Slate-Roofing-for-Extraordinary-Quality-and-Structural-Durability

Slate stones are found in stone quarries and the quality and color varies based on the particular quarry or even on a section of the quarry. Since natural roofing slate is made out of natural stone sliced to the specified thickness, the quality of the tiles including the hardness and the exfoliation tendency will depend of the quarry where it was harvested from. As well, the quality of natural slate roofing tiles will vary with the thickness to which it was cut.

The heavier tiles might last longer and have sufficient thickness to endure exfoliation better, but lets not forget how heavy the natural slate tiles are, and the fact that the roofing support and the entire house structure needs to be designed and built with that particular weight taken into consideration. And when the house is located in colder areas of the country with excessive snowfall, the entire house structure will need to be built to the specifications of the natural slate tile and possible snow weight, thus a much heavier, expensive structure.

Over the years, being exposed to sun heat and winter freezing temperatures, the natural slate has a tendency to exfoliate and crack. Just as bad, the natural slate reacts to any tree branch or other debris falling on top of the roof and to the maintenance people walking on. When cutting the stone to obtain the slate sizes used in roofing, invisible to the eye, very fine cracks could develop, which in time could became weak points.

conservatory warm roof

When installed right, it could be a very durable material that could last even 100 years, but problems still appear in time. Being a material prone to cracking, the installation is very important and it should only be done by specialized, experienced roofers. The installation of each tile and the pressure with which the tile is nailed down to the roofing deck is important as well as the installation of flashing, gutters, ice falling pins, etc. More tiles than what the roof area needs will have to be ordered to account for some broken tiles which will result during the installation, creating some waste.

Not having any flexibility, the natural slate roof tile is very much influenced by the force with which the installer nails the tiles, too tight nailing could create a stress point and generate a crack, a piece of a tile or an entire tile could fall and it will need replacement. Too loose nailing could generate movement of the tile and allow debris to accumulate under it, debris can become moist and freeze in winter and expand thus cracking the tile.

When a roofer will walk on existing, aged, natural slate roof tiles to reach the area of needed repair, other tiles will crack as he walks on them, thus generating more area of possible leaks and needed repairs.

ThermUval slates are lightweight and have all tests past. They make your conservaotry usable all year round.