JULY 2019 | 39
Products
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
WHY CHOOSE
NATURAL
SLATE?
Natural slate is a product that can vary in quality
and choosing the best product isn’t always an easy
option. Here Andrea Ramirez, Product Manager –
Pitched Roofing, for SIG Roofing discusses the history
behind the foundation of natural slate for roofing
and why it could be perfect for your next project…
During the Industrial
Revolution, the use of roof-
ing slate soared. Landown-
ers began to take control
of slate quarries, which
previously were small-scale
operations, and slate be-
came mass-produced.
A new building trade
developed, and craftsmen
emerged to fix this adapt-
able form of covering that
was relatively easy to split,
mine and easy to stack.
Over time, it became clear
that natural slate could pro-
vide buildings with protec-
tion from all the elements
– particularly frost and rain
due to its low water absorp-
tion – and that it required
little or no maintenance.
‘
it is not
unheard of for
a slate roof to
last for up to
150 years
’
The biggest advantage of
installing a natural slate roof
is the aesthetic the roof pro-
vides and the durability of
the product as most cover-
ings have a lifespan of 30-60
years. Natural Slate is made
100% by the forces of moth-
er nature and is suitable for
a range of aesthetic finishes
ranging from traditional to
contemporary. Natural slates
are also extremely durable
and most of the time can
outlast the building that
they are installed on. In
some rare cases where the
material has been installed
and maintained properly, it
is not unheard of for a slate
roof to last for up to 150
years or more.
Installing natural slate
requires more skill than
most other kinds of roof
covering. Roofers who are
well versed in both British
Standard 5534 and BS 8000
Part 6 will have the right
level of experience to install
a natural slate roof. Slate
can only be installed onto a
pitched roof, the minimum
recommended pitch for
natural slate is 25°, although
this can be lowered down to
20° with specialist products
and can also be dependent
on the slate size. There are,
however other products,
methods of fixing and com-
bination of slate sizes availa-
ble, which may help achieve
a lower pitch if needed.
We recommend roofers to
consult with technical slate
specialists about low pitch
roofing projects as guidance
is applicable on a project by
Slate
‘ is Natural
made 100%
by the forces of
mother nature
and is suitable
for a range
of aesthetic
finishes
ranging from
traditional to
contemporary
’
project basis. Depending on
the complexity of the struc-
ture, installation of roofing
slates can take anywhere
from one week up to a few
weeks or even longer.
One of the key benefits
of purchasing natural slate
for roofing is that they are
fireproof as well as being
environmentally friend-
ly. Natural slate does not
produce or give off vol-
atile organic compounds
(VOC’s) or any other type
of pollution. However, care
must be taken by roofers to
use suitable PPE equipment
such as gloves and masks
when cutting slate on site
to avoid harm. Once natural
slates have been used upon
a roof surface they can also
be recycled if they outlast
the building they are in-
stalled on.
Another great reason to
use natural slate coverings
is that they can provide
insulation to the building
below, which over a period
of time can lower energy
costs.
At SIG Roofing we offer a
select range of natural slate
roof coverings through our
SIGA collection. SIGA slate
is renowned for its quality,
reliability and integrity. We
have our own dedicated
team and operations in the
quarrying region of Spain,
one of only a few suppliers
to have this direct invest-
ment. By providing informa-
tion about where the slate
One of the key benefits of
‘ purchasing
natural slate for roofing
is that they are fireproof as well as
being environmentally friendly
’
comes from, how to work
with it, and clearly identify-
ing different ranges through
colour coding, along with
notifications on any chang-
es in legislation, there is
always clarity and guidance
for roofers and contractors.
Furthermore, SIGA warran-
ties range between 30-75
years and are fully backed
by SIG PLC, a FTSE 250 or-
ganisation, offering security
and peace of mind.
Looking back at the origin
of natural slate it serves to
remind us why this iconic
and aspirational material
continues to be revered
amongst roofers. As well as
its outstanding performance,
beauty and intrinsic design
qualities, we are confident
that natural slate will remain
at the forefront of roofing
products.
For more information
about SIG Roofing, please
visit www.sigroofing.co.uk
or follow @sigroofing on
twitter.