A slate is cool, beautiful and environmentally friendly because it is a 100% naturally occurring material. Hey are popular in many parts of the country but they are the quality roof of choice no matter where your home is located.

Here are the top ten advantages of installing a slate roof:

Long Life

A slate roof is the longest lasting of all roofing materials – it is not uncommon for a slate roof to last for over one hundred years and even longer than that. Slate is a naturally made rock formed under intense pressure within the earth’s crust. The high pressures cause the sedimentary materials which form slate to align themselves into laminate layers which easily split to create the slate tile in the hands of a skilled craftsman.

Fireproof

Slate roofs are fireproof in so far as the slate itself is non-combustible. Unlike asphalt or wood, slate will not burn (it’s rock after all) and slate remains unaffected by heat or extremes of temperature. It will not warp because of high temperatures and it is an extremely safe material to work and live with.

Waterproof

Slate is completely waterproof and will not allow water to pass through nor accumulate. As a consequence, not only is slate in possession of a high degree of structural integrity it is also highly resistant to allowing pests and plant growths to take a hold (such as mold or moss).

Zero Maintenance

Slate is one of the few building materials to require zero maintenance. It does not need to be cleaned, it is unaffected by water (it does not rot), it provides no food source for bugs and pests (you can’t eat rock) and it will not stain or discolor.

Slate has the lowest total cost of ownership of any roofing material because the only cost involved is that of the installation and raw material.

Reduced Insurance Premiums

As slate is fireproof, waterproof and bug and pest free, it is unlikely to need any repair or suffer from mishaps, such as a house fire. Indeed, because it is such a robust material it actually reduces the risk of water damage, the risk of fire and the risk of damage due to pests, all of this and more results in a great reduction of insurable risk.

In a nutshell, because the risk of these events occurring is reduced by installing a slate roof, many insurance companies will give you reduced premiums as a consequence.

Aesthetic Appearance

Slate comes in a variety of shades from pinkish-reddish hues through to greens and blues. When it becomes wet or has the sun shining upon it from different angles, it presents a different set of characteristics. It also provides different textual appearances much favored by architects and designers.

Slate is a beautiful building material and a finished roof adds a great deal in terms of appearance and aesthetic value to any home where it is installed.

Easy Repairs

Any roof may suffer damage from time to time, though slate is so robust that it is a rare occurrence. This said, it is possible for individual slates to be damaged, however due to how the roof is installed, replacing individually damaged slates is a cheap and simple job to perform.

Author Bio: Find quality Structural slate from Virginia Slate

Category: Home Management
Keywords: slate roof,raw material,quality roof,robust material,zero maintenance slate,no maintenance slate