Facts About Slate Shingles
Slate is one of many roof materials available. It can be good or bad depending on your budget and environment. Before you decide to use slate for your roof, you might want to consider the following pros and cons.
Slate Shingles Are Expensive
There are two main reasons why slate shingles are expensive. To start with, they must be hand-made. Roof tiles made of clay or concrete are usually manufactured, which drives down their price.
Secondly, as they are made of stone, the shingles are heavy. The weight can drive up the shipping price of the material. It can also drive up the wages paid to roofers as heavier materials will cause them to work more slowly.
If you don’t have that large of a budget, clay or concrete roof tiles might be a better option for residential roofing Chesapeake VA.
Slate Shingles Are Durable
However, if you must have a roof that lasts a long time and withstands most weather above all else, then slate shingles are for you. They fare well against many kinds of weather. Freezing temperatures are kept out, as water does not easily permeate their surfaces. As such, they work well in harsher climates. You can also bet on these shingles having an overall lifespan of 100 years or more.
Slate Shingles Are Various
Luckily, if you must have slate, you have choices regarding how much you want to spend. Different options in type, size and thickness can lower your expenses if you are willing to sacrifice protection and durability. For example, slate shingles can range from 4 mm to 9 mm in thickness. A thinner shingle is less heavy, but it is also less durable.
You can also consider using artificial slate. It is cheaper and lighter than the real thing. However, these come with a massive reduction in durability.
