What are the merits of natural slate roofing?

So, the time has come to replace your home's roof, but you're wary of just choosing the same old roofing material as before - instead, you've fallen ever so slightly in love with natural slate roofing. There are plenty of good reasons for that, not least among which is its natural and elegant appearance. It's easy to presume that a natural roof tile would be limited in the range of looks that can be achieved, but there are actually many different colours, thicknesses, tints and patterns to choose from, such is the beauty and magic of nature.

Indeed, the very fact that natural slate roofing is natural may be enough in itself to recommend it, given the unique texture and design that sedimentary rock produces. There's also the durability of roofing slate tiles to consider: they have been in use for many hundreds of years, and have demonstrated their ability to survive the ravages of time. Natural slate roofing has a reputation for lasting many decades, as demonstrated by old churches that you may have encountered that were built more than a hundred years ago, but still retain their original tile roofs. This compares to other roof materials that may need to be changed or repaired every 20 years or so.

Nor is the environmental friendliness of natural slate roofing worth overlooking, again due to the lack of need to periodically replace it and send the old roof to landfill. It is also energy efficient, given the manner in which it enhances your home's insulation. Furthermore, slate roof tiles are even fire resistant, given that they are, after all, effectively just layered slabs of stone. It's one less thing to worry about when you next assess the fire safety of your home.

Of course, natural slate roofing isn't an absolutely flawless option, as the heaviness of the roof tiles can make the installation process difficult unless you have enlisted the highest standard of professional help, while the tiles can also break during this process if they are not handled carefully. Nonetheless, the results of a successful installation can be more than worthwhile, natural slate tiles often looking truly stunning, even on older buildings.

You will also need to find the right supplier of natural slate roof tiles - one that has extensive experience in sourcing and importing natural stones, and which sources its slate from some of the best international quarries. You will also want the slate that you choose to be fully guaranteed, as well as for the supplier to offer a good range of different colours and textures. Nonetheless, get all of these decisions right, and you'll be thankful that you opted for natural slate roofing for your home.  

Editor’s Note: The Natural Slate Company Limited (http://www.theslatecompany.net) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.