Slate is a natural rock that is mined and manufactured into a shingle form. Slate is one of the longest lasting materials available for roof coverings. It is common for the tar paper underlayment below as well as metal flashings to deteriorate before the slate.
Slate is typically used on roofs with a higher than normal pitch. One thing to note when considering slate for your roof is the weight. Slate is heavy, and the weight can add up. Not all roofs can support the weight of a slate roof.
Adding a heavy material to a roof not designed to hold that weight can cause rafters to sag, causing damage to the roof frame. A roof frame can only be safely reinforced with the knowledge of an engineer. A qualified roofing contractor can let you know if your roof can support real slate, or if an artificial slate alternative is the way to go.
Artificial slate alternatives like DaVinci Roofscapes and slate in general is usually installed in homes with a hight pitch roof. In the photos below we used a popular artificial slate known as DaVinci Roofscapes. The client chose to have them installed in a straight course. The muli-width dimensions of the DaVinci Roofscapes add to the realism of the slate alternative.
