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SLATE TILES

Slate is very dense and exceedingly durable. It can last for a century or longer due to its high strength, low porosity and low absorption rate.

Natural stone
Lasts up to 100 years
Completely customizable
Salvagable

DESCRIPTION

Slate quarried for roofing stock is very dense and exceedingly durable. It can last for a century or longer due to its high strength, low porosity and low absorption rate. Compared to alternatives such as asphalt and wood, slate shingles are known as one of the highest-quality, longest-lasting roofing materials available. The many different colors, sizes and textures of slate afford many architectural effects, contributing to the appearance and beauty of any building.

Slate is a fine-grained crystalline rock metamorphosed from bedded deposits of clay, silt and different minerals. Its unique composition gives it several unusual characteristics as well as a wide range of variation in color and texture — features which make it an excellent choice for roofing applications.

The Properties of Slate tiles

There are several reasons why slate has remained a popular roofing material. The benefits of slate roofing include:

Good looks:

People are drawn to slate because of its highly distinctive appearance. Its subtle variances can't be replicated by a synthetic product. At the same time, slate is an exceptionally versatile material that will blend in well with both contemporary and historical homes — check out our gallery below to see examples and get inspired for your project.

Choice:

Think all slate roofs look the same? Think again. Huber & Associates sells custom slate roofing tiles in varying sizes, thicknesses and colors. You can combine slates of different colors on your roof and make an impressive mosaic. Slate looks great on practically any house style, and we can help you assess your design goals and recommend a product that brings your creative vision to life.

Longevity:

Slate roofs can last for 100 years or more if properly constructed and installed. In many cases, a well-designed slate roof will outlast the home it's installed on. For this reason, slate roofing offers excellent long-term value that more than makes up for its higher installation cost.

Low maintenance:

Natural slate roofs do not require much care. A professional inspection every one or two years should be all that it needs.

Easy repair:

If a slate roofing shingle becomes broken or damaged, a professional roofer can easily replace or repair it. For this reason, it's a good idea save some shingles left over from the installation — this way you can be sure that the replacements will match.

Fire resistance:

Slate roofing is one of the most fire-resistant roofs. As a result, slate is an excellent choice for dry, hot parts of the country where fire is a constant danger.

Water resistance:

Due to the exceptionally low absorption rate of slate, water cannot make its way inside, which would lead to cracking if it froze. While leaks are a common problem for most roofing materials, slate is completely leak-free and will stay that way for its entire lifespan, assuming that it was installed correctly, and the rest of the roofing system also consists of high-quality materials.

Insect resistance:

Insects generally cannot burrow into or lay eggs in slate roofing.

Temperature regulation:

Slate also has natural insulation properties that help keep your home a more stable temperature, which will, in turn, lead to lower energy bills. It is the high density of this material that helps prevent large fluctuations in temperature. This is because rock heats up very slowly, and only the side that is exposed will heat up dramatically.

Environmental friendliness:

Slate can last a century or longer, meaning that its environmental impact is considerably less than other roofing materials. Additionally, slate is a 100% natural material that can be harvested without ecological disruption. It’s also free of the plastics and chemical treatments found on synthetic shingles.

Increased home value:

Even if you don't plan to stay in your home forever, investing in a slate roof may still pay off if you can afford it. Because slate is so beautiful, durable and long-lasting, a slate roof can boost the value of your home. This means that, when it comes time to put your house on the market, you can ask a higher price than if you had opted for another roofing material.

Color:

Slate's unique composition gives a wide range of variation in color and texture — features which make it an excellent choice for roofing applications. The color is typically indicative of its mineral composition and, while most slates are a shade of gray, some regions produce red, green, purple, brown and black slates as well. A reddish slate is typically due to an abundance of hematite, whereas green is a result of chlorite. Black or darker grey slate tends to have carbonaceous materials, and yellowish-brown slates generally contain limonite.

TYPES & STYLES

Slate Tile Types

There are two distinct types of slate tiles for roofing.

Synthetic slate
Natural stone slate

Synthetic Slate

Because quarrying, transporting and installing slate is costly, slate roofing is beyond the budget of many homeowners. Luckily, however, there is a more affordable alternative — synthetic slate.

Manufactured by combining rubber and plastic, synthetic slate imitates the attractiveness of real slate and is cheaper, easier to install, and longer lasting than its authentic counterpart.

Synthetic slate is made by taking petroleum-based materials and injection-molding them in forms cast from actual slate. Some synthetic slate shingle brands are made with previously unused plastic or rubber, whereas others are made with recycled plastic or rubber, cellulose fibers or mineral dust. The recycled content is typically made from high-grade post-industrial materials.

Benefits of synthetic slate include:

Environmental friendliness: Even if virgin materials are used, synthetic slate is considered to be a green roofing material because all synthetic slate types can be recycled at the end of their lives.
Durability: Synthetic slate shingles have even more durability than real slate because they feature ultraviolet (UV) inhibitors that protect against weathering from the sun.
Lifespan: Synthetic slate roofs can last up to a century, and few repairs will be needed throughout its lifetime.
Built-in safety: Synthetic slate is typically equipped with impact modifiers that help it withstand damage from storms. Most are rated to have the highest possible level of impact resistance, and many also come with the highest level of fire resistance as well. This means they'll stand up against exposure to external fire, will not readily combust and will not spread a fire.
Cheaper transport and installation: Transporting and installing synthetic slate is less involved and more affordable than other types of roofing materials. At 1.25 pounds per shingle, they weigh only a quarter of authentic slate. Because of this lighter weight, regular roof structures can support these shingles without the need for any special reinforcement, which makes them a practical choice for mainstream homes. During the installation, you can easily field-cut the shingles using a utility knife and fasten them using a pneumatic nail gun and regular roofing nails.
Resistance to color fading. It can be challenging enough to find a roofing color that complements your home, matches your neighborhood and doesn't clash with your natural surroundings. Natural slate, just like any other natural material, is known to fade with age. This can alter the appearance of your house, sometimes in an undesirable way. Synthetic slate, however, is more resistant to UV rays and retains its color for much longer. In many cases, it never fades. Synthetic slate shingles are coated in UV-resistant protectants and treated for colorfastness, keeping the material and your home looking great for many years.

Natural Stone Slate

Slate roofing shingles are a stone roofing material that is installed as a shingle. Slate shingles are thin but very heavy when the whole roof is made out of them. Slate has a natural beauty to it that many people appreciate, but the shingles do not really vary in color or looks. Slate tiles are more difficult to install but when done properly they will give you one of the longest-lasting roof options available. Slate shingles come with an expensive price tag, but that does not mean that slate is not a great roof type option if you can afford it. Many people decide slate roofs are worth the cost to install since they will last more than a lifetime from 60 to 150 years.

Slate tiles are unique and beautiful:

Very Durable
Weather Resistant
Lasts 60- 150 years

Natural Slate Tile Colors

Upon exposure to the weather, all slate is changed slightly in color. The extent of this color change varies with different slate beds, being barely perceptible in certain slates. Those slates in which color changes but slightly are classified as “permanent” or “unfading.” Those in which the final result is more marked and varied are known as “weathering” slate. —“Slate Roofs”, 1926, The National Slate Association

Weathering is the natural result of exposure to the elements, and in no way affects the durability of the stone. The weathering characteristics of the various slate types vary from quarry to quarry and must be taken into consideration to maintain some control over the final appearance.

First Section: Semi-weathering

Royal Purple A dark plum to maroon color identifies the Royal

Purple slate. Occasional green marks appear on the surface of

the slate and a small percentage of weathering to buff tones

may occur. Produced in Vermont.

Variegated Purple This semi-weathering slate ranges from grey/purple through light to medium plum colors. Varying green markings may be present in the stone, and some weathering can

be expected, especially in the lighter tones. This slate can range from smooth to medium texture. Produced in Vermont.

Vermont Grey is the traditional “slate grey” or battleship grey color. This weathering stone assumes a light bronze patina plus some buff and brown tones over time, but the basic grey background is maintained. Produced in Vermont.

Semi-Weathering Grey/Green One of the most durable and plentiful of the Vermont slates. A pleasure to work with for the slate craftsman—cuttable and consistent. This stone is grey/green when freshly quarried and a naturally harmonious blend of greens, greys and buff after weathering. Produced in Vermont.

Semi-Weathering Grey/Black or Vermont Black Dark grey and black tones alternate across the surface of this moderately textured and full thickness slate. Some weathering to brown will occur, typically in the lighter grey portions of the shingle. Produced in Vermont.

Second-Section: Unfading

Strata Grey or Mottled Grey/Black These slates show a medium grey colored background accented by black stripes at different orientations. Moderate weathering to buff and brown tones will appear over the surface of the slate. Produced in Vermont.

North Country Black A top-quality, premium grade slate from the northern border region of Maine and Canada. A full 1/4" thick, and smooth in texture, this dark grey slate is very similar in quality and appearance to the legendary Unfading Black formerly quarried in Monson, Maine. Produced in Quebec, Canada.

Patriot Unfading Grey/Black A classic, unfading grey/black slate with a rugged appearance and exceptional durability. Patriot Unfading Grey/Black has subtle veining and markings, a medium texture cleft and a mica sheen characteristic of slate from this region. Produced in Buckingham County, Virginia.

Unfading Mottled Green & Purple Green and purple combine to form unique patterns in each slate. Some roofing slates are mostly purple, while in others the green predominates. No two slates are exactly alike. Produced in Vermont.

Penrhyn Purple This classic Welsh slate, known as ‘heather blue’ in the U.K., has dark plum coloring. It first arrived in the U.S. aboard sailing ships in the early 1800’s and still graces many historical buildings around the country today. A smooth and very durable stone, the Penrhyn Purple is a true unfading slate with virtually no green markings. Produced in Wales, U.K.

Unfading Green or Unfading Grey/Green Ranging from shades of grey/green to bright green, this color-fast slate makes a distinctive roof by itself or can be installed with other colors to make patterns or natural blends. Produced in Vermont.

Unfading Grey A medium textured slate produced from the greyest beds of the unfading grey/green deposits. Shades of grey predominate, but subtle green undertones and/or dark markings may be present. Produced in Vermont.

Rathscheck Black An unfading black slate, Rathscheck Black marries meticulous German craftsmanship with Spanish beauty and value. Produced by the Germany-based Rathscheck Group from a quarry in Spain, this lightly-textured slate is readily available and offers a great value.

Unfading Red The one and only, true Unfading Red carries a price tag that reflects the limited deposits and difficult production of this exotic and extremely hard material. Brick red in color and one of the most durable slates known. Produced in Washington County, New York.