by Roofer911.com |
There is something so incredibly historic and beautiful about a slate roof that it almost defies description. From visions of, “…children all snug in their beds…” to mad firebug Bertha Antoinetta Mason dancing a murderous jig on the roof of Edward Rochester’s country estate in Jane Eyre, slate roofs have been there, done that and appeared in books, stories and novels to enchant the reader.
In fact, if the hardy hiker is content to ramble among the moors of Snowdonia, the abandoned slate mine of Blaenau Ffestiniog in Wales is still there to explore. When the mine was open, slate tiles were made by skilled workers using a hammer and chisel to split the thicker slate sections into usable tiles. But, occasionally the chisel was at a wrong angle and the slate mine work areas are littered with slate shingle shards.
There are three types of slate roof tiles: standard, textural and graduated. Standard grade is the most common with smooth surfaces and square corners although these tiles can range in size and color depending on the homeowner’s tastes. They are kept to a uniform width and length within the roof’s particular construction. Textural slate tiles have uneven surfaces, vary in thickness and have uneven edges. They are primarily associated with Tudor style roofs.
Large ecclesiastical and institutional buildings are usually covered in graduated slate tiles with the thickest and largest tiles towards the eaves and the thinnest and smallest tiles at the roof ridge. When doing a roof repair remember that the smaller tiles give the best watertight fit and the larger, heavier tiles on a slate roof withstand the weight of ice and snow during the winter.
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