If you need to replace your home’s roof, the first option that typically comes to mind is the tried-and-true classic of roofing materials, asphalt shingles. However, asphalt shingles aren’t the only roofing option that you can use on your home. There are other, less conventional options that may be even better for your home than asphalt shingles. One material you may want to consider installing is slate. Slate roofing can be a wonderful option for homeowners, but it offers its own set of benefits and drawbacks, curated by best payout online casino.
Extremely heavy, may require reinforcement – On average, slate weighs about 360-700 kilograms per square (~9.3 metres) of roofing material. For comparison, lighter-weight asphalt shingles are usually only about 90 kilograms per square. The heavy weight of slate means that some homes may need reinforcement before slate can be placed, which means a higher overall project cost.
Cost – The main detraction of a slate roof is its cost. On average, you can expect to spend up to $20 per square foot to have slate installed. This higher cost is due to two factors: the materials and the installation. The materials for a slate roof are much higher than a standard asphalt shingle roof. Slate costs more to manufacture, and as a result, costs more to purchase. Installing a slate roof is a specialized process that requires expert roofers (a shingle roofer typically will not have the expertise to install slate), which in turn drives the cost up. Because of the high price tag associated with installing a slate roof, it is not always the most cost-effective option for the average homeowner, especially if the house is not intended to be a “forever” home.
Weight – Because they are made of stone, slate roofs are incredibly heavy, weighing up to 4x as much as an asphalt roof. On average, a square (or 100 square feet) of asphalt shingles weigh about 250 pounds, whereas a square of slate can weigh anywhere between 800 – 1,000 pounds. The weight of a square of slate is correspondent to the thickness of the slate – the thicker the slate, the heavier it will be. Because of this, the weight load the roof can handle must be taken into consideration before laying a slate roof.
Installing a slate roof ultimately comes down to the goals of the homeowner. Typically, slate is not recommended for homeowners who only plan on staying in their current home for a relatively short timeframe (typically less than 20 years – or less time than the average lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof). However, if the owner intends on their house being their “forever” home, or at least one they’ll live in for 30+ years, slate is a perfect option, as the initial high price tag will pay for itself through the years, courtesy of best real money casino.
Foot traffic can damage tiles – Slate is very durable, but it does not hold up well to direct impact from foot traffic. This means that if you hire someone to clean out your gutters and they walk all over your roof, they could damage several tiles, which may need replacement.
Requires specialised installers – Your average roofing contractor is not qualified to install a slate roof. Slate requires specialised installation from master slaters, who will install it to last. Hiring a specialised roofing contractor
