subject: Slate Roof Tiles Advantages [print this page] Did you know that the slate quarried today started to form during the Lower Paleozoic era, 545 million years ago?
Fine qrains of quartz and mica, either muscovite or illite consists a slate. The precise mineral composition and their relative quantities influence the shingles color and appearance.
Slate is found naturally in mountains. When it is quarried, it is usually done so in large blocks known as slabs. These blocks are then chopped up into smaller slabs for distribution and later perfectly refined for shingles.
The end product of these minerals are what we commonly know as the roofing tiles and roofing shingles. These materials are being used to create an great roofing system.
They have a lot of advantages:
1. Slates have a lot of variety. It is sourced in Canada, Brazil, Spain, North America or China. There is a particular color and style of slate that result a marvelous and catchy look.
2. The life span of roofing shingles are quite long. It can last from 80-100 years.
3. Slate roofs has a low water absorption index. The effect of this is that slate roofs a less prone to frost damage and breakage.
4. Slates are commonly used for roofing because they can be sliced into thin layers.
5. Slates are molded from natural stone grains under high temperatures and high pressure. The products have the same vein as natural stones, and their qualities are better than natural stones.
6. They are energy saving products that trap heat and keep your home warm in the winter and reflect sunlight and keep your home cool in the summer.
7. This type of roof could protect you from tragedies like fire as they are fire-resistant .
8. They have a track record that goes back thousands of years.
After knowing the advantages, would it be easy to install this type of roof? and what kind of equipment do you need for it's installation?
How to select the right roofing contractor:
1. An unexperienced installer can easily create a dent or crack the slates if not handled properly. Since these slates are made from natural material, it has the tendecy to easily break off.
2. The full life of the slate roof will only be guaranteed if the installation is very precise.
3. Flashings, major elements of a slate roof eventually wear off. These are metal joints around chimneys and around pipes that protrude through the roof. Your roofing company of choice should know how to be able to change in the future.
4. An improperly installed slate roof tile or poorly repaired roof, as shown by tar splotches on roofs, inappropriate slate tiles, metal patchwork and coated roofs will lead to problems for the homeowner with leakage, roof breakage and eventual replacement.
5. Be very watchful if they use copper nails and if they are not fixing or replacing the underlayment of the roof, this is not often seen but it could greatly decrease the life span of the slate roof.
Be sure the roofing contractor that you would hire knows very how to do their craft and has been in the industry long enough to cater to your roofing needs.
