Whether for new construction or renovation, roofing work deserves careful consideration. What material should you choose for the roofing and the framework? What color and style of roofing should you choose to match the architectural style of your home? In this article, we will talk about the slate roof: its characteristics, cost, and maintenance.
The Characteristics of the Slate Roof
The slate is a flat stone used to cover the roof. The slate can be made of limestone, granite, quartzite, sandstone, basalt, schist or gneiss. However, the choice of the slate is often made according to the types of rocks available in a given geographical area.
For example, limestone is found in the southwestern part of France, while granite is present mainly in the southeast and the Alps, the Himalayas, etc.
Variations of Slate Roofs
There is a wide range of slate roofs, but the most common are the Corsican slate roof and the Savoyard slate roof.
The first variant is characterized by stones cut in the shape of a scale. As for the second variant, the stones are both thick and rough.
The Strength of a Slate Roof
The slate roof has strong weather resistance. It does not fear the sun or frost and even less rain. This is why this type of roofing can last up to thirty years.
The Decorative Side of the Slate Roof
The slate roof is an excellent choice to fill a rustic exterior decoration. In short, slate roofing is sufficient in itself to embellish a roof.
The Insulating Side of a Slate Roof
The slate roof provides good thermal insulation thanks to its primary construction material.
The Price of a Slate Roof
Compared to other types of roofing, the slate roof can be costly. The main reasons for this high price are:
The Need (Usually) To Import Slate
The difficulty or complexity of installing a slate roof. Moreover, it is strongly advised to use the services of a professional.
In general, its cost varies between 30 and 50 euros and the price of the installation goes from 30 euros to 40 euros on average. Note that the rates are always calculated per m².
The Maintenance of the Roof in Slate
The maintenance of a slate roof must be done annually to optimize its life span. In addition, to maintain a slate roof, you can follow these three steps:
- re-shingling the slates
- cleaning the leaves
- removal of moss from the roof
The cleaning of this type of roof requires specific products. Therefore, it is best to seek advice from a specialist in the field if you want to maintain the slate roof yourself.
