Synthetic slate can be made from various materials, such as PVC, TPO, EPDM and other thermoplastics. The survivors are cut to size and packaged up for shipping. Once the rubber-plastic mixture has cooled and hardened, the piece is removed from the mold and inspected for defects. Artificial molds, then, add a bit of variation to the line to make the product look a bit more authentic. Although factories are best at making identical products quickly, natural slates are each unique. Manufacturing synthetic slate involves a few steps: First, the raw materials are mixed together and poured into molds that simulate real slate. It's made by molding a combination of materials, such as rubber or plastic, into something that kind-of resembles natural slate. In contrast, artificial slate is not slate at all, rather just a play on words. Durable, lasting, and forever one-of-a-kind. The unique qualities of each slate piece, taken together, produce a roof unlike any other. Finally, it is sorted by size, thickness, and quality.įrom beginning to end, roofing slate fabrication is a very labor-intensive process. The books are split into half, quarters, eights, on down until desired thickness. Roofing slate gets split into "books" using specialized tools, like fissuring hammers. Once excavated, the raw material is transferred to a processing plant for cutting, splitting and shaping. Once a suitable deposit of slate has been located, it is quarried using heavy machinery such as excavators and drills. Geologists use various techniques to identify areas where slate is likely to be found, such as analyzing rock formations and studying aerial or satellite images. First, explore and locate suitable deposits of slate rock. The process for making roofing slate is labor intensive, but quite straight forward. It’s resistant to fire, insects, and mildew, making it a great choice for both residential and commercial buildings. Natural slate is an extremely durable roofing material that can last for over a century with proper installation and maintenance. Natural, earth-born slate is materially different from so-called synthetic slate options. Slate remains a popular choice world-wide and is often used for new buildings with an eye to the distant future. Many of which have survived to this day, with a bit of maintenance. By the 19th century, slate roofed most of our finest buildings, including grand mansions, churches, and government buildings. In the United States, slate has been a popular choice since the 17th century. Other examples date all the way back to the 12th century. The Old Town Hall in Czech Republic dates back o the 15th century and also has a slate roof. For example, the Old House in Cirencester, England, is a timber-framed building built in the 14th century. To date, there are numerous historic buildings, dating to 15th century or earlier, with historic slate roofs. Later, during the Industrial Revolution, the production of slate tiles became more efficient, reducing cost, making the material more available generally. Medival Europe also put slate to good use throughout its ambitious churches and castles. Here, they used slate for roofing and other decorative purposes. Slate has been used in roofing applications for centuries, with the first recorded use going back to ancient Rome. In fact, The Durable Slate Company has one of America's largest stocks of reclaimed slate and we often use this material to match existing slates or to reroof a new building, but for a more weathered look. This parallel arrangement is why slate can be cleaved into thin sheets, making it a naturally capable building material.īecause slate is naturally derived and long-lasting, it's a more sustainable option than synthetic roofing products slate can be easily recycled and reused, whether for roofing or other applications. The clay (etc) minerals rearrange and compact, foliating over time. When shale, a sedimentary rock, is subjected to these conditions it can metamorphose into slate. Slate forms naturally inside the Earth due to a process called metamorphism: rocks are subjected to ultra high pressure, temperature, or both. Natural slate is known for its beauty, long-lasting durability, and resistance to fading, weathering, and rot. It is a fine-grained, foliated rock composed primarily from quartz, clay, and mica. Slate is a durable, natural stone material that is a favorite building material and often used for roofing.
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