Slate Roofing … Going Green Never Made More Sense
In our current climate of LEED Certifications and Green building practices, slate roofing never made more sense than it does now. Asphalt shingle roofing makes up better than 40% of the refuse added to landfills, nationwide, on an annual basis. Most last about twenty years, and must be stripped and removed before the new layer added. Slate will easily surpass the lifetimes of five or six such roofs. And, in the event that it must be removed, it's pure clean fill-nothing but stone!
The most prevalent argument against slate is the cost. Realistically, a homeowner can expect to pay $3.50/sq' for a new asphalt shingle roof, compared to $12 to $14/sq' for slate. Consider the average, 20 square roof: asphalt shingles, $7,000; slate, $26,000. After the third asphalt roof, the slate has paid for itself, never mind the added cost factors for inflation. "But", you say, "I'm not going to live in my house for 60 years. I will never personally appreciate these savings."
Not so fast. The average consumer who lives in a home for 30 years will replace the roof twice. And, when it's time to sell, your home has the added, positive feature of a slate roof. Any realtor will tell you: This adds tremendous charm, curb appeal, value, and it boosts the price tag when you go on the ma
rket. Slate roofing is good for your wallet, and our planet!