All About Slate Roofing

Slate is a durable, long-lasting, and handsome roofing choice for your Alexandria-area home or business. This type of roofing material has been used on countless monuments and pivotal buildings throughout human history, with many slate roofs lasting for centuries. If you’re interested in adding a slate roof to your home or commercial building, keep reading to learn more about this versatile and beautiful roofing option, available from your local roofing contractor.

All About Slate

Slate is a natural layered rock composed primarily of clay and volcanic ash, which contains other minerals that may include quartz, mica, graphite, and many more. Prior to its exposure in quarries, slate has spent millions of years subjected to intense heat and pressure inside the Earth’s crust. Slate is available in a variety of colors, each determined by the rock’s chemical and mineral composition. Some of the most popular colors include gray, red, purple, and green. North American slate is typically quarried in Quebec and Newfoundland in Canada, as well as areas along the eastern coast of the United States, including Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and Virginia.

All About Slate Roofing

As a roofing material, slate is prized both for its beauty and its durability. Slate has been used as a roofing material throughout human history, with many of these roofs outlasting the buildings they protect. Thus, slate remains an excellent choice for a long-lasting residential or commercial roof in modern day. Its longevity and natural origin also makes slate a green roofing option. Not only are no harmful chemicals or byproducts produced in the creation of slate, but your slate roof will not need to be replaced for 50-100 years or more, keeping excess roofing waste out of landfills. Slate roofing can also boost the energy efficiency of your home or office, making it easier to maintain indoor comfort and reducing your carbon footprint while lowering your utility bills. Because slate tiles are made from rock, they are heavier than wood, asphalt, or other types of shingles. Thus, it’s important to discuss this factor with your roofing contractor if you are considering a slate roof. To offset the extra weight, your underlying roof structure may need additional support before slate roofing can be applied. However, new roofing technologies are also becoming available, offering lighter slate shingles that utilize a fusion of slate and other materials to give you the look and the durability you want with less weight.

If you’d like to learn more about slate roofing in Alexandria, Fairfax, and Arlington, visit our website to check out our residential and commercial roofing solutions and maintenance plans. Our roofing contractors will work with you to find the perfect roof and gutter solution for your needs, including green roofing options. We also invite you to click through the latest articles on our news page to read through more information about roofing, skylights, and more.