biggest appeals is their attractiveness. There really isn't another roofing material that can match the look of natural slates. But there are also other advantages beyond aesthetics.
Slate roof tiles are incredibly long-lasting compared to other roofing materials. They can survive for over a century and it is not unheard of for them to outlast the building they were installed on. Natural slate is made of metamorphic rock, which was formed under intense heat and pressure deep within the earth. Because of this, it is very dense and very tough, which is why it is so able to withstand the elements and outlast any other roofing material.
Natural roof slates are also an environmentally friendly long-term roofing option. Their manufacturing process doesn't emit harmful chemicals, they last a long time, and they can be easily reused and recycled over and over again. They are also a good insulator for your property which can help to lower your heating costs and help to protect the environment.
Maintaining your roof slate doesn't take very much effort. You should make sure to check your slate roof annually so that any damage can get caught early and remedied but, other than that, your main focus should be on keeping the gutters, fascia, and any windows free from moss and other debris.
Slates are resistant to rain, wind, and frost (all of which are common in the UK), and they are also resistant to high levels of heat (potentially less common). They are also fire-proof. Slates are formed under extreme heat and pressure, so it would take a heat that is a lot higher than a normal fire to be able to damage the slate.
While there are lots of benefits to slates, the disadvantages should also be mentioned. Chiefly among them is the cost. Slate roofs are the most expensive roofing option. With that being said, their longevity does mean that the cost over a long period of time could end up being lower.
Slate roofs are also very heavy, and not all buildings are able to support the weight. And, while they are very durable when it comes to weather conditions and natural wear and tear, they can crack easily if someone steps on them. So if you have a contractor who needs to work on your roof, they could easily damage the slates if proper care isn't taken.
It might seem at first glance that there is only one type of slate tile, but in fact, there is a wide range of options out there. Where the rock is formed (which quarries it comes from) and the particular minerals that are in the earth surrounding it determine how the rock looks.
One factor that can confuse the matter is that, as well as natural slate, there are also artificial slate roof tiles. These options both look and perform differently from natural slate and can include fibre cement roof tiles and tiles made of bitumen. Clay roof tiles can also be made to look like natural slate roof tiles.
The benefit of using artificial slate roofing systems instead of natural slate is that it is a lot cheaper and you still get a similar appearance. You can also have more control over the details of how the slates look. Artificial slate, however, doesn't last anything like as long as natural slate, and many homeowners feel that it never looks quite "real".
Around 80% of European roofing slate is quarried in Spain. Spanish slate doesn't have a huge amount of colour variation. It is mainly composed of quartz and chlorite minerals, which give it a black or grey appearance.
Welsh slate is known for its high quality and attractive appearance. It comes in a variety of colours. Blue-grey Welsh slate has high levels of calcium carbonate, purple (heather) slate tiles have a high level of hematite, and pink (blush) slates have a high level of iron oxide.
Brazilian slate is becoming more and more popular, and this is mainly because it comes in such a wide range of colour variations. These include black, green, blue, and purple.
The way that the slates are cut and then laid can make a big difference to how they look on your house. A skilled roofer will have experience with laying roof slate in a variety of different ways and will be able to advise you on which types of slates work best for which project. The variation in styles allows you to find exactly what you are looking for, so you can be certain your roof slate was the right choice for years to come.
When cutting slate, in this case it is to a uniform width, length, and thickness. The roofing tiles are laid in neat horizontal rows, in a similar layout to a brick wall. A uniform slate roof looks modern and clean and can look great on new build properties.
This is, in some ways, the opposite to uniform slate roof. The roofing tiles are in no way standardized, and instead have varying thicknesses, width, and length. The roofer's job is then to carefully lay the roof slate in a graduated manner.
The bigger and thicker roofing tiles are laid near the eaves at the bottom, whereas the ridge tiles are smaller and thinner. Properly installed, a graduated slate roof can create an optical illusion that makes your house appear taller than it is.
The goal of a textural roof is to show the natural slates in all of their rustic glory. The roof slate is left rough and uneven, and the shape and thicknesses are varied. In this case, however, the overall size of the tiles is the same, from the ridge tiles down to the eaves. Installing a textural roof slate can give your property a real rustic appearance.
A staggered roof also uses roof slate that varies in length, width, and occasionally colours. It is laid so that the butts of the slates protrude over each other. This gives the roof an interesting and unusual hanging appearance.
Taking advantage of the variation in colour of many roofing slates, to create a patterned slate roof, a roofer will lay the roof slate in a way that utilises different colours to create a pattern on the roof itself. This is most often done using uniform tiles to make pattern creation easier.
Slate roofs are never a passing fad. They have been a popular choice for all sorts of buildings for hundreds of years, and they will probably never go out of fashion. If you are in the market today for a slate tile roof, then there is a really wide range of options that you can choose from. As a disadvantage of slate roofs, people often point out that the tile isn't customisable, but it doesn't really need to be when there is so much natural variation of different colours, cutting, and laying options.
