The roof of your home will play a substantial role in the aesthetics of your property. The exterior appearance of your home will be determined by its roof. First impressions matter, so you need to be conscientious when choosing the color of your shingles and the roofing material.
Whether you are building a new home from scratch or are in the market for a prefabricated house, the roof is something to focus on. Many prefer roofs made of natural stone like slate, as it helps to exude an organic ambiance, and it is also the longest-lasting of all roofing materials, capable of lasting 200 years or more if properly maintained.
What is a Slate Roof?
Slate has been used as a building material for many centuries. It is a beautiful, naturally occurring stone that is also quite strong. Slate is also very durable and requires very little maintenance.
Slate can come in a wide variety of different textures, sizes, and colors, allowing you to mix and match to find the ideal combination for your home or personal preferences. When slate is properly installed, it can greatly increase your home's curb appeal and resell value.
Slate is the most sought-after of all roofing materials thanks to its versatility, durability, and natural beauty. By choosing slate, you will greatly increase the real estate value of your home.
Why Slate Roofing is a Step Above Other Roofing Materials
In terms of longevity and quality, no other roofing material can truly compare to slate. The durability of slate is unrivaled. A slate-based roof will last for hundreds of years if maintained.
It is also available in hundreds of different shapes, sizes, colors, grades, textures, and variants, so design flexibility is all but assured. Slate is also very energy-efficient and eco-friendly. It is made entirely of natural stone, so its impact on the environment is kept bare minimum.
It will keep your home warm during the winter and reduce your heating and cooling bills. Its natural properties also help it provide a natural look that synthetic or article roofing material simply cannot match.
Your home will pop among a bevy of generic homes in your neighborhood when you opt for slate for your roofing needs. As can be seen, slate roofing tiles have many advantages over the more common roofing materials used in the industry.
What Types of Slate Roofing Tiles Do Homeowners Prefer?
There are a myriad of slate roof tiles you can choose from. The ideal slate tile will differ from homeowner to homeowner depending on their individual preferences as well as the style of their home and the homes in their neighborhood.
Before choosing the type of stone, the style, thickness and texture of your slate roofing tiles, you need to consider your home's location, budgetary constraints, and design preferences.
It should be noted that most homeowners choose natural slate roofing for their roofing needs because of its beauty and class.
Natural slate is made of quartz, mica, and chlorite. It can be split easily if you want to create a thin slab and serve as a beautiful roofing material.
Fiber cement slate is made of cement, cellulose fibers, and sand. If money is tight, then fiber cement slate is a good choice, as it is more affordable than natural slate.
Bituminous slate is made with asphalt, which is also known as bitumen. The surface of a bituminous slate is very similar to a natural slate. Bituminous slate is also very flexible to be installed over domed roofs and eyebrow windows.
Concrete slate is made by amalgamating oxide, sand, cement, and water. Air can circulate through and under your roof when you choose concrete slate. Concrete slate is a good choice if you want to enjoy an energy-efficient roof for centuries.
Metal slate is both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. It can last up to 70 years and is an affordable and durable solution for your roofing needs. It is also resistant to fire, strong winds, mold, moisture, and pests.
Composite synthetic slate does not require additional roofing support, unlike concrete and natural slate roofs. You will save money and time in the long term because composite synthetic slate is very lightweight.
What to Consider Before Installing a Slate Roof For Your Home
You first need to consider the cost. While slate roofing tends to cost more than its roofing counterparts, it provides the best value for your money due to its timely beauty, unrivaled durability, and superior safety features.
The location of your home may determine the type of slate. If commonly used in your neighborhood, plain natural slates may be the safest choice. Different slate types have durability properties.
If you live in an area prone to heavy rains, winds, earthquakes, forest fires, and other natural disasters or perils, you may need to choose the most durable slate for your roof.
Water movement tends to reduce on a steep slope. The slope of your roof needs to be factored into the equation. Most experts agree that a steep roof will increase the lifespan of slate.
Taking the First Step
Slate tiles are arguably the best option for your roofing needs. Slate is durable, beautiful, eco-friendly, versatile and resistant to strong winds, fire, pests, moisture, earthquakes, and other dangers.
It also provides the best value for your home, as it will greatly increase the value of your home and is also designed to last for centuries with minimal to no upkeep.
Hence, if you are focused on maximizing the return on your investment, then slate roof currently serves as the best choice in the roofing industry.
