Why Slate Roofing Makes Sense On Commercial Properties

Designing a roof for a commercial property involves making a lot of decisions based on costs, business needs, and long-term value. The roof of a business needs to have curb appeal for in-person visitors while still being able to do heavy-duty work protecting all your assets inside. This is why businesses are increasingly choosing slate roofing for their buildings.

Slate roofing is among the most expensive options in roof material, but it also brings numerous benefits that other roofing materials simply can't provide. That makes it a good choice for savvy businesses looking to the long-term.

The Argument For Commercial Slate Roofing

Why choose slate roofing?

1 - Great looks

Slate is a stately material that has been in use across North America since the colonial days, and it still brings a sense of maturity and elegance which no other roofing material can match. A slate roof automatically suggests a business is serious and solid. Plus, with a wide range of colors and styles available, slate can still match your existing design styles.

2 - Top Tier Durability

Slate is among the most durable roofing materials, capable of standing up to even intense weather with minimal damage. It can even shrug off many hailstorms that would wreck lesser roofs. In addition, slate is non-combustible, so it's one of the best choices if there's any significant risk of fires around the building, such as wildfires.

3 - Unmatched Longevity

Standard asphalt tiles only last 15-30 years. Metal roofs can last for around 50 years, depending on how much abuse they take. But a properly-installed slate roof is nearly indestructible. Short of a major natural disaster, slate roofing can be expected to last a century or more. Chances are a slate roof will last for the entire life of your building.

4 - Low Maintenance

Another significant benefit to slate is that it's also impervious to most microbial life, so it cannot become covered in mold, moss, algae, or similar organisms. Being non-porous, it's also nearly impossible to stain. The only maintenance a slate roof needs is to hose it down now and then or replace a single tile that's gotten damaged.

5 - Low Long-Term TCO

All these factors point towards one idea: while slate is expensive to install up-front, it has the lowest cost of ownership once put in place. Slate is as close as a roof comes to be "fire and forget." Plus, because it's so durable, there's far less chance of it failing and you dealing with property damage from leaks. Over time, this will easily balance out the higher initial costs, while saving you the time and bother of maintenance and repairs. Heather & Little specializes in historically-minded architectural preservation and renovation. Our expert craftspeople can restore a historic roof to its original glory, or install a new roof with the appearance of age and grace. We proudly assist with projects around the world.  Contact us to learn more about our services.