Find answers to the most common questions about natural slate, its uses, characteristics, and benefits. Whether you are a professional in the sector or an interested individual, this section clarifies everything you need to know to make the most of this sustainable and durable material.
How can I contact a company to buy slate?
On this website, we provide all the contact details of the companies associated with the Cluster da Pizarra de Galicia, which offer you a no- obligation quote for certified quality- slate.
Does maintaining slate roofing incur a high cost?
Slate roofing maintenance does not incur high costs because, in relation to its long lifespan, the operation required for maintenance are minimal. On the other hand, replacing damaged slates is very simple, as it only requires replacing the affected pieces. It simply involves removing the corresponding nail or hook and replacing the piece with a new one in good condition. Additionally, it is considered that slates have a self- cleaning surface, meaning that dirt accumulation is minimal.
Does Galician slate have suitable quality for use in roofing?
Galician slate undergoes rigorous quality controls that certify it as an optimal product for such use. The mandatory UNE standards and the test carried out at the Slate Technology Center Laboratory certify the quality of the product. Additionally, the CE marking distinguished the quality of Galician slate from countries like China or Brazil, which lack any marking.
Why choose slate for a roof over other materials?
Without a doubt, slate has properties that are difficult to match by other materials like ceramic tiles, copper, zinc, or others. These include its excellent quality/price ratio; it is great durability, which allows it to remain unchanged against humidity, dust, salt, cold, heat, snow, or wind; it is high impermeability and low water absorption ( slate has an absorption rate of 0,40%, while ceramic tiles can reach up to 12%, according to data provided by LOMCO); its thermal and acoustic properties; its low maintenance and minimal dirt accumulation ; and its contribution to the environment, as it is a product with a very low carbon footprint.
How many slate pieces per m2 does a roof have?
When installing a roof, it is vitally important to know how many slates will be needed per square meter, as this will determine a large part of the weight the structure must support. The number of slates will depend on the format of the piece, the climatic zone, the pitch (slope), and the length of the roof. The aforementioned parameters will determine the covering (overlap), the data that will prevent water from penetrating the roof.
In what other parts of a house can slate be used?
Slate can be used in all parts of the house, including walls, floors, facades, and furniture. This is due to one of its characteristics: its versatility or ability to adapt to diverse spaces and constructive solutions. For centuries, slate has been used to cover buildings to improve their insulation; recently, ventilated facades have become popular due to the development of specific new installation systems.
Slate walls are less popular, mainly because slate is a rock susceptible to exfoliating into thin slabs, and it is not typically used for masonry, which can be made with other types of materials.
Countertops, shower trays, benches, and even pool tables and other furniture and decoration are also manufactured from slate.
Why is slate said to have a good quality price ratio?
It is said that slate offers a good quality/price ratio because, being a material with great durability and low maintenance, the cost related to both the materials, its installation, and maintenance throughout its lifespan are very competitive compared to other materials.
Why is slate the best option for a facade?
Because its properties can hardly be beaten by other materials. Slate has great durability, remaining unaltered under adverse conditions of humidity, dust, saltpeter, cold, heat, snow, ice, etc. It is a material that boasts high impermeability, is insulating against noise and heat, and requires little maintenance. By its nature, slate is a material respectful of the environment.
