Slate roofs are one of the most popular roofing materials available on the market, thanks to their durability, elegance and energy efficiency. Apart from that, it’s also one of the most long-lasting roofing materials with its lifespan of 100 years or more. Unfortunately, while it may have a hundred-year lifespan, it’s still possible for slate roofs to deteriorate earlier than expected.

Here, the roofing and gutter installation experts of MHI Roofing discuss the reasons why slate roofs fail prematurely.

Poor Quality Nails Were Used

Nails are required to install slate roofs to your home and believe it or not, it’s one of the common reasons why a slate roof fails prematurely. If the nails used on your roof are of poor quality, they can deteriorate way before the slate tiles themselves even begin to show signs of wear and tear. As the nails deteriorate, there won’t be anything left holding them in place, causing the slate tiles to tumble from the roof. With that in mind, when installing slate roofs, it’s highly recommended that your professionals always use heavy-gauge, galvanized roofing nails to get the job done.

Walking Over the Roof Tiles

While it’s true slate tiles are impervious to moisture, if the tiles sustain a crack, they’re vulnerable to leaks. Unfortunately, the most common reason slate roofs crack is because someone walked over them. Expert roofing contractors know that they should never walk around slate roofs. However, if you hire an inexperienced contractor, they may not know that this is something they shouldn’t do and walk over your slate tiles anyway. To avoid this make sure to only hire a roofer who really knows their way around a slate roof.

Choosing the Wrong Flashing

Metal flashing around chimneys and vents is the weakest part of your slate roof and if you made the mistake of choosing a less durable metal like stainless steel or aluminum, the flashing can erode and begin leaking earlier than expected. Thankfully, you can easily minimize this particular problem by choosing copper flashing for your slate roof.

Need an expert roofer to help you maintain your slate roof? Don’t hesitate to turn to MHI Roofing, your leading service provider when it comes to your roofing and attic insulation needs. Give us a call at (412) 203-8129 or fill out our contact form to get a free inspection.