Slate-like Shingles

Replicating the Charm of Slate, at an Affordable Price

When choosing an aesthetic for the exterior of your home, few looks are as timeless and tasteful as a real slate roof. Slate roof tiles have been in use for centuries – with the oldest on record dating back to the early 1300s – and they remain among the most durable and attractive roofing options available today.

Pros and Cons of Slate Roofing

It is undeniable that real slate makes for a beautiful and long-lasting roof. It comes in multiple dark hues that commonly combine varying shades of black, gray, blue, purple, and green. Additionally, slate tiles can be shaped for a square or scalloped (rounded) appearance.

Slate is also durable, offering high resistance to weathering, hail damage, and fire. High-quality roofing slates can last more than 50 years on a roof when properly installed. And if sustainability is an important factor for you, quarried slate makes for a top roofing option.

Unfortunately, real slate is not for everyone. Regardless of its overall quality and hardness, slate is among the highest-priced roofing materials in the marketplace. It should also be noted that – despite its inherent toughness – slate can easily break if walked on. For this reason, you should only trust roof repairs to an experienced roofer. Further, due to the scarcity of roofing professionals who possess the knowledge needed to install or repair a slate roof, the cost of this specialty labor is much higher than having worked with common roofing materials like asphalt shingles.

Since slate is extremely heavy, it is highly recommended to have a building assessed for structural integrity to determine if roof slates are a viable option. Weight can also be a drawback if you do not have locally sourced slate available, as you will need to pay to have the products shipped over a long distance.

The Look of Slate Without the Cost or Weight

If you're looking for the classic, slate-style roofline but don't want to pay the hefty price tag for "real" slate or its installation, asphalt shingles are a great solution.

Today’s asphalt shingles are manufactured to replicate the charming appearance of natural slate expertly. Plus, they present a more comprehensive design versatility, coming in numerous colors that you will not find in natural slate. While not as durable as their natural counterparts, slate-style asphalt shingles are still very tough – lasting for decades on a roof – and this durability is reflected in the warranties that manufacturers provide – including manufacturing quality, wind resistance, impact resistance, and fire resistance.

Asphalt shingles are also considerably less expensive and come in designs that are agreeable to almost any budget – from luxury triple-layer architectural shingles to reliable and economical single-layer strip shingles. Further, they are easier (and less expensive) to install and much lighter.

Finally, due to technological advances in manufacturing and building science, asphalt shingles offer unique properties that stone cannot – such as high solar reflectivity values that keep homes cooler and reduce air conditioning costs during hot months.

Slated for Success

Whether you choose real slate or a slate alternative, there are many options for transforming your home exterior with this classically beautiful aesthetic.

If you are a homeowner interested in learning more about CertainTeed shingles, you can explore numerous slate-inspired shingle products from our roofing collection.

If you are thinking about getting a project started, we can connect you with an experienced local installer that will provide expert advice, pricing options, and more – just visit our Find a Pro contractor locator and enter your ZIP code!