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Stone Roofs

© Shefali Kumar

The most common stone to be used as a roofing material is slate. Read on to find more about the use of stone for your roof and some interesting options that you can use.

Stone Roofs in History

Stone, in various forms, has been used for roofs for a long time. Initially, stone was not used in roofs as it was thought to be too heavy for the columns below to support. Some interesting examples are found in:

• Roman Domed structures- were made with concrete (a man-made stone material)
• Trullis - If you have never heard about the Trulli, here is how they look. More information about the Construction details of their pyramidical stone roofs.

Advantages of Stone Roofs

Stone roofs using slate became popular in areas where slate was easily and locally found. Compared to wood and thatch, slate provided some useful features:

• long lasting
• waterproof surface naturally
• low maintenance with most applications
• individual pieces relatively heavy so the roof is suitable for areas of high winds
• esthetically pleasing, imbibing a rustic, rurified look
• can be reused
• good fire protection
• are a part of the heritage in some areas like rural Britain
• material by itself not given to rot or insect problems

Disadvantages of Stone Roofs

Some of the major disadvantages of stone roofs are:

• they are very expensive - both in terms of material cost and labor
• due to the weight of slate, extra support is sometimes needed
• hard to walk on for a non-professional with breakage
• the lifespan of the stone is greater than that of the underlayment

Roofing Options

Stone-coated steel roofing is a very viable option. The esthetic appeal of stone is somewhat adapted to the versatility of a metal roof. Check the links below for more information about them.

• Advantages of such roofing systems
• Some of the major manufacturers of this product in North America

Simulated natural slate is gaining popularity for its look, durability and fire resistance. Made usually with cement and a varied component, such as wood fiber, fiberglass, or Pearlite. Some manufacturers are:

• Dura Slate
• Mira Vista by Owens Corning

Construction Details

Here are some sources that provide information about the technical aspect of stone roofs:

• Glossary of stone roofing terms
• Installation details of a slate roof

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