North Country roofing shingles, when fixed with non-corroding nails or hooks, can provide a service life in excess of 100 years.
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Durable and long lasting
- Resistant to chemical pollutants and acid rain
- Non-combustible and fireproof
- Unaffected by freeze/thaw cycles
- Environmentally safe
- Resistant to hail and other impact damage
- Performance proven on rooftops
- Delivered from stock
- Available in unfading or weathering colors
- Available in special shapes
- Available in a wide variety of sizes
- ASTM E108-10 Class A (highest) Fire Resistance Rating*
- FM4473 Class 3 or Class 4 Hail Impact Rating**
- ASTM D3161-15 Class F (highest) Wind Resistance Rating***
*As per 2015 International Building Code section 1505.2 and tested by the National Slate Association July 13, 2010.
**As tested by the National Slate Association February 25, 2010.
***As tested by the National Slate Association December 8, 2015.
Fire Resistance of Natural Slate Roofing – UL 790
“Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings ”
Natural slate received IBC Class A (highest fire rating available) Fire Resistance Rating when 1/4” thick, North American slate shingles were installed at a 3” headlap over No. 30 felt underlayment on a 1/2″ plywood roof deck.
Click on report – NSA Fire Resistance Of Slate Test Report
Fire resistance of roofing slates: Mechanical, mineralogical and aesthetic changes alongside temperature increase
Victor Cárdenes is geologist with a PhD in roofing slate. Currently a part-time professor at the Oviedo University, Petrology and Geochemistry Department in Oviedo, Spain.
Click on report – NSA Fire resistance of roofing slates temperature increase Report
Complying with Factory Mutual FM 4473, Specification Test
Standards For Impact Resistant Testing Of Rigid Roofing Materials
By Impacting With Freezer Ice Balls.
3/8” thick, S-1 rated, North American produced roofing slate met Class 4 requirements, surviving the impact of 2” ice balls travelling at 76 MPH.
1/4″ thick, S-1 rated, North American produced roofing slate met Class 3 requirements, surviving the impact of 1 3/4″ ice balls travelling at 69 MPH.
Click on report – Hail Test Report
It is important to note that some insurance companies offer a reduction in residential insurance premiums when a Class 3 or Class 4 rating is met.
Impact Resistance of Natural Slate Testing Video
ASTM D3161/D3161M-15: Standard Test Method for Wind Resistance of Steep Slope Roofing Products (Fan-Induced Method)
Testing conducted by PRI Construction Materials Technologies LLC, 1/4’’ thick, S-1 rated, North American produced roofing slate met the requirements of the highest Class F (110 mph) roofing product.
Click on report: ASTM D3161 D3161M-15 Standard Test Method for Wind-Resistance of Steep Slope Roofing Products
FAQ
What climatic restrictions apply to the use of natural slate?
Good quality natural roofing slate has been used under the harshest climatic conditions in the world and has proven performance dating back a thousand years. Poor quality roofing slate yields a limited life expectancy under moderate conditions and therefor its use should be restricted to milder climates with very careful evaluation of precipitation and freeze thaw cycles.
Does a slate roof increase property value?
A natural slate roof is one of the best long-term investments you can make on your home. Unlike asphalt shingles, cedar shake roofs and plastic slate a 100% natural slate roof by North Country will outperform these roofing products by 50-75+ years. With routine maintenance, your slate roof will be the last roof you ever put on! The decision to grace your home with a natural slate roof is one that you will be thankful for, many years into the future. Nothing matches the exceptional appearance of a beautiful slate roof and the enduring elegance of this remarkable material for decades to come. Most insurance companies offer a reduction in residential insurance premiums when a Class 3 or Class 4 hail impact rating is met.
Is slate environmentally friendly?
Slate is the most environmentally friendly roofing material ever produced. It requires no chemicals, petroleum, paint, sealant or preservatives. It is comprised of 100% natural stone. With its century-long-lasting qualities, highlighted by its long and successful life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to building products there is no wonder why natural slate roofs have been sheltering the world’s most prestigious buildings for more than a thousand years.
Why choose natural slate for roofing?
Natural slate has been sheltering humanity from the elements for more than a thousand years. Today, it continues to be the roof of choice for the world’s most prestigious and treasured buildings. It is 100% environmentally friendly and will withstand all the tests of nature. No other roofing product has the track record, exceptional appearance and ability to effectively last for a century and beyond. Available in a wide variety of natural colors and sizes and completely customizable, natural slate is non-combustible and fireproof. It with withstand the harshest winter weather, and ice and snow are not a threat to it. The list of natural roofing slate benefits is about as long as the list of “New Age” imitation, composite, faux, fake, plastic, phony, look-alike roofing products with worthless 50-year warranties.
Does slate roofing reduce energy costs?
Yes, one of natural slate’s benefits is its ability to reduce energy costs as a cool roof or energy-efficient roofing material. Determined by Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) as a measurement of how well a roof surface reflects and releases absorbed solar radiation. The lower the surface temperature of a roofing product, the less heat is absorbed into a building. This results in less energy consumption from air conditioning systems. North Country Unfading Green roofing slate is an SRI Certified and California Title 24 compliant material. Alternative colors can absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it to the building below. Installing slate with a slight gap (1/8”) between each slate allows for a natural venting roof system with air flow circulating throughout the roof.