Why Do Slate Roofs Have Spikes

Slate roofs can withstand high winds heavy snow and rain.

Why do slate roofs have spikes.

The spikes break up the snow ice sheet as it falls past them. We ran across roofing contractors who did not have much experience in slate roofs messick said. Those little spikes are there to break up sheets of ice and snow that will be falling off the roof this season. The strengths as mentioned above of slate roofs are the bane of many non slate roofs.

It is less destructive if it gets broken up on the way down. If the ice comes down in one solid sheet it is heavy and can damage property and hurt people. Slate roofs were introduced in boston as early as 1654 and philadelphia in 1699. Fiber cement shakes slate and concrete tile tip the scales at three times the weight of metal roofs.

Seventeenth century building ordinances of new york and boston recommended the use of slate or tile roofs to ensure fireproof construction. A roof s support doesn t come from the roofing material it comes from the framing and finishing beneath the surface. Archeological excavations at jamestown virginia have unearthed roofing slate in strata dating from 1625 1650 and 1640 1670. Asphalt roofing weighs double what the standard metal roof does.

Even green asphalt shingles have to be. Metal roofing can t be stood on. Slate is not affected by fungus and mold nor does it rot. 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.