Historic Slate Roofs

A stone slate roof providing it is well maintained can last for at least a century and possibly much longer.

Historic slate roofs.

Although the installation cost of the roof will be high low maintenance needs will make the lifetime cost of the roof less expensive. Scottish slate is a long lasting roofing material and although slate roofs have a finite life a lifespan of up to or beyond 100 years is quite common. Overview the roof covering is a building s first line of defence against the weather. It s malleable breakability yet tough qualities allow it to be broken into thin but durable sheets.

The relatively large percentage of historic buildings roofed with slate during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries means that many slate roofs and the 60 to 125 year life span of the slates most commonly used may be nearing the end of their serviceable lives at the end of the twentieth century. Some roofing materials such as slate are expensive to install but if top quality slate and flashing are used it will last 40 60 years with minimal maintenance. To repair and conserve them successfully necessitates the use of appropriate traditional materials and techniques. The first recorded slate roof of a private home is reported to be in north wales england around 1300a d.

It s wise to inspect slate roofs regularly to spot potential problems as soon as they appear.