Rockville Roofing: Article About Advantages and Disadvantages Of Stone Shingles
Flagstone shingles are a type of natural stone shingle. Manufacturers may find the stones naturally in the wild and shape the stones into shingles. Other companies cut down larger boulders to give the shingles the look of flagstone.
Question for Rockville roofers Seneca Creek Home Improvement: Are there cheaper alternatives to natural stone?Manufacturers today make tiles and shingles that look like natural stone but cost much less. Usually made from a combination of materials or plastic, these shingles have a similar look but generally do not last as long. Manmade stone shingles come in many of the same colors, shapes and designs that natural stone shingles do.
Natural stone shingles, also known as slate shingles, look great on a variety of different home styles. Often found on Tudor and Queen Ann homes, some modern construction companies use slate when building newer homes. Slate comes in different colors that range from cooler shades of gray and blue to darker shades of brown and red. As replacing traditional shingles with slate is expensive, Rockville roofing companies ask homeowners to consider all the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision about using slate.
Longevity is one of the biggest advantages associated with natural stone shingles. Some Victorian homes built at the turn of the 20th century still have their original stone shingles. Roofs made from asphalt or composition shingles may last 30 years or less, but stone can last for 100 to 150 years. These shingles also rate high in regards to fire resistance, boasting a higher rating than every other roofing material except for metal.
Many homeowners today understand the importance of going green, and this is another advantage of stone shingles. Homeowners want products made from recycled materials and products that do not damage the environment. Natural stone is one of the greenest construction materials in the world today. Unlike other materials that manufacturers produce in factories, natural stone is something they can source directly from quarries.
Seneca Creek Home Improvement roofers of Rockville would be happy to answer any question you have about gutters or siding.
Those companies also use less energy and produce fewer fumes when cutting and shaping slate. Some companies use flagstone shingles rather than larger pieces of slate, and those shingles require even less energy to produce.
Installation is one of the potential disadvantages of using stone on a roof. Stone is extremely heavy and can add extra weight to a roof. Installers will typically need to add a new support system to accommodate that excess weight, which can add a significant amount to the cost. There are two ways to install the roof, which often depends on the slope and shape of the roof. Installers can place the stones on a low pitched roof and let gravity keep the shingles in place. Roofs with a higher pitch and multiple angles will require some type of adhesive to keep the shingles from sliding off the roof.
The cost and maintenance are some other potential disadvantages. As slate varies in color from rock to rock, homeowners may have a hard time finding new shingles that match the color of their existing shingles later. Homeowners should also keep in mind that these shingles can cost three times or more what other shingles cost.
