Man Made Slate
Man made slates are made from fully compressed fibre cement, protected with an acrylic coating and coloured to reproduce the attractive appearance of natural slates. The combination of cement, fibres and water produce a strong, flexible and durable material that can be produced in greater quantity and more economically than traditional building products. Fibre cement has many intrinsic qualities that make it an excellent material for building components: it is inert, resistant to fire, chemicals and fungal growth, and is unaffected by changes of temperature. Man made slates fibre cement roof slates are a cost effective alternative to other pitched roofing products.
Natural Slate
The rustic look and unsurpassed durability of a slate roof cannot be rivalled by manmade substitutes and these qualities will also reflect in the overall prestige and investment value of your new or old project. Because slate is such a durable material, most of the slates stripped from a roof are likely to be reusable. However, it is common for at least 10% of the slates to require replacement. To maintain the appearance of the roof, the salvaged slates should be used on external roof slopes visible from the ground,Each roof slope should have either all old slates or all new, as a mixture of old and new on one slope rarely looks good. Slates are produced in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 4-4.5mm for best slates to 6-7.5mm for third quality. The durability of natural slates makes them a cost effective solution for a wide range of roof types and a broad spectrum of budgets.
Plain Tiles
The authentic, traditional design of the Plain tile gives it the looks to match its outstanding versatility. The plain tile is especially suitable for details such as dormers, eyebrows and conical roofs as well as vertical cladding. The pictured roof was a new build extension tying into an existing roof using new clay plain tiles with a perfect colour match. Bullnose Feature tiles are available to add pattern and character to plain tile roofs. Tiles are still made by traditional methods in some parts of the world,and can be obtained with an appropriate mix of colours. Alternatively,matt glazes have been used with some success to produce slight colour variations simulating the traditional appearance.
Interlocking Tiles
Usually constructed from coloured concrete, interlocking tiles have interlocking edges and hooked tops. The interlocking sides provide weather resistance without the great overlap of plain tiles, so the weight over an area is lower. Interlocking tiles are much cheaper than plain tiles and are a favourite on lower cost houses as a replacement for slates. When looking for new property, be suspicious of older houses that have new interlocking tiles, especially if similar houses in the area have slates. Visible raised areas of tiles on the roof, at the point where two homes join, are a sure sign of overloading of the roof structure. Interlocking tiles work well at low pitch angles and in exposed areas.