Slate Roofing: Undeniably the Best

Probably the most distinguishable, memorable, and elegant of roofing materials is slate. Slate roofing can be seen on a castle in England; a middle class home in the United States; a hospital in an underdeveloped country; roofing any structure that requires a stylish, yet affordable roofing material that will last through the ages. Just about anywhere in the world, you can find some form of slate being used as a building material, most commonly roofing.

Surprisingly, slate roofing is made from common materials that can be found readily in any part of the world. This convenience makes slate highly priced anywhere. Slate is created from shale in a way. The extreme pressure and high heat create a chemistry process in the shale that results in quartz, various micas, and yes, even slate. Oddly, the very thing that makes it strong makes slate extremely brittle. The chemistry reaction also has a negative effect which results in a brittle substance. This process can also make slate extremely weak.

Slate roofing needs a lot more support than other types of roofing material. Since slate is in essence rock, it is extremely heavy. Believe me when I say that the last thing you want to happen is for a slate shingle to fall off your roof and hit a loved one in the head because of a poorly thought out roofing design. When you consider slate, know the facts. Slate roofs take extra support in the rafters to successfully hold all that rock weight. If you do not have that extra support, someone may be injured.

So you may be asking yourself, why do you want a slate roof? Properly installed and maintained, a slate roof will still be around in 150 years. Slate roofing is easily maintained and repaired, if properly installed. Slate roofing is great at keeping out the elements. In addition, slate roofs help insulate the structure beneath its protection. Slate roofs have been around longer than just about any industrialized roofing material. Slate roofing, though brittle may be easily recycled to produce other slate materials.

Many contractors specialize in slate building materials because it has a proven record of durability and reliability. In addition, a properly maintained slate roof will be an investment your grandchildren can appreciate. Slate building materials are also quite affordable.

When shopping for slate roof material, be sure to check for brittleness. Most roofing materials will come with a warranty to protect against manufacturer defects that are of no fault to anyone but nature. As with any large investment, shop around and do your research. Only do business with someone you feel comfortable with and trust.

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