Opinions on recycled plastic slates?

selfbuildache

We're really interested in these for our house. They resemble Welsh slates (hope that's ok to say!) but are made from recycled plastic.
We've found 2 companies supplying them, 1 north,1 south of border.
What do people think about them and how they compare to regular slates in terms of performance and price?

GoneShootin

Never heard of them! Have you sample pictures of what they look like?

soldsold

I got a sample of these a few years ago, they are really very like real slates. I showed them to a guy who works for a plastic material test centre and he looked at the spec (which for the sample I had was 95% polyethylene and 5% rubber recycled from car tyres) and his opinion was that they would be affected by UV light and would probably whiten over time and the test report that came with the slates was not from any official source (eg IAB) so should be treated with a pinch of salt.

Other potential issues would be curling of the slates and the potential fire hazard so would need to be cleared by insurance company.

The idea is excellent, the cost is reasonably high, certainly more than concrete tiles etc, but to me there are a few questions that an accellerated ageing study completed as part of an IAB certification would clarify.

Perhaps the ones you are looking at have IAB certification and are made from a different base material? Maybe my info is now out of date as it's 3 years since I looked at using them. Or a 20 year colour/ curling guarantee that is insurance backed to an unlimited/ very sizeable amount?

While I expect in future plastic/ composite slates will be very commonly used, for me I would not be happy to be one of the early adopters.

But I'm happy to be corrected if there is evidence of them being long lasting.

Mazotasan

Same reservations as above...I looked at them approx 2 years ago and thought what a great idea but the cost/colour gaurantee/fire hazard/curling would all be serious issues. The roof will be a big chunk of money as is and if dont have IAB certification etc., it would be a gamble...The cost of a decent natural slate has dropped significantly in this year also which helped me make a decision.

soldsold

Would be interested in a PM with details of the slate you went with, heading that way shortly.

Cheers!

selfbuildache

Thanks for replies - lots of obvious questions that I've emailed to the companies involved and will post answers here when I get a reply.
sold - I've PM'd details
GoneShootin - I've attached a photo of the slate.

selfbuildache

So one of the slate companies got back to me -

"Yes, we have a BBA/IAB agrement certification for our product. The base material is recycled rubber and plastic. There is a 50 year product warrantee against warping, brittleness, breakage, fading. This is a replacement warrantee. The fire ratings are part of the BBA/IAB certification. It is part of the testing process of the agrement certification."

Also written on their site -

Resistance to UV ( Ultra Violet Rays) for colour fastness ( max 5-15% fade over 20 years - BRE UV Tested over 5000 hours)
Fire Rated EXT.S.AC when tested in accordance with BS476 Part3 2004 ( in conjunction with the use of Firefly Vulcan insulation material) BRE Certified

Would that be enough of a guarantee for people?

Mazotasan

Seems pretty good to be honest albeit alittle contradiction in their reply and info from website regarding 'There is a 50 year product warrantee against warping, brittleness, breakage, fading.' and 'Resistance to UV ( Ultra Violet Rays) for colour fastness ( max 5-15% fade over 20 years - BRE UV Tested over 5000 hours)'...It really is very difficult to simulate real weather conditions.

I'd check the actual details of the certifications and if they're good, go for em.

Might sound mad but would there be any odour off them on a hot summers day say 26-28 deg? (if they ever return!)...

rick.james

hi

curious did you go with the plastic slates ?

muffler

rick.james wrote: »

hi

curious did you go with the plastic slates ?

PM the people who posted here or start your own thread but dont come to this forum just to grave dig old threads. No more of this.