One of the most common types of roofs found in the UK is a slate roof. The slate is of course the type of roofing tiles used and even though they were perhaps more popular a few decades ago, is still synonymous with style and quality.
Why choose slate?
Slate is a naturally occurring material which is formed over many thousands of years and is mined in large quantities mainly now in the Far East. Slate from Scottish and Welsh quarries is, however, very desirable and can obtained for your build if this is what you stipulate.
One of the main benefits of slate is that it is so long lasting. Roofs covered in slate need little attention and can last for many years before needing any maintenance. Even when the roof needs some work, a roofer will commonly use most of the original material on the roof with a little of the new product to complement it.
Natural slate also is incredibly waterproof with a very low water absorption index of less than 0.4% giving a high degree of weatherproofing even in areas which are susceptible to heavy rains and driving winds. This natural waterproofing combined with the ease which the raw material can be split means that natural slate requires minimal processing and gives it an exceptionally low rate of embodied energy, making it one of the better options if you are concerned about your carbon emissions. Similar concerns may also lead you to pick slate from either Scotland or Wales, further reducing the carbon cost of your roof by removing the long journey of your roof from halfway around the globe
Although lack of maintenance and durability are two of the things it has to offer, perhaps the best reason to use slate is its looks. Slate's aesthetic qualities make it one of the most well respected building materials currently available. Slate is available which show blue and green colours and even pink-red hues. Each slate has its own individual characteristics, which when added together only serve to increase the beautiful look of your roof.
