Choosing the right material for your roof is an important decision. An improperly created and protected roof can lead to leakages in the home and can ultimately lead to its destruction. A properly laid roof, however, can add years of beauty and strength to your home. Slate roofing material, for example, can provide your home with years of protection. At the same time, slate roofing material is an attractive and natural choice for your home.

The Elegance of Slate Roofing Material

Increasingly, slate roofing material is being used to protect the roofs of upscale homes. It is one of the more expensive roofing material choices, but the natural look, durability, and flexibility of design provided by slate roofing material is unmatched. In fact, there are a wide variety of colors and sizes of slate roofing material available, although the colors are limited to natural colors.

The Benefits of Slate Roofing Material

In addition to the beauty added by slate roofing material, it has a very long lifespan. If installed correctly, the slate roofing material will actually outlast the materials upon which it is built. In addition, it is resistant to rot and to insects. Slate roofing material also adds extra fire protection to the home and is low maintenance.

Installing Slate Roofing Material

Despite having a long lifespan and being resistant to rot, slate roofing materials can be easily broken when walked on. Therefore, it can be difficult for someone who is not a professional to install and walk on the material without breaking it.

In addition, slate roofing material can be very heavy. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to add extra support to the roof prior to installing it.

When installing slate roofing material, it is important to first ensure the fascia is completely installed and the sheathing boards are nailed into place. The solid board decking then must be covered with a minimum 30 pound roofing felt with a 3 inch lap at top.

A wooden cant strip then needs to be nailed or screwed to the bottom edge of the lowest sheathing board. The strip should be anywhere from 3/8 inch to 5/8 inch thick and 1 inch wide. A horizontal line should then be chalked on the roofing felt for the first row of slate roofing material, minus 1 inch for an overhang.

The remainder of the chalk likes need to be chalked, ensuring there is a 3" overlap for each piece of slate roofing material. The slates should then be nailed snugly, but not tightly, into place with copper or stainless steel nails.

The nails should not be too tight so the slate roofing material can expand and contract with varying temperature degrees. Through careful work and planning, you will be sure to have a long lasting and beautiful roof for your home.