From among the many different types of roofing materials you can consider, natural slate is seen as one of the most practical and reliable. Durable, stylish and pretty easy to install, slate is somewhat heavy and expensive, but a Castle Rock roofing contractor often points to it as one of the best roofing materials that money can buy.
Why You Should Install a New Slate Tile Roof?
Slate roofing is known to be somewhat on the expensive side, however, many people don’t realize just how impressive natural slate can be. Consider just some of its many qualities which make the overall price of a slate tile roof to be more than justified:
- A reputable Castle Rock roofing contractor confirms that slate is extremely durable. It is known to last for more than 150 years, and there are even some old natural slate roofs that are known to still stand after about 300-400 years. That is a feat that no other roofing material is capable of. Most materials used in residential roofing will break down after just 30-40 years at most. The only ones known to last for more than 50 years include metal, clay and concrete, along with slate.
- It’s the only type of roofing material that is completely fireproof. It will take an impressive amount of heat to ever melt slate – in most cases, many times more than the heat required to melt copper or steel. The temperature will, of course, differ depending on the way the stone formed and the composition of the metamorphic material.
- Finally, natural slate is extremely beautiful and stylish. As a roofing material, it can add impressive value to your home and improve its curb appeal. Natural slate tile roofs also present a great level of diversity when it comes to the colors and textures that you can choose for your roof.
Drawbacks and Considerations
A lot of people are against the idea of getting a slate roof because of the price. When comparing natural slate with other types of roofing, such as asphalt shingles and clay roofs, you’ll find that the price difference is pretty huge. The cost per square of a slate roof is about $1,500, while asphalt shingles only cost about $100 per square and clay will be closer to $900. For reference, a typical metal roof – which is considered by many to be the second best material, after slate – costs somewhere at around $350 per square.
To put it simply, a brand new slate roof can cost you close to $30,000 on average. By many accounts, that amount is more than worthwhile. After all, if you’re looking for a roof that can last for more than 100 years and that even your children and grandchildren can enjoy, then there are few other options that get close to the benefits offered by slate roofing systems.
Although somewhat fragile and requiring of extensive maintenance to reach that age, slate is still seen as a great choice by many roofing experts as well as homeowners. Its long life, ease of installation, fireproof qualities and eco-friendly constitution make natural slate one of the very best roofing materials currently available on the market.
