Rubber slate has a distinct smell that you can sense when it s first installed.
Will a slate roof fade.
All slates will fade from weather exposure.
Another great advantage this type of slate offers is its low maintenance which means very little ongoing effort will be needed to keep them in good working order.
Installed properly slate roofs require relatively little maintenance and will last 60 to 125 years or longer depending on the type of slate employed roof configuration and the geographical location of the property.
3 not the cheapest roofing option.
Rubber slate is definitely more affordable than real slate but it is more expensive than shingles.
According to an identification guide on the slate roof central website some of the hardest heartiest types are purple slate non fading green slate and grayish black buckingham slate which can.
For people who do not plan to ever sell their home the incredible longevity of slate is a highly desirable benefit.
As for return on investment while it is true that with its potential lifespan of 150 or even 200 years slate might outlast more ordinary roofing materials by a factor of five few homeowners will fully enjoy the saving represented by such durability.
By contrast to the efflorescence process fading slates generally fade monotonically across the slate rather than from edges in.
Some slates have been known to last over 200 years.
Sometimes weathered slate looks great on a roof but understand that the colors will shift over time.
Clay resists roof fading because of the way the tiles are created.
Faded slates will not show an obvious whitish powder of surface deposited mineral salts as thick as that left by efflorescence.
One of the advantages of natural slate is the variations in color shade veining and grain your slate roof will be entirely unique no other roof will be quite like it.
In terms of performance natural slate does not fade or deteriorate over time which is reflected in how long it will protect the roof structure.
Many slate tile manufacturers offer up to 100 year warranty on their products.
How long do they last.
The smell eventually fades away but in the beginning this may be a deterrent to some.