The roof is one of the most crucial and yet vulnerable parts of the home. It may not be something you think about very often or pay much attention to, but a well maintained, looked after roof is crucial to having a leak-free home. Here in the UK with our torrential weather for most of the year, no UK household can afford to skimp on quality roof maintenance and repair.
A good roof shouldn’t cause problems and should last for a very long time, but it’s paramount that you stay vigilant for any signs of problems. The sooner you can get a roof problem sorted, the less damage it will cause. Here are some of the ways your roof could be letting you know there’s a problem.
Water damage can often be mistaken for damp, but make no mistake, if you’re getting ceiling stains the cause is likely a leaky roof. Even the smallest watermarks could mean that water is seeping in from your roof, usually due to a hole or crack.
Water can do some real damage to your roof; even a tiny leak could lead to big problems such as mould, rotting, damaged ceilings and even roofing collapses. If you spy any water damage in your home and you suspect the roof to be the cause, getting it sorted as soon as possible will help prevent more catastrophic damage.
Aside from the mould that water damage can cause inside the home, mould and moss on the roof’s exterior can cause big problems. Roof tiles can be forced apart by moss, creating a gap that allows rainwater to seep in, which in turn will lead to water damage. Whole slates can also be broken apart as a result of freeze-fore weathering during winter as moisture can penetrate the slate via plant root systems before freezing. If you allow mould and moss to fester, it’ll create more problems down the line. Nip it in the bud early; you can use a chemical treatment to take care of moss, or if you’re planning a roof replacement, consider materials that are algae resistant.
When you check your roof for damage, examine whether you have any loose or damaged, or even missing, roof tiles. These are typically a result of wind damage, but fortunately they can usually be easily replaced with a Hall Hook Slate Repair Fixing. This is best done quickly, as missing roof tiles expose the house to defects that can lead to massive deterioration of the entire roof.
However, if most of your roof tiles are looking worn and worse for wear, why not consider an entire roof replacement? At UK Slate, we can provide you with high-quality sourced roofing slate from the finest quarries around the globe.
If the water damage hasn’t made it down yet into the central part of the house, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a problem. The attic should be the first place you check, as any leaks in the attic such as circular stains on the walls can be a sign that water is getting in. Attic leaks are often caused by missing tiles, broken seals or even condensation build up. Make sure you address these problems as soon as you notice them. It’s worth doing an annual roof check which includes going into the attic and inspecting the walls for any moisture. A good quality breathable membrane should always be used under slates to allow damp air to ventilate through the roof before costly damage is caused.
While gutters are known to catch leaves, twigs and other kinds of nature’s debris that often needs to be cleaned away, clogged gutters could also be a sign of a deteriorating roof. If you notice sand, sludge-like granules or even rust in the gutters, it could be a sign that your roof covering is deteriorating. A few loose granules are normal as your roof naturally ages, but if there is an increase in this residue, it could be a sign that the tiles are deteriorating faster than they should.
Perhaps the most significant warning sign of a severe problem, a droopy roof is an indication of a structural integrity problem with the house. The sagging could be caused by frequent exposure to moisture, faulty roofing materials during building, improper installation or in locations that experience frequent bouts of snow and ice. If your roof appears to be sagging, have this look at by a professional immediately, or it could lead to a roof collapse.
Perhaps not something you may have considered, but if you’ve noticed a spike in your energy bills, it could be because you’ve had to start cranking the heating up higher than usual to keep warm. A roof can seriously contribute to maintaining a toasty temperature with its insulation properties. So a colder home could be the result of a faulty roof or ventilation problems causing the temperature to drop.
At UK Slate, we can provide you with a fantastic range of slate roof tiles to give your roof a brand-new lease on life. Contact us today for more information.
When installing a roof, the wide variety of materials to choose from can be overwhelming. Knowing which kind of tiles are best to invest in for a beautiful and durable roof is essential. Slate roofing tiles are one of the most high-quality and long-lasting roofing tiles around, yet durability is just one of the many benefits a slate roof may bring to your project. Here’s a look at some of the reasons slate makes a great choice for roofing tiles:
When properly maintained, slate roofs can last for decades, even centuries. Naturally strong, and absorbing little water, slate roofs are less susceptible to leaking and frost damage than other, less durable materials.
Here at UK Slate, we supply only those slates which attain the A1, T1 and S1 BSEN standards for water absorption, carbon content, and thermal cycling. Our Estillo 29 slate, for example, tested just 0.29% for water absorption. This means that when you buy from UK Slate, you can be confident that your roof will stand strong whatever the weather.
From time to time, prolonged extreme weather and general old age can leave a building looking tired and neglected. But once the slate tiles have been carefully removed and tidied up, they can often be re-laid to provide a home with decades more protection from the elements.
Here at UK Slate, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between beauty and durability. As well as being hard-wearing, slate tiles have a beautiful, classic, rustic look, undiminished by time or the elements.
When using slate, you have plenty of options to customise your roof in both size and colour. Not all slates are grey, they actually come in a range of colours, from the gentle green of our Elterdale, to the deep purples of Welsh Heather Blue. There is plenty to choose from when roofing with slate. Whether you wish to blend in with the colour tradition of your local area or make a statement with a more striking hue, slate tiles are the ideal material to achieve the desired aesthetic and provide an elegant finish to your project.
With a long-established pedigree as a roofing material, slate tiles remain the go-to for more traditional builds such as vintage homes, and historical restorations. Yet much of the beauty of working with slate comes in its versatility, as slate tiles can achieve stunning results atop more modern, innovative projects. The limit truly is your imagination.
But the colour of the slate is not the only factor to consider when choosing your slate. For centuries, slates have been cut into a variety of shapes for more decorative and prestigious markets.
Slate is very resistant to fire, able to withstand higher temperatures than many metals can. It’s great for enduring severe temperature changes, which is why it makes an ideal choice for the likes of roofs and floors. It’s why it also makes a great choice for the kitchen, due to its resistance to heat and burning. Slate slabs that are designed to be used as counter tops in kitchens are chosen for their ability to withstand the level of heat it may come across in typical kitchen conditions.
Slate forms naturally when layers of rock are exposed to extreme pressure and heat, so it’s no surprise that it’s so resistant to fire. This natural property makes slate a great choice for roofing material as it reduces the chances of a building’s roof catching alight in the event of a fire.
Waste from roofing is a substantial part of the total waste sent to landfills each year. Asphalt shingle roofing, for example, needs replacing every couple of decades. Waste is reduced substantially by choosing slate, due to its greater life-span. Choosing slate is a sustainable solution to ever-more prevalent environmental concerns, allowing you to rest-assured that your roof, while meeting your needs, does not do so at the expense of the environment.
Here at UK Slate, supplying quality natural slate roofing and excellent customer service to every client is our priority. If you require high-quality tiles for your roof, and want to know how we can help you, you can contact us on 015395 59289 to speak with our highly-skilled team and they will happily answer any query you may have.
Slate is an incredibly popular material with a variety of uses, most prominently in the world of roofing to flooring, where slate is used to make incredibly versatile tiles. But as time has gone by, our uses for slate have only widened further. From snooker tables to the humble kitchen cheeseboard, slate is becoming popular for ever more applications.
In a world where we are becoming increasingly aware of our environmental impact, we are beginning to recycle and reuse everything possible. People are turning their otherwise useless products and broken items into new and rejuvenated pieces of practicality and art, and this includes slate. Here are some exciting ideas that you could use if you have some old slate lying around.
Before we get into what to do with slate, let’s not forget the packaging. Think outside the box. Literally. And get creative with the crate, the box, or whatever wrapping it comes in.
Take our pallets, in which this Kentdale blue-grey slate was delivered. This customer has reused their crates to make some fantastic planters for the outside, sprucing up the front of their house!
We’ve also seen people reusing crates to produce garden furniture, shelving, storage, seats and much more. Rather than throwing something away, try to think creatively about what else it could be used for. And if wooden crates really wouldn’t suit the aesthetic of your home, consider posting about them online and offering to give them away for free, so someone else can make use of them.
When it comes to practical writing materials, sometimes paper just doesn’t cut it, and especially when it comes to uses in and around the house, you want your writing to be more permanent, and sustainable. Take, for example, a notice board. Paper isn’t going to be the best method, so why not use slate? It’s a cheap and easy way to tell your kids to do the washing up or remind yourself it’s bin day tomorrow!
From your notice board to a hanging door sign, personalised message art or even a house number outside your home, slate gives you an authentic, rustic look, and it’s a cheap and easy way to recycle your leftover slate – putting it to creative and practical use! Be sure to varnish your slate writing piece afterwards, especially if it’s for a house number.
As any artistic or creative individual would know, any material can be your canvas, but when it comes to slate, you can get extra creative. When you use your imagination, slate can serve as an array of different artistic outlets. From simply creating a painting using slate as your canvas, to creating mosaics from painted slate parts and creating a mirror surround, the options are endless. Some other possibilities for getting arty with your leftover slate are:
Just as the material was born in the outdoors, what better way to recycle your unused slate than to utilise it in the outdoors?
Slate can be the perfect solution for drainage – by putting leftover slate in the bottom of any plant pots or other pots you can stop any unwanted seepage.
On the other hand, you can also use a slate panel as a cover for your drain, or your gutter. You can stop your drains getting clogged up with any leaves or other mess, especially in autumn.
It can also be used as a great herb garden separator. Slate is almost impervious, so by using it to separate your herbs in a garden bed, you can make sure your plants get all the water and fluids they need and keep everything organised. The dark colour of the slate can also store the sun’s heat during the day and then give back the warmth to the plants at night!
Another fantastic way to use your leftover slate is to recycle it into smaller parts and create either a pathway, drive or a separate area of your garden – whether that’s an area for a bench, a separate potted plant area or a perfect space for a water feature. You could even leave the slate pieces larger and press them into concrete for a different effect. Some other outdoor reuse ideas are:
Slate has a multitude of uses, and recycling is undoubtedly one of them! If you don’t think you are going to use your slates, pass them on to someone who will make use of their versatility. Whether this is a local school who can use them for art-related projects, a local artist or even a local handyman or builder, there should be plenty of ways to make sure it gets used.
If you would like any more information regarding products like our roofing slates, we would be happy to discuss your requirements over the phone, or if you know what products you are looking for, you can add your products to your online basket.
At UK Slate, we strive to not only meet our customers’ expectations, but exceed them. We pride ourselves on being able to source and provide some of the very best natural stones both domestically and from across the world.
Today, we’re putting the spotlight on our range of Indian Limestones. Limestone is a wonderful material that can be used in almost any space. It is made naturally from sediments that have been compacted by heat and pressure to form rock. As a result, a range of colours are available, influenced by the sediment laid down millions of years ago. Here’s a look at our range of Indian Limestones:
The Kirkhead Grey Limestone is a light to medium grey toned limestone. The shades are reminiscent of the local grey limescale of the southern Lake District, perfect for anyone trying to recreate that look. The textured surface is combined with hand-cut worn edges to give an imperfect-looking, yet beautiful floor. The worn antiqued finish blends seamlessly when laid next to existing limestone flags, having the appearance of a floor gradually polished by decades of use. The random sizes create a stunningly traditional stone floor look.
This stone is also available in a Natural Antiqued finish. The rougher surface can provide higher grip in areas of heavy foot traffic like a hallway.
The Harrington Grey Chapel Smooth Aged Limestone varies from mid grey to brown and contains small amounts of darker hues. The smooth finish gives a soft appearance reminiscent of a sawn limestone floor that has been polished down by footsteps over many eras, creating a timeless, worn appearance.
The Harrington Grey is also available in a Cathedral Antiqued finish. Like the Smooth Aged Limestone, the Antiqued finish has the textured appearance of a stone that has been naturally worn down over time to give a depleted appearance. With a small amount of tumbling to the edge of the flags you can achieve a narrow grout joint.
At UK Slate, all our limestones are ethically sourced from reliable quarries in India. The control and supervision is carried out by IGEP India in corporation with the Rugmark Foundation India. Child labour, social standards and the payment of at least minimum wages are controlled. It’s just our way of showing that we care about the products we sell, and that you can be assured you’re getting materials that have been ethically sourced.
With so many limestone tiles to choose from, our range of Indian Limestones is the perfect choice for all your flooring needs. If you’re looking for roofing, flooring or landscaping, UK Slate are here to help. For more information on our products and services, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Slate is found in Wales and the North-West of England. More specifically, you will find the majority of UK slate mines in Cornwall (famously Delabole quarry) and in the Lake District in Cumbria.
Cumbria
The slate industry is worldwide, with 90% of Europe’s natural slate used for roofing originating in Spain. The US also possesses important producing regions, with the state of New York being home to The Slate Valley area, being one of the places in the world where coloured slate (which is not grey or blue) is obtained.
Today, however, we’re putting the spotlight on the slate industry closer to home, here in the UK. Major slate mining regions exist in areas of the UK. Let’s take a closer look at these quarries and what kinds of slate are mined here.
The Welsh slate industry has an extensive history. It began in the Roman period, when slate was used to roof the fort at Segontium, now Caernarfon. The first large-scale slate mining in North Wales began with the opening of Penrhyn Quarry in 1782 (back then known as Cae Braich y Cafn quarry). However, the first reference to slate extraction from Penrhyn is from back in 1570, when it was mentioned in a Welsh poem.
In the 19th century, along with Dinorwic Quarry, Penrhyn Quarry dominated the Welsh slate industry. They were the world’s largest quarries. The main pit of Penrhyn Quarry is nearly one mile long and 370 metres deep, it was worked by nearly 3,000 quarrymen. It still remains Britain’s largest slate quarry today, but its workforce is now nearer 200, and was superseded in size by slate quarries in China, Spain and the US.
At UK Slate, we stock slate from Penrhyn Quarry, including:
Welsh Heather Blue – This beautiful slate comes in heather blue or purple, and its striking colour is incredibly rare in the industry.
Welsh Plum Slate Aggregate – These slate aggregates are a purple heather colour with tones of blue and green running through to create a stunning backdrop to plant or garden features.
Cwt y Bugail Quarry is located above Ffestiniog in North Wales. It first worked as a trial pit around 1840 and produces dark blue grey slate. Today it is an open cast quarry, whereas slate was originally mined in deep caverns and pillars. In fact, during World War II the quarry was used to store art treasures from the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery for safe keeping.
At UK Slate, we stock this stunning dark blue grey slate:
Welsh Dark Blue Grey – This slate is used by architects worldwide, it is renowned for its stunning looks, reliability and ease to work with and is regarded as one of the finest slates in the world.
Parts of Cumbria have significant history with the slate industry, dating back 400 years. The industry exploded in the 18th and 19th century in response to the demand for slate roofing as a result of the industrial revolution, and the growth of towns in Northern England.
Today the slate industry in Cumbria is just a fraction of what it was, but it is still active at Kirkby, Broughton Moor, Elterwater, Tilberthwaite Valley and Honister Slate Mine.
At UK Slate, we stock slate mined in Cumbria, including:
Westmorland Green – Quarried for over 400 years, this slate provides an exquisite finish to a home. It is quintessentially British with its distinctive green colour which is created from the metamorphosed volcanic ash of the Borrowdale Volcanic group of mountains in the heart of the Lake District.
Burlington Blue Grey – These slates were formed during the Silurian Period, over 330 million years ago. It creates striking and eye-catching roofscapes with its beautiful colour.
Delabole Quarry is one of the largest slate quarries in England and has operated since the 15th century, making it the oldest working quarry in England. It was once the deepest man-made pit in the world until open cast mines were made in America and Australia. Once worked by over 1,000 people, today the work of that many can be done with just a few machines and five quarrymen.
Mill Hill Quarry has existed for around 400 years and produces a range of building stone, flooring material and aggregates. During the reign of Elizabeth I, slate quarries in Cornwall were of considerable importance, delivering slate ‘throughout the realm and even exporting it by sea to Brittany and the Netherlands’.
UK Slate can supply from both quarries, contact us for more information.
The UK truly is a wonderful source of beautiful slates for all sorts of applications. From Cumbrian slate to Welsh slate, Brazilian slate to Spanish slate, we stock a vast range of different kinds of slate to suit your needs. Contact us today for more information about any of our slate roof tiles.
There are many different types of slate with varying colours including:
These various naturally occurring colours are a result of slate composition and the location where the slate is found.
Slate is a type of rock that has many natural occurring colour variations. Natural slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock composed of sedimentary or volcanic ash deposits which, through metamorphism, have been chemically and structurally changed. Due to slate’s defined lines of breakability – cleavage and grain – it is possible to split slate into thin sheets, and this makes them ideal for turning them into materials such as roof slates.
The minerals inside slate is what determines its colour. In slates that appear green, this is due to chlorite – a group of common sheet silicate minerals that form during the early stages of metamorphism. They most often form in rock environments where minerals are altered by heat, pressure and chemical activity. When chlorite is present in sufficiently high concentration, it gives slate a green colour.
At UK Slate, we have a range of beautiful green slate available for a wide range of applications:
These Lakeland Green Decorative slate chippings are ideal for an extensive range of domestic landscaping projects and commercial developments. Quarried in the heart of the Lake District, this slate is a stunning pale green with tones of grey running through; it makes the perfect backdrop for plant or garden features.
Blue slate is a kind of aqueous sedimentary rock, it tends to be crossed over with grey to give a blue-grey tone. Its main mineral composition is calcium carbonate.
At UK Slate, we have a range of blue slates available:
Purple slate is beautiful in colour and is caused by haematite. Haematite is an oxide of iron found in slates formed from deposits laid down in oxidising conditions. It is the most durable form of iron and not affected by exposure. Haematite is not visible to the naked eye but can be recognised by its purple colour.
At UK Slate, we have a range of purple slates available:
Here at UK Slate, we strive to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of our customers. We have years of experience in the slate industry and working with roof slate as well as sourcing the very best slate, both domestically and from around the globe. If you have any questions about any of our services, please to do hesitate to contact us, and we would be happy to answer any of your questions.
So, you’ve decided to brighten up your home this Christmas with some dazzling Christmas lights to hang up on the roof of your house. Hanging up Christmas lights can be a time-consuming and tricky task if you’re unprepared, aside from the fact that the lights themselves won’t look very impressive if the job isn’t done well.
Fortunately, we’ve put together a simple guide to make the process a whole lot less stressful. Whether you’re going big and bold with lots of colours and covering every inch of your home, or you’re going for a minimalistic, single string of lights around the roof, we can help. Here’s everything you need to know about hanging Christmas lights on your roof:
Outdoor Christmas Lights
You have two choices with Christmas lights for outside, mains-powered ones or battery-powered ones. Remember to check carefully when you buy your lights to make sure they are suitable for use outdoors and that the material won’t be damaged by the elements; this should be clearly stated on the packaging and labels.
Power Source
The way the lights are powered depends on what type of lights you go for. If you opt for mains-powered lights, then you will need an outdoor power supply or a weatherproof extension lead. For battery-powered lights – if you don’t have access to a power point – we recommend rechargeable batteries, to reduce waste.
Ladder
Ensure that your ladder is in full working condition, that it extends to the height needed and that you have safe spots around the house to place it when hanging the lights, not balancing on or near anything that could be considered an obstruction.
Gutter Hooks
To hang up the lights you will need some gutter hooks placed strategically around the house. Gutter hooks can be hooked onto the edge of the gutter, allowing the lights to be strung between them – by far the simplest solution for hanging Christmas lights. Alternatively, you can use decorating clips that can be stuck onto surfaces.
When hanging your lights, it’s important to be safe when working from height. Use a stable ladder placed on solid, level ground. Extend the ladder until you can reach the highest point you need to hang the lights without having to stand on the top step. Have someone else present to hold the ladder for you whilst you hang the lights; this person can also unwind the lights for you as you hang them.
Make sure the lights are switched off whilst you’re hanging them, and don’t switch them on whilst they’re still in the packaging. Only use an outdoor power supply if it was installed by a qualified installer. The best time to put up your lights is on a clear day, as rain could make the ladder steps slippery and dangerous to use.
There are no rules when it comes to hanging Christmas lights; you’re free to decorate as you wish. You might want to create a nice icicle effect along the edge of your roof with some lights dangling down or use some lights to frame a window or door. A good tip is to ensure there is enough space between the lights. Place the gutter hooks every 30 centimetres or so to create some space, unless the lights are particularly heavy; you may need to cluster the hooks closer together to support the weight of heavier lights.
Start with the hooks, get them all secured in place before you go back round and hang up the lights. Take care not to pull on the cable and try to avoid hanging the lights too loosely. When you’re done, take a step back and see whether there are any problems that need fixing, and adjust where needed.
Once you’re happy, you can switch them on and enjoy your twinkling Christmas lights!
Internal Sales ExecutiveUK Slate is a Local company, based in Flookburgh near Grange over Sands, successfully trading Nationally and Internationally with exciting plans for continued growth and also expansion via diversification into related product markets and routes to our customers.
We specialize in supplying an extremely large and diverse range of natural slate and stone products to an established and expanding customer base. Predominantly Roofing slate from UK and foreign quarries, but also Flooring, Cladding, Landscaping and Bespoke Manufactured items. In very basic terms – virtually anything that can be made from slate or stone – we stock or supply.
This isn’t as daunting as it sounds, as on the job training is part of every completely varied working day. Finding the person with the right natural qualities is vitally important to us rather than what you already know about products or the industry. But it would be a bonus……..
We are looking for an outgoing, organised and proven Internal Sales Executive to join our highly talented and motivated compact team. The position can be extremely rewarding and involves dealing with enquiries through the whole of the supply process from initial enquiry, through product advice and price negotiation, to arranging despatch. Our customer base is continually growing, mainly through our hard-earned reputation around the globe, ranging from international contractors to national and local trade customers, architects and private individuals.
With experience, this key role can offer career progression to encompass all parts of the business including procurement, international logistics, finance and management.
Some, but not all, of the qualities which we are looking for are:
What we can offer to the successful applicant, depending on experience and performance is:
If you think that this Internal Sales Executive opportunity is for you – please forward a current CV along with any other information that you think relevant to info@slate.uk.com
Vermont Slate is one of the most highly regarded products world-wide. Within the slate world, this is at the top of the ladder. It has been used in the USA and the UK for centuries on many projects- from prestigious buildings to simple cottages – and is utilised by all sorts of people, from designers to builders. Details of projects in the UK date back all the way to the 1890s where the slate is still on the roof today, doing what it was made to do: protect the building.
Not only can Vermont slate protect your building and do so for years and years, it can be a mesmerising style statement. UK slate what exactly makes this slate so special? And can it enhance your building’s exterior? UK Slate investigates!
When it comes to home design, your roof can be the difference between a clean and modern aesthetic and a finish which lacks attention to detail. The versatility of Vermont slate means it can fit within any design approach. For a more contemporary approach to your project, consider the Eureka Vein roof tiles accompanied with a modern polymer render, and more glass entrances around your property. This is sure to ooze a modern, clean, and elegant air. An open brick aesthetic can also work well for a unique approach to an up-to-date design.
Vermont Green slate has been used many times within specific English Heritage projects including several National Parks and Crown Estates, and it’s not hard to see why! The simple yet elegant aesthetic presents a classic look which produces the perfect combination of a chic, ‘chateau’ feel whilst maintaining a remarkable fuss-free exterior.
If you are looking for a design which reflects a true classic and timeless style, then Vermont Slate can help. Its back-story and origin also gives you the perfect slice of history, right there on your roof!
Many interior designers, builders and even homeowners are designing and constructing houses now with the future in mind, and this comes to design too. With trends coming and going, keeping a slate style which will never go out of style and will last for a considerable amount of time is vital.
By utilising Vermont slate into your design, you can not only create a long-lasting and withstanding structure, but you can also ensure a lavish and sustainably styled visual.
Here at UK Slate our Vermont range is totally unique, and when compared to other tile and slate specialists, our methods of extraction are completely distinctive. The majority of our competitors tend to source their stock of Vermont Slate from more corporate companies. This loses the traceability factor, as repeatedly their slate will be obtained from several varying quarries and mixed in the production process.
We differentiate from our competitors here as when we procure our Vermont Slate, the slate extracted is from a single family-owned (and run) quarry. The raw block is cut in the production sheds on site to ensure that the slates are made ‘on the grain’ which not only improves the strength of the slate, but also the longevity and workability of the finished product. This is when we supply it to our fantastic customers.
We are the only exclusive Vermont Structural Slate merchants in the UK and the only suppliers of the unique Mottled Vermont Slate too! Get in touch with our team today to find out more about our Vermont Slate ant other slate roof tiles – our friendly team are more than happy to assist.
