Slate and Simulated Slate Roofing

Slate is beautiful, natural and can last for up to 50 years. It's no surprise why it's the roofing choice of the high-end homeowner. What if you can't afford the cost of natural slate, but you like the look of it? That's where simulated slate comes in.

Simulated slate is a mixture of slate, concrete and non-alkaline glass fibers. The best part is that it is made from slate molds, which makes it near impossible to tell that it isn't slate. It's also extremely durable. The combination of concrete and non-alkaline glass fibers make it very versatile and just as strong as slate.

There is also one huge advantage simulated slate has over standard slate. The weight of slate is very heavy and not all homes can structurally support slate roofing. Simulated slate generally weighs in at half the weight of standard slate roofing. So you won't have to worry if your home can support the weight.

Some of the other benefits of simulated slate are that it's energy efficient and can block the suns rays. Helping keep your energy costs down in summer. It's also non-combustible and fire-resistant.

Simulated slate and slate are similar, if you can't decide try asking a professional about getting a roof estimate or inspecting your roofs structural support to see if it can support the weight of natural slate.