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4 important facts about Slate Roofs
Why you should really choose roof slate tiles?
Roof slate tiles are absolutely fantastic and the best thing about them is that they are 100% fireproof, completely waterproof and will out last your life ( if you look after them and get them regularly inspected). In fact, the use of slate in roofing dates back more than 4,000 years. An added feature is that slate is a natural product so it will lend beauty and add a lot of value to the price of your house and in the Sydney market this is an important factor to consider.
So, what is slate?
Slate is solid rock formed hundreds millions of years ago in the earth, from clay containing silts. According to wikipedia: ‘It is caused by strong compression causing fine grained clay flakes to regrow in planes perpendicular to the compression’.
This gives slate such a natural and organic look and when cut in a quarry slate will display in flat very smooth sheets and it’s these gorgeous looking sheets that are put on your roof. Slate tiles can come in a variety of colours but predominantly you will see it as grey if you take a drive around Sydney and look out for some slate roofs.
Is it possible for slate to withstand hail damage?
Put simply slate is strong and when we say strong we really mean it. It is durable, long lasting and can withstand severe weather like hail stones. This is perfect for those Sydney summers where we get those massive afternoon storms after a long hot day. Having said this, nothing is 100% foolproof and if there is some damage from a hail stone then it can be easily repaired by replacing the tile. It’s not like other roofs such as Colorbond where you will have to replace a whole sheet of roofing if there is any damage. This is a huge advantage of having slate tiles on your roof.
What is nail sickness?
Nail sickness is the term given to repairing nails that start to rust and deteriorate. If your slate roof is showing signs of nail sickness or fatigue you will notice the integrity of the tile start to deteriorate by appearing twisted or the tiles will start to go out of line and not appear uniform. The best thing to do if you start to notice this is to call a slate roof repairer to start the process of looking at your roof for further damage. Getting onto this early is the best way to avoid further damage. Make sure you give Scott from First Class Slate a call on (02) 8068 4612. He is known Sydney wide as one of the very best in slate roof repairs and will be able to diagnose any issues or damage with your roof and fix it immediately.