What types of slate roofs are there?

When most people think of slate tile roofs, they think of heavy stones tiles but there are a few other types of slate roofs and they are used for different reasons. Depending on the design, budget, environment, location, needs, and other factors that need to be taken into account when buying slate tile roofing, knowing what kind of slate roofs there are can help. 

The most common type of slate roofs is your typical natural slate; this is the one that usually comes to mind when people think about slate. Natural slate tiles have a long lifespan that can last over 100 years. When you couple this with its benefits of durability and resistance to UV light and thermal expansion, natural slate tiles make a fabulous type of roof tiling. 

The natural state is also the best for the environment due to the longevity and the ability to be repurposed. Slate tile also comes in only a few colors; variants of gray are the most common. 

The next type of slate roof is fiber cement slate tiles. This type of slate tile is quickly growing in popularity due to the aesthetic appeal that they offer. Fiber cement tiles come in a wider variety of colors which is more attractive to homeowners. It also allows for the ability to be applied in different formats, such as a diamond pattern. These tiles come at the expense of sacrificing longevity for style, but they still last for a very long time compared to asphalt shingles if properly maintained. The lightweight aspect of these tiles makes them easy to install on most roofs. Fiber cement slate tiles can be a great choice if you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing roof with the durability and longevity to hold up. 

Another type of slate tile is Bituminous slate tile. Bituminous slate is a composite closely resembling asphalt shingles. They both contain the material of bitumen, also known as asphalt, and have similar life spans and installation processes. The difference comes in with the outer layer. Typical asphalt shingles have a tough sandpaper-like feel whereas, bituminous slate has a smoother surface to be more like slate tiling. This type of slate tile is perfect for homeowners looking for the slate design pattern but don’t want to spend a lot of money on expensive natural slate costs. 

 

Deciding which type of slate tile roof is best for you can be difficult, let the experts at VR Roofing help you. We have many years of experience working with slate roofing, and we can help you pick the right slate roof for you. Call Van De Hey Refined Roofing, LLC (VR Roofing), for all questions about slate tile roofs. We serve the Appleton, Little Chute, and the Fox Valley area, Sheboygan, Oshkosh, Madison, Milwaukee, Shorewood, Sheboygan, Oconomowoc, Verona, Waukesha and Green Bay and De Pere areas in Wisconsin.