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5 Common Myths About Slate Roofing Busted

Slate roofing is hard wearing, durable and stunning to look at. If you want a roofing solution for your home that will look fantastic, works like a dream and will probably outlast even you, slate is well worth thinking about. Best of all, it’s one of the most environmentally friendly roofing materials you will find.

Unfortunately, there are still quite a number of misunderstandings floating around about slate roofing and how it works. Here are five common myths that we have come across, and want to bust for good.

Myths or Facts Concept

1. All slate is the same. While it might look similar on the outside, there are actually a number of differences between different types of slate. Slate is rated according to how hard it is, with S1 being the hardest, most long-lasting category. These differences are important when it comes to the quality of the slate, its appearance over time and its resistance to harsh weather events like hail. If you don’t want to spend more than you need on slate roof repairs, you’ll want to choose a harder category of slate for your roof.

2. Slate roofs won’t break. While they are incredibly hardwearing, being made essentially of rock, slate roofs can still be damaged by severe hail storms, objects falling on them and people walking across them. In many cases, damage won’t necessarily be visible straight away as it may take the form of tiny cracks in the slates. The problem may only be apparent later when the cracks expand and contract during temperature changes, or they are damaged further.

3. Slate roofs need felt to be watertight. The myth that slate roofing needs underfelt is one that is very commonly perpetuated. The truth is that felt shouldn’t be necessary on a slate roof, as long as it is properly installed. Felt is generally used during the installation process to ensure that the roof is watertight while the slates are being laid. Once they are in place they won’t leak, with or without felt underneath. If a slate roof is leaking it is often due to deterioration in the lead roof flashing rather than a problem with the slates themselves.

4. Slate roofs are too heavy for most buildings. Slate roofing is actually lighter than you might think. As a rule it is considered to weigh around three times as much as a cheap asphalt shingle roof, a weight that the vast majority of buildings are designed to withstand easily.

5. Fake slates are just as good as the real thing. While they may sound like a good roofing solution and look similar to real slates, fake slates should be avoided at all costs. The quality of fake slates is far lower than the real thing and they won’t last nearly as long even though they can cost a lot. Fake slates are more uniform in appearance than natural slates, which are unique and they just don’t look the same.

If you’re considering a slate roof in Sydney but you’re not sure whether it would be right for your building, why not speak to us? We can take care of all your installation and slate roof repairs.