Today’s homeowners have a wide range of roofing options to choose from, including both natural and composite slates. While natural slate roofing is among the most beautiful roofing options available for your home, it also comes with many drawbacks and a sizeable price tag. This is where composite roof comes in.
Today’s composite slates offer significant advantages over natural slate roofing: they look like the real thing but are lighter, easier to install and less expensive.
Composite Slate Benefits
A composite, or “synthetic”, slate roof is a manufactured product, composed of engineered polymer and other materials combined to make an attractive, durable and affordable roofing option. If you’re looking for a more unique, high-end look for their roof, composite slate is an excellent option.
Benefits of a composite slate roof include:
- Cost Effectiveness: First and foremost, composite slate roof materials are considerably less expensive than natural slate. In addition, installation costs are significantly lower as well.
- Lightweight construction: One of the major drawbacks to a natural slate roof is its weight. Because traditional slate roofing is a natural quarried stone product, it is very heavy, and tends to break more easily. In fact, the roof support & truss systems of many homes are not built to bear the weight of natural slate roofing materials, forcing homeowners into additional costs. In comparison, composite slate is very lightweight. Generally weighing less than half its natural counterpart (often a quarter of the weight of real slate), composite roofing can be installed on almost any home – no special reinforcement, straps or battens necessary.
- Ease of installation: Unlike real slates, whose fragility requires extreme care in nailing, composite slates can be installed using standard roofing nails, shot by pneumatic nail gun. They cut with a utility knife for fitting. This mean faster, and cheaper, installation.
- Style and color options: The look of natural slate roofs tend to be limited by the availability of natural stone. As a manufactured product, composite slate roofs are available in a wide variety of colors and styles that can be used to complement the curb appeal of any home.
- Proven durability: Natural stone slates tend to be easily damaged by falling branches and hail. Composite slate typically lasts much longer than natural slate, and is often warranted for 40 to 60 years. Most composite slate roofs are also virtually maintenance free. They are resistant to wind, fireproof, and freeze/thaw resistant, providing a longer lifespan than many other roofing materials.
- Mold resistance: The materials used in the manufacture of composite slate roofing can be chosen for their resistance to mold, which keeps your home healthier.
Installing slate roofing while not as complex as with natural slate still requires specialized skills and tools. If you’re considering slate roofing, contact All Roofing Solutions, your leading Delaware & Pennsylvania roofing contractor with over 15 years of experience in roofing installation & repair. We’ll be happy to provide a comprehensive inspection of your roof, discuss roofing alternatives, and offer a FREE estimate for your installation.
Call our DE office at 302-725-ROOF (7663) or our PA location at 610-551-ROOF (7663) today. And don’t forget to ask for $400 off any complete roofing job!
