LEADING UK ROOF SLATE & SLATE ROOFING SUPPLIERS

Click here for an easy-to-use listing of leading UK suppliers of roof slates, provided by Archbone.

Roof slates are derived from fine-grained sand-free clay sediments. Roof slate has characteristic cleavage planes which were produced when the clay was metamorphosed. Roof slate can be split into thin section (typically 4-10 mm for roofing slates) giving a natural riven finish. Roof slate may also be sawn, sanded, fine rubbed, honed, polished, flame textured or bush hammered.

Roof slate is available in a wide range of colours, including blue/grey, silver grey and green roof slate from the Lake District; blue, green grey and plum red roof slate from North Wales; and grey roof slate from Cornwall. Roof slate is imported from Ireland (grey/green), Canada (blue/grey), France (blue/grey) and Spain (blue/black). Spain is the world's largest producer of roofing slates.

Roof slate is strong and resistant to acid and frost. It lasts up to 400 years as a roofing material. The minimum recommended pitch for a natural slate roof is 20 degrees under sheltered or moderate exposure and 22.5 degrees under severe weather exposure. Fixing nails should be of copper or aluminium.

Other useful links relevant to roof slates and slate roofing:

National Federation of Roofing Contractors
Quarry Products Association

DETAILED INFORMATION RESOURCES ON ROOF SLATES

We recommend the following websites, with building product information including manufacturers' specs, standard specifications, and CAD details: Barbour Compendium, RIBA Product Selector Plus, ASC Bricsnet, Building Products Index, British Board of Agrément, British Standards Online.