Table of Contents
- What are the Different Types of Slate Roofing
- How To Install Slate roofing
- Trust a professional slater for your roofing project
- What are the Different Types of Slate Roofing
What are the Different Types of Slate Roofing
Slate is one of the oldest roofing materials and is still used to replace roofs today. There are three types of slate roofs, and Merlins Roofing explains each’s key characteristics and differences.
Natural Slate – Due to its long lifespan with no extensive manufacturing process, natural slate is one of the most environmentally friendly roofing options available. A slate roof can last over 100 years if properly cared for and maintained
Fibre Cement Slate – Because of its lower initial cost, fibre cement slate quickly becomes a popular alternative to natural slate. Fibre cement slate, like fibre cement siding, is available in a broader range of factory-applied colours and custom formats like diamond-shaped slate. It’s also much lighter than natural slate, allowing it to be installed over existing roof decks without the need for additional reinforcement.
Bituminous Slate – Bituminous slate resembles standard roofing shingles in composition. Bitumen, also known as asphalt, is the primary component of both materials. Both have similar life expectancies, maintenance requirements, and installation procedures.
How To Install Slate roofing
Do you want a slate roof? Do you want to know how slate roofing is installed? In this article, we’ll go over slate basics, how long it takes to install, and how a slate roof works.
1. Assess The Underlying Roof Structure – Slate roofs are heavier than asphalt shingles and other roofing materials such as zinc and copper, which means that the underlying home and structure may need to be reinforced in some cases to withstand the heavyweight of the slate.
2. Install High-Quality Roof Decking – A slate roof will last 100-150 years when installed correctly, so the underlying structural elements must be constructed to last this long. As a result, solid lumber with a thickness of at least 2-3 cm is the most widely used roof decking material.
3. Place Felt Underlayment To Protect The Roof – While slate roofs rarely need underlayment to keep them watertight, a felt underlayment should protect the roof structure while the slate tiles are installed.
4. Begin Installation Of Each Course Of Slate Tiles – Each slate is nailed into place in a “course” using galvanized copper roofing nails. Each slate has two nails, with a vertical separation of about 3-4 cm. These nails are gently hammered into the slate and sunk until flush with the surface. Overdriving nails can cause cracks and damage to the slate, so take care during this step to avoid overdriving nails.
5. Install High-Quality Flashing On Valleys, Gutters, Chimneys, Etc. – Copper flashing is installed in valleys in the roof, near gutters and chimneys, and other openings in the roof, as each course of slate tiles are installed. Because of its long life expectancy, copper standing seam is preferred.
Trust a professional slater for your roofing project
As you can see, installing a slate roof differs from installing a conventional asphalt shingle roof, and it necessitates specialized expertise and techniques that not all roofing companies can provide. But at Merlins Roofing, we offer the very best slate roofing installation services. If you’re interested in a slate roof, contact us right away for more information. Call Merlins Roofing today.
