Slates natural vs machined

mukki

descition time for the new build again....

slates, whats the advantage of buying natural slates, they are a good bit dearer, and i dont want to take the salesmans reasons for going for natural.

Mellor

mukki wrote:

descition time for the new build again....

slates, whats the advantage of buying natural slates, they are a good bit dearer, and i dont want to take the salesmans reasons for going for natural.

They are far better looking for a start.

CJhaughey

Natural slate is about twice the price to lay than manmade slate ie thrutone etc.

Villain

The main advantage is appearance mukki, the natural slates look better and more "natural" they also don't discolour like machined slates, but they are expensive.

mukki

that all, okay thanks lads

its a dormer house so all you will see is slates so i better get nice ones!

Mellor

CJhaughey wrote:

Natural slate is about twice the price to lay than manmade slate ie thrutone etc.

Per slate or per sq.m??

As they are often larger than fake slates.

CJhaughey

Per slate.
Usually more wastage with natural slates as well due to splitting and cracking.

Mellor

out of curiosity, is there a reason for the extra cost.
and does the increased coverage of natural slates make this back in any way

De_man

used capco "franvisa" natural spanish slate (couldn't afford the bangor blues) worked out fine no excessive splitting...the lads didn't charge anything extra to put up..

thankfully i stayed away from the other slates on the market...one house nearby had to take down the "cheap" chinese slate due to the roof turning white:eek: have heard very mixed reports on the brazilian slate too..have been told by a builder if staying in house for only 5years use brazilian slate...lifetime irish, welsh or spanish (in that order)


given a choice would i put up natural slate again??? NO.. i spent over 17K on the slate alone it was just too expensive and i don't even bother looking at the roof anymore

Slates

Mellor wrote:

out of curiosity, is there a reason for the extra cost.
and does the increased coverage of natural slates make this back in any way

Natural slate has to be quarried, split, punched, graded and imported into this country, all of the above add costs.

Fibre cement slate production is not as costly

Mellor

Slates wrote:

Natural slate has to be quarried, split, punched, graded and imported into this country, all of the above add costs.

Fibre cement slate production is not as costly

I am well aware that the manufacture of natural slates is more costly, if you read over the thread again you will noticed that we were talking about the cost of laying the slates, not manufacture.

GG66

I too paid extra to have natural slates and it was well worth it. Looks a lot better. Check out a brand called Samaco, think I got mine in buckleys in Sligo but you should find it elsewhere.

De_Man spent 17k on slate, must be a huge roof.

sundodger5

get a quote from nulock roofing. they have a new system that uses around a third less slate than traditional methods. i used their spanish slate guaranteed for 75 years and looks the business.

Avns1s

De_man wrote:

....... and i don't even bother looking at the roof anymore

Give it 15 years and then one day, have a good look at your roof. Compare it to some neighbour who used the fake slates and then put in context of the trivial amount that 17k will be. You might appreciate the little extra then!!:)

De_man

thanks Avns1s

i hope i last long enough to see the roof in 15years....

had another look at the roof yep the extra cost is worth it allright...