When it comes to the many different materials a roofing company can install on your home, nothing quite beats the stately and classic look of slate shingles. Still, authentic slate has a number of disadvantages, often causing homeowners to have their roofing contractor install asphalt shingles instead.
Did you know there is an even better choice? Composite slate installed by roofing services offers the many advantages of natural slate while outperforming asphalt shingles.
What Are Composite Slate Shingles?
Composite slate shingles are synthetic shingles that mimic the appearance of natural slate. They are available from almost any roofing company and make your home look like it is covered in beautiful natural slate. These molded shingles are made from a mixture of plastic and rubber, offering the same benefits as real slate, plus a few more.
When combining all the advantages that composite slate shingles installed by roofing services have to offer, they provide greater and more cost-effective protection than even the most expensive asphalt shingles.
The Advantages of Composite Slate Shingles
As beautiful and long-lived as natural slate is, it is also heavy, expensive, and can be challenging for a roofing contractor to install correctly. Fortunately, composite slate shingles provide homeowners with another option, offering even greater advantages than asphalt shingles, such as the following:
- Stronger and More Durable Than Asphalt or Slate - Most asphalt shingles have a life expectancy of 15 and 40 years, with the longer-lasting materials costing more. In comparison, composite slate shingles can last 40 to 50 years or more. Composite is more durable than natural slate, which can chip or crack on impact. Composite shingles are rated Class 4 in impact resistance and Class A in fire resistance, making them one of the most durable and safe materials a roofing company can install on your home.
- A Cost-Effective Solution to Natural Slate - If you want the look of natural slate, composite slate is the most cost-effective way to get it. Composite slate is comparable in price to some of the more advanced asphalt shingle products now available, yet are more resilient and last significantly longer. Composite looks just like the real thing and is available in a number of colors, shades, and variations. An experienced roofing contractor can also install these shingles just as easily as asphalt shingles.
- Lighter Weight - Weight is a big concern when installing natural slate, which is exceptionally heavy. It also cannot be installed by roofing services on every home. Yet what many may not realize is that asphalt shingles can be very heavy as well, especially on larger homes or those with multiple layers of shingles. Composite slate is much lighter than both materials, reducing the stress on your home while offering its many advantages.
- More Environmentally Friendly Than Asphalt - Even though they are made from petroleum-based materials, composite slate shingles are 100% recyclable. Many of the roofing products available today are made partially or totally from recycled material as well. In comparison, asphalt shingles involve the use of toxic and environmentally damaging materials and become toxic waste once removed from your home.
If you have ever thought that natural slate would be an attractive choice for your home but was dissuaded by the price or other negative factors, composite slate shingles installed by a local roofing company may be a perfect solution. These shingles are more durable and cost-effective than most asphalt shingles and look just like real slate.
Composite slate shingles are available from and can be installed by most professional roofing contractors and offer you many more advantages than asphalt shingles. When expertly installed by experienced roofing services, composite slate shingles last a long time while making your house stand out in a sea of common, less distinctive asphalt!
