Slate roofing broadly falls into two categories, namely natural and man- made. Natural slates would be considered the best option for longevity and aesthetic appeal. There are a number of products on the market quarried in Spain, Canada, China, Brazil alongside British slates from Wales, Cumbria and Cornwall. The quality of each varies greatly and as a company we wouldn’t normally use Brazilian or Chinese as they are inferior and tend to break with the slightest pressure. At the other end of the spectrum home grown British slates are hardy but are expensive and often have long lead times for delivery. Second hand reclaimed Welsh slates can be an alternative to purchasing new. Spanish slates are readily available; they are cost effective, durable and if laid correctly give a pleasing finish. On vertical or exposed locations these slated can be fitted with metallic hooks that prevent ‘chattering’, ie. Movement of slates in high winds This is particularly relevant to roofs in coastal locations as increasing storms can lead to localised problems on exposed elevations.

A cheaper option than natural slate is fibre cement man made slate made by Eternit & Cembrit. These products come in two sizes 600 x 300 & 500 x 250, with each slate fixed with two copper nails and a copper disc rivet. If laid correctly a man made slate roof is uniform and very secure due to the fixings, the disc rivet eliminates any movement discussed above. Man made slates can be square edged and uniform or products with riven edge that gives the effect of natural slate cut.