
#Slate roofs code
Register free for the 2023 IRE: Promo Code = EX23CUST405Ĭlick here for the IRE 2023 Floor Plan SRCA Annual General Member Meeting: Room D223 We will be at the 2023 International Roofing Expo, March 7-9, in Dallas, Texas, Booth 9421! The Slate Roofing Contractor Association and National Slate Association websites are great places to start your research and to find approved installers as well as details for installations.Slate Roofing Contractors Association LATEST NEWS: To help a homeowner or architect make the right decision, Rule recommends working closely with industry experts to secure the right installer. When comparing the benefits of installing a long-term and sustainable natural stone roof that will last for 100 years versus one that will need to manufactured and replaced every 12-25 years, depending on the type of roof, the costs might prove to be less expensive per square feet than any other product. Costs can sometimes be financed with a home improvement loan, making the option even more financially accessible than some homeowners think. Depending on your goals, they can be a good investment when you consider them from a property value and maintenance expense perspective. Natural slate roofs might not be a cost-effective option for everyone, but they shouldn’t be dismissed on pure cost alone. Photo courtesy of Vermont Slate Co.Ĭost remains one of the biggest barriers for homeowners. Natural Stone Slate Roofs: More Economical Than You Thinkġ50 Year Old Vermont Blend. What appears at first blush to be a good alternative may not be such a good option when you consider the whole picture.īottom line: be sure to compare the facts on the synthetic before you default that they’re a better option. Homeowners might see some cost savings with synthetics when it comes to installation times, but even then, Rule argues to look beyond the initial claims.
#Slate roofs install
But if you believe the synthetics will last 50+ years as some claim, you will need to spend the same amount of money on flashings and hire the right mechanics to install the roof.” If you only expect your fake slate to last 20 or 30 years, then you can certainly use cheaper and easier flashings. “In most cases, this is copper that has to be properly soldered and cut into the masonry, which does require some skill. “The hardest part of installing natural slate is preparing flashing materials designed to last as long as the slate: 100 years,” he says. “Natural slate is only natural stone with no chemicals: just rock and hard work,” he reminds customers.įor those who believe any roofer can install synthetics where a specialist it required to install natural slate, again, Rule disagrees. In fact, the fossil fuels, energy, water, and chemicals required to create these synthetic lookalikes are an environmental disaster. The argument that synthetics are better for the environment is also incorrect, according to Rule. “You should be sure to look at weathered installations 10 years or older for any synthetic you are considering.” Oftentimes synthetics may appear to hold up like natural slate but are in need of significant maintenance. “The two that have do not hold color and can curl badly after a decade,” says Rule. Rule notes that synthetics have not only increased in price, but that from a long-term perspective, they are more expensive, since only a few synthetic roofs have lasted on the market more than 10 or 12 years. Some homeowners are considering synthetic slate lookalikes as a cheaper alternative to natural stone slate tiles and Rule cautions against what might appear like a good choice. Natural Stone SlatesĬherokee Plantation Vermont Gray Black. Therefore, a SQ of slate is 100sqft of covered area on the roof and weights 900 lb per SQ, or 9 pounds per square foot.īuyer Beware: Synthetic Slate Lookalikes vs.


In the roofing world, a square of roofing equals 100 square feet and is denoted as a SQ. It also “requires minimum 4/12 pitch or greater in normal conditions and weighs about twice as much as high end fiberglass shingles,” adds Rule. This cost is in line with other permanent architectural roofing products. So why aren’t we seeing more slate roofs on homes, given the many benefits and advantages the material affords?įor one, installing a slate roof requires an experienced installer at a cost of $12 to $20 a square foot, depending on the area of the country, says Rule. They’re considered the best of the best in any market,” adds Rule. “Slate roofs are reliable in all types of climate and require virtually no maintenance if properly installed. Slate quarry at Camara Slate Products in Vermont.
