Slate is a natural stone which is formed deep within the earth from layers of shale, a soft, mud-like rock (also known as claystone). Shale is transformed into slate as the temperature rises and the pressure intensifies, and the shale fragments align themselves into the parallel plates which are further compressed into the slate we eventually see and appreciate.

Slate is composed of a number of different chemical and mineral constituents, including iron pyrites (Fool’s Gold), muscovite, biotite, quartz and chlorite along with many others. This combination of minerals together with the extreme temperatures and pressures used in forming slate, give it tremendous strength and natural beauty.

Slate’s strength, pleasing appearance, water and fire resistance together with its ability to be worked into a variety of forms, means that slate has become a favorite building material for designers, builders and homeowners alike.

Slate Roofing

Roofing tiles or shingles using slate are the longest lived of all roofing materials. While a typical shingle installation may need replacing in 30 years, it is unusual for a slate roof not to last for more than a century (in England, Westminster Hall was completed in the 13th Century with a slate roof – the original roof is still there today). Despite the high initial cost to install a slate roof, it is in fact one of the cheapest roofing materials to use when you consider the total cost of ownership.

Slate roofing tiles provide exceptional water resistance and are very suitable for use in areas where there is a risk of fire (slate tiles are not flammable). There is also virtually no need for maintenance as slate does not react with chemicals in the rain, is unaffected by the sun, extremes of temperature and it provides no shelter or sustenance for moss, mold, bugs or any other natural infestation. There is also a very pleasing, geometrical effect created by laying slate tiles and there is a wide variety of colors available to suit any installation.

Flooring

Slate is extremely strong and especially when it has a “honed” finish, it is exceptionally suitable for use in floors and stairs. Slate flooring is easy to install and provides a durable, hard-wearing surface which presents a beautiful, stylish appearance.

Slate is also a very suitable material for use outdoors as an alternative to decking and for laying permanent garden pathways. It may be laid in rough, random shape or in a formal, stylized fashion similar to an internal floor.

Cladding

The alternative to a “honed” finish is a polished face, which provides a highly reflective, almost mirror-like surface and is highly decorative. The high polish is subject to scratching and will not respond well to abrasion, for instance from being used as a floor. Therefore, polished slate finds itself being used in kitchens and bathrooms where a polished appearance is wanted and imparts style and elegance.

Garden and Landscaping

Slate is a natural material and as such is eminently suitable for use in the garden. Being a rock it is largely unaffected by the weather and external environment, and indeed its strength and durability come in very handy outdoors. Slate is used to clad external walls, create paths and floor areas, for instance in a patio installation, or can even be used to create a car drive or decorative ground cover when slate chips are used.

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Category: Home Management
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