Slate Roof Tiles
The Weather team is here to assist you in Nashville or Destin when you need a new roof installation, a roof repair or replacement, or emergency service due to a weather issue that has damaged your roof. Our experts are eager to view the property and any roof that needs an inspection and provide professional guidance in selecting the solution that best meets your needs and will provide the protection your structure needs from hazardous weather and the damaging UV rays of the sun. One of the surfaces our team often recommends is slate roof tiles.
The Composition Of A Slate Tile Roof
Each slate tile is a solid piece of stone that is literally as solid as a rock. The tiles are installed in an overlapping fashion that resembles the scales on a fish. Each tile is attached to the substrate or roof deck, typically with a large roofing nail or spike. The slope of the roof promotes optimal drainage to ensure moisture is not able to flow backward and penetrate the slate time at the point of connection to the roof structure. Because each piece is a solid slab of rock, a slate tile roof is often called a hundred-year roof because, when installed correctly, it can last for about a century.
A Natural Stone Appearance
The color palette of slate roof tiles ranges from natural black and grey to other earth tones that include blue, purple, red, orange, brown, tan, and green. Slate was initially found in the northeastern part of the United States but has since been located around the country, accounting for the large variation in colors. The shape and thickness of the tiles can vary greatly, allowing for countless designs and customization of the appearance of your new slate tile roof. The most common variations are smooth or textured faces and a wide variety of shapes, from more traditional rectangular or square tiles to more ornate and decorative tiles that are curved or less uniform shapes.
Common Questions About A Slate Tile Roof
Can I Walk On My Slate Tile Roof?
Only a trained professional should walk on any roof. However, if you need to access your roof to maintain equipment or inspect something, you can walk on a slate tile roof carefully. Care should be taken to place your steps near the edge of the tile overlap to ensure the most support at the point of connection to the support structure beneath the tiles.
Can Slate Tile Be Installed On A Flat Roof?
It is recommended that slate tile be used on a sloped roof to ensure proper drainage of moisture away from the points of connection to the roof.
Can I Replace My Shingle Roof With Slate Tile?
In many cases, it is possible to upgrade your shingle roof to a slate tile surface. However, before you make that decision, please allow an expert from Weather to inspect the support structure of the roof to ensure it can safely support the added weight of the slate tiles, which can be more than twice the weight of shingles. The average single roof has a load of about 2 to 5 pounds per square foot, while the average slate tile roof load on the support structure increases to between 8 and 10 pounds per square foot.