Why Do Slate Roofs Have Spikes

A roof s support doesn t come from the roofing material it comes from the framing and finishing beneath the surface.

Why do slate roofs have spikes. Slate is not affected by fungus and mold nor does it rot. We ran across roofing contractors who did not have much experience in slate roofs messick said. If the ice comes down in one solid sheet it is heavy and can damage property and hurt people. Along with being susceptible to many issues non slate roofs are much less environmentally friendly.

It is less destructive if it gets broken up on the way down. Metal roofing can t be stood on. Slate roofs were introduced in boston as early as 1654 and philadelphia in 1699. Worried that she would end up with a shoddy job she delved in and did her own research.

Those little spikes are there to break up sheets of ice and snow that will be falling off the roof this season. Archeological excavations at jamestown virginia have unearthed roofing slate in strata dating from 1625 1650 and 1640 1670. Even green asphalt shingles have to be. The spikes break up the snow ice sheet as it falls past them.

Asphalt roofing weighs double what the standard metal roof does. Slate roofs can withstand high winds heavy snow and rain. The idea is that they hold the snow up allowing it to gradually melt off your roof or fall in small harmless chunks. The strengths as mentioned above of slate roofs are the bane of many non slate roofs.