Important Facts You Should Know About Slate Roofing

Most of us don't have rigorous standards when it comes to choosing the type of our roofing. As long as it doesn't leak and it keeps us warm and well-isolated, we don't mind that much what kind of material is laid overhead. However, you might have noticed that more and more people are installing slate roofing and you have probably wondered what the advantages of this type of roofing are. Here is a list of the 6 most important facts you ought to know about slate roofing.

A short history lesson

Although it might not appear so, slate roofs are actually made from fine-grain stone slabs. Because it's a fairly simple material to use, slate appeared in Medieval Ages on castles and wealthy private homes. As more and more quarries opened, so did slate become a popular material for roofing of all classes. The most popular (and some claim, the oldest) slate quarry in Australia, for example, is the Mintaro Slate Quarry in South Australia. The 1800s and the 1900s witnessed a boom of the slated roof as the entire populace could afford it.

How slate is made

Although stone is at the very essence of a slate roof, things aren't quite that simple. This natural stone is formed under intense pressure and heat that forms underground, providing it with its fine-grain structure and durability. Today, slate is quarried at various sites, which means that you can order any type or color of slating you wish. It has a natural cleavage so machines or in some cases crafty stonemasons can shape the slabs into any shape you like. Furthermore, the texture of a slate slab can rather be smooth or rough, depending on the homeowner's preferences

Apart from being able to withstand almost any weather condition, slate is resistant to mildew, mold, and other common sources of contamination. And it's not only violet storms that slate can endure. Strong sunlight, typical to the Sydney area during the summer months, will not only case zero damage but slate slabs won't even lose their texture or color.

Of course, this is all true only in the case your slate roof is properly installed. That's why slate roofing in North Shore involves experts who can cover the roof in a proper way. When executed right, a slate roof can last up 100 years! Keep the number of roofing company because you will also need to maintain and clean the slate roof in order to maximize its lifespan.

​Styling home value

The durability of a slate roof set aside, homeowners prefer them to conventional orange shingles because of its aesthetics. Since they don't come cheap, they have the potential to increase the value of your home. Once set (up) in place, they add to the opulence of any home. They are seldom used in office buildings so residential objects comprise the majority of the structures they protect from above. If you ever decide to market your home, a slate roof will instantly increase its market value. All you have to do is clean the moss from it and let the slate slabs shine.

If you're a designated driver then you've probably grown sick and tired of those illegal dumpsites on the side of the road. More often than not, they are filled with broken roof tiles. The thing is, a conventional tile is hard to recycle and most of it ends up where it came from, in the ground. This problem is virtually non-existent when it comes to slate tiles. They can be either reused or recycled once their lifetime is over.

The biggest argument against slab roofs is their grey color. Although this is their natural color, they actually come in many more colors, such as purple, red, and green. Furthermore, they get a fine patina and change their hue slightly as time goes by. If you're not a fan of this fading effect then you can install unfading or permanent slates whose color is unalterable. Essentially, you have the full-color palette at your disposal if you opt for a slate roof.

Now that you know these 6 facts about slate roofs, you are ready to reach the decision whether you wish to install them. Don't be set off by the initial investment as you have seen that slates have little if any weak spots. A slate roof, with proper maintenance, will serve your grandchildren!