Traditional pitched roofs are finished with slate or clay derived tiles. Both offer excellent protection from rain and the outside elements as well as benefiting from have a extensive lifespan (80-100 years).
Slate
Slate is a particularly suitable roofing material as it has an extremely low water absorption index (less than 0.4%). The low tendency to absorb water also makes it very resistant to frost damage and breakage due to freezing.
Slate roof tiles are usually fixed using either nail fixing, however the hook fixing method is very common with Spanish slate.
In the UK, nailing is typically done with double nails onto timber battens (England and Wales). If carried out correctly, the slate will provide a long-lasting weathertight roof with a typical lifespan of around 80–100 years.
Slate is a fine-grained rock derived from clay or volcanic ash. The sedimentary layering creates what we now know as 'slate'.
When expertly cut (by striking with a specialized tool in the quarry), many slates will form smooth flat sheets of stone which have long been popular for roofing, floor tiles and other construction purposes. Slate is frequently grey in colour, especially when seen in masse covering roofs. However, slate occurs in a variety of colours even from a single locality; for example, slate from North Wales can be found in many shades of grey, from pale to dark, as well as having the possibility of being purple, green or cyan.
Slate Roofing Works Completed by Architectural Lead & Metal Work Ltd
Roof Tiles (Other)
Roof tiles are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay, which can also have a waterproof glaze. Modern materials such as concrete and plastic are also very popular and roof tiles now come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Besides protecting roofs, tiling has been used to provide a protective weather envelope to the sides of timber frame buildings.
The range includes :
- Flat tiles: These are the simplest type of tile and are laid in regular overlapping rows. Flat roof tiles are usually made of clay but may also be made of stone, wood, plastic, concrete, or solar cells.
- Imbrex and Tegula: A distinguished Roman pattern of curved and flat tiles that make rain channels on a roof.
- Pantiles: Roof tiles with an S-shaped profile, allowing adjacent tiles to interlock, this results in a ridged pattern resembling a ploughed field.
Tiling Works Completed by Architectural Lead & Metal Work Ltd
Our services are available to both domestic and commercial customers throughout London and South-East of England. Our goal is to provide a roof that is incredibly robust and visually appealing for many years to come. Every job we do is completed to the highest standard.
We also specialise in Lead Work. Lead is an exceptional material for roof coverings, visit our Metal Roofing link for more information.
Contact Architectural Lead and Metalwork to discuss your roofing requirements.
