Advantages of slate roofing
The perfect impermeability of slate prevents seepage into rooms below the roof, a problem encountered with other types of roofing made with materials that absorb dampness. Like all materials not subject to inbibition, slate presents no freezing problems and consequently can be exposed all types of weather and climate conditions. Furthermore, slate can be considered an insulating material since it has poor conductivity, a characteristic in itself that (even considering 20-30 mm in a roofing thickness) allows for keeping temperatures stable in the rooms below, with considerable reduction in insulation problems. The high amount of superimposition in slate roofs allows for no kind of seepage, including dry snow and wind-driven water. Needless to say, the triple roof (where the three layers achieve a thickness of 30 mm and more with a superimposition of 38 cm) is the best that there is for maximum guarantee against any type of infiltration. This prerequisite is difficult to obtain with only single-layer roofing.
Taking a good look at slate roofing fixed with hooks, some advantages are evident.
The attic is economic in itself, since all that is necessary are wood shims, 4x3 cm, as well as the wood supports. These shims, if suitable arranged, will make for a slate roof that is geometrically perfect and therefore aesthetically valid. A further advantage, not just economic, is the rapidity of assembly since there is no need to drill holes or pound nails through the slabs, or to cement them or plaster them, avoiding the inconveniences caused by fixing with cements (an absorbing element that prevents water drainage especially between slabs and which usually contains acid substances that can deteriorate the slabs).
By avoiding holes in the slabs, it is obvious that the structure isn't weakened. The hook, fixed on the upper part of the attic shim, holds the slab to the attic and prevents it from lifting under any wind conditions. Take note that each slab is perfectly blocked on all four sides: below by the hook, above weighed by successive slabs, left and right held by the thickness of the slabs placed next to it. Furthermore, the hook means safety since, except for rare instances, it keeps sectors of slate from falling and accidentally breaking. This safety is lacking if the slab is fixed on the upper part.
The hook also allows for easy replacement of slabs since, when straightened, the ruined slab can easily be removed, the new one put in place and fixed simply by returning the hook to its original position. The use of strong hooks, in stainless steel or copper, offers the possibility of inserting snow breaks without entering the attic, thus avoiding water infiltration.
