Slate Roof

Slate roofing may conjure images of New England, or Old Europe. Houses that are 100 years old or older may still have the same slate roofing that was installed during initial construction. That's because a roof of quality slate, when skillfully installed and properly maintained, is among the most enduring roofing material on the market. Although this also makes slate an expensive option for roofing, its beauty and longevity make it an excellent investment.

Choosing Slate

Choosing the type of slate you want will effect both the color and quality of your roof. Vermont unfading green is not Pennsylvania black. Obviously, their aesthetic qualities are different, but their textures, life-expectancies, and pricing also differ. Choosing the best quality slate means a life expectancy of 100 years or more (exceptional slate has been known to last as long as 200 years), a period generally longer than the life expectancy of other materials that might be used in roofing. To put that in perspective, the average shingle roof will last up to 20 years; thus, for every time a quality slate roof must be replaced, a regular shingle roof will have to be replaced at least five times.

Roofing Styles

There are numerous ways in which the slate can be arranged on the roof, each with a very distinctive look of its own. There is everything from standard-pattern style to staggered-butt style. The best thing to do is look around at other houses online or around town, observe the styles others choose, and find one that is personally appealing. Designs with patterns and inscriptions are also possible when using slate of varying colors. In the end, imagination and budget are the only real limitations.

Avoiding Mistakes

There's no doubt about it: no matter your budget, slate roofing is an expensive endeavor. Though the beautiful result is worthwhile, it's not something anyone would jump at the chance to pay twice for. With that much money invested in the project, it's essential to make sure the installation is properly done from the first.

While roofing may seem like a straightforward project, there are numerous complications that can lead to disasters with high fixing costs. Fortunately, many of these mistakes are easily avoided by using only high-quality materials in the roofing process. Practices such as using proper nails and flashing (the sheet of metal that lies underneath the slate) will help extend the life of the roof. Slate roofs are fairly easy to take apart and put back together, so the replacement of the flashing and nails isn't nearly as expensive or difficult a project as the original roof construction. But every time the roof is repaired, it puts stress on the tiles that will most likely reduce their effective lifespan.

Also consider that slate is the heaviest of available roofing materials. As a result, it's important to ensure that a roof is capable of holding the additional weight before proceeding with the installation.