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Synthetic Slate Roofing Shingles
Fake Slate Roofing Shingles Provide the Look
of Real Slate at a Fraction of the Price and Weight
By Mark J. Donovan
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Slate roofs provide a historic and natural look to a home, and are frequently
found on older homes with steep sloped roofs. Slate roofs however are very
expensive to install and maintain, both from a materials and labor cost
perspective. Synthetic slate roofing shingles provide a wonderful alternative to
natural slate as they offer the best of both worlds. Synthetic slate shingles
are about half the weight of real slate shingles and are much less expensive to
install. And from the street, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference
between synthetic slate roofs and natural slate roofs.
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Synthetic slate roofing shingles (a.k.a
Fake slate roofing shingles) are manufactured out of rubber and plastic
materials, and in many cases recycled rubber and plastic. Consequently they are
much lighter than natural slate shingles and are Eco-Friendly. They are also
much easier to transport and install.
Synthetic slate roofing shingles can be cut with a utility knife and fastened to
the roof sheathing using a pneumatic nail gun and corrosive resistant roofing
nails. In addition, due to the fact that the synthetic slate roofing shingles
are much lighter than natural slate shingles, a normally constructed roof can
support their weight. |
 Photo Courtesy of TAMKO |
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With natural slate shingles, additional roof framing lumber is required to
support the heavy load of natural slate roof shingles. In addition, the
installation of a natural slate roof is about twice as much as a synthetic slate
roof.
Synthetic slate roof shingles also offer a number of advantages over other roof
shingle types. First, many synthetic slate roof shingle manufacturers offer
material warranties up to 50 years and wind warranties up to 110 MPH.
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Most asphalt shingle material warranties, on the other hand, typically have
shorter length material warranties (e.g. 20-40 years) and lower speed wind
warranties (e.g. 50-80 MPH).
Second, synthetic slate roofing shingles are available in a variety of
styles, sizes and colors from numerous manufacturers. Synthetic slate
roofing shingle manufacturers include
TAMKO, EcoStar, and DaVinci Roofscapes,
just to name a few.
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 Photo Courtesy of TAMKO |
Besides synthetic slate roof shingle offerings these manufacturers also
offer other synthetic roof shingle surfaces, such as wooden shake, stone and
tile. In terms of sizes, synthetic slate roofing shingles are available in widths
including 5, 7 and 12 inch. They can also be purchased with square, diamond, and
scalloped patterns. In terms of color and textures, besides numerous options the
manufacturers have done a phenomenal job of mimicking the real materials. Even
up close, they look exactly like the real deal. |
So if you are looking to restore your
old slate roof, or include a slate roof in your new custom home, consider
synthetic slate roofing shingles. They are a great alternative to natural slate
and cost about half as much. And with 50 year material and 110 MPH wind
warranties they are virtually maintenance free.
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yard for weeks
as you wait for the roofing contractor to come back and finish roofing your
home.
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Related Information
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