Slate roofing is the long standing roofing material of choice in and around the Melbourne area. With a life span of up to 150 years even in this climate, combined with the aesthetics and choices of colors, textures, and material grades, it’s easy to see why.

With over 35 years in the slate roofing trade, we’ve found most people are surprised by some of the characteristics and diversity of natural slate roofing. For example, purple slate? Yes, some slate is purple. Slate is comprised of minerals and therefore naturally occurs in many colors. Given the prevalence of grays most common for slate roofs, the degree of color choices actually available is typically met with fascination.

More Interesting Advantages to Slate Roofing

Graceful Aging

We already mentioned the surprising array of color choices which also include blacks, greens, reds, and more, but because the colors in slate are provided by naturally occurring minerals in the slate and run throughout the thickness of the slate tile, color fading is minimal or non existent and actually adds to the appearance as it does occur.

Every slate roof is unique and takes on additional artistic style as it ages. An experienced slate roofer can guide you in creating a new slate roof that expresses your personality and fits the architectural style of your home or building. Then, as it ages, it even improves its appearance over time.

Weathering

The Melbourne area is particularly brutal on roofing which is why slate outshines all other roofing materials. The key is in the “grade” of the slate used. High quality slate tiles are impervious to water penetration. They endure salt air with unrelenting stamina. Properly installed, even the harshest winds cannot dislodge them from their secure position on your roof.

Basically, to beat slate roofing, you’d pretty much have to move underground, where, ironically, you’d probably be under layer of slate.

Aesthetics

There’s just something innately beautiful about a slate roof. Add the graceful aging and unparalleled weather protection and it’s in a league of perfection that life just doesn’t offer in large quantities. It looks good on new structures as well as “old” and “period” ones.

The size and shape, color, and texture of the slate tiles can be artfully implemented to compliment home or building.

Conclusion

It seems an exaggerated boast to say one choice of material for your new roof could be so superior to everything else, but slate roofing has earned that distinction. It ought to be self evident that only proven slate quality and experienced master slaters are capable of providing all these benefits, but you’ll want to be sure both are combined when contracting your new slate roof.