Why Do Slate Roofs Have Spikes

Slate is not affected by fungus and mold nor does it rot.

Why do slate roofs have spikes.

We ran across roofing contractors who did not have much experience in slate roofs messick said. Archeological excavations at jamestown virginia have unearthed roofing slate in strata dating from 1625 1650 and 1640 1670. The spikes break up the snow ice sheet as it falls past them. Even green asphalt shingles have to be.

A roof s support doesn t come from the roofing material it comes from the framing and finishing beneath the surface. Along with being susceptible to many issues non slate roofs are much less environmentally friendly. Slate roofs were introduced in boston as early as 1654 and philadelphia in 1699. Seventeenth century building ordinances of new york and boston recommended the use of slate or tile roofs to ensure fireproof construction.

Those little spikes are there to break up sheets of ice and snow that will be falling off the roof this season. Slate roofs can withstand high winds heavy snow and rain. Fiber cement shakes slate and concrete tile tip the scales at three times the weight of metal roofs. They are designed to hold snow on the roof so that it won t avalanche off the roof possibly damaging decks shrubbery other property or even causing personal injury.

Worried that she would end up with a shoddy job she delved in and did her own research. It is less destructive if it gets broken up on the way down. Asphalt roofing weighs double what the standard metal roof does. The strengths as mentioned above of slate roofs are the bane of many non slate roofs.