As the construction of the house nears completion, many begin to think about the roofing device. Today, there are a huge number of possible options for roofs using various technologies. Be that as it may, people prefer slate. This roofing material is quite durable and can last, as practice shows, for many years. I think many have seen old houses built back in the USSR with slate green from time to time, but not damaged.
What is slate like?
Despite the fact that the composition of the material is the same, the size of the slate may vary. The thickness can also be different. Basically, it ranges from 0.5 to 0.9 cm. The width of the sheet depends entirely on the number of waves. Usually there are 6 or 8.
Sizes
The main aspect to consider when choosing is the size of the slate. This is easy to explain: knowing the exact dimensions of the sheet, you can easily calculate the amount of roofing material you need.
So, the size of the 8-wave slate may vary. It all depends on which manufacturer produced this or that material. But for the most part, the size of such a sheet is 113 by 175 cm.
The size of the 6-wave slate is slightly smaller. It is usually 112.5 by 175 cm. there is practically no difference between these two sheets. It would seem that more waves, larger sizes. But in reality it is not so. This is because in the eight-wave they are located more compactly, i.e. the distance between two adjacent waves is less than in the six-wave. Therefore, if you wanted to change one sheet to another, you will not succeed, because. the waves will not match.
Benefits
Like most roofing materials, slate has advantages and disadvantages. Its main advantages are as follows:
• High strength. This material is easily able to withstand the weight of a person, which cannot be said, for example, about bituminous slate sheets.
• Long service life. This fact is easily confirmed by the fact that even today you can see a house with Soviet slate.
• Fire resistance. It is not flammable at all, which allows it to be used at high-risk facilities.
• Availability. The low price of such material helps to reduce the cost of construction.
Flaws
The main disadvantages are:
• Limited slate size, ie. there are only a few variations of this material.
• Contains asbestos which isa finely dispersed substance that adversely affects the human respiratory system. Therefore, during installation work and processing of slate, it is imperative to protect the nose and mouth with a respirator. If it is not available, you can use a damp gauze bandage or a moistened piece of rag tied to your face.
Now you know what slate is, what are its main advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the size of the slate, its most common modifications, you can easily calculate the required amount of this material on the roof of your house, which will allow you to save a lot.
