Slate

Welsh slate comes in a range of set sizes and his purple or green colour.

Green Westmorland slates and quarried in the Lake District and come in random and set sizes.

Lancashire slates, also known as Burlingtons, are set and random sizes and black in colour

Delabole slates come from Cornwall, are random sized and have a colour variation from Green through to Brown.

The only Scottish Slate is from Ballachulish.  This is a small, thick random slate with deposits of iron pyrite (fools Gold).  They are commonly referred to as “peggies”.

A variety of imported slates are also available in different colour textures and variable quality.  Currently, the two most common sources of imported slates at Spain and China

Stone slate.

Stone slating is one of the oldest forms of slate roofing and is found mainly in the high Pennine regions of Britain.  The slates are made from sandstone and come in random lengths and widths.

The slates Aztecs by hanging of paying through the head of the Slate, which hooks on the lath below.  In the original pegs were formed from sheeps bones, the system was later modified to use hardwood pegs.  Today Matthew Charlton have perfected the fixing, using a large copper pin and neoprene spacer, which is nailed directly into the lath.

This provides a more secure fastening, whilst maintaining the integrity and longevity of the roof.  The ridge and hip details are usually finished with a stone ridge tile, but laced ridge can be found in more sheltered areas.

Tiling

roof tiles come in two forms, single lap and double lap.  Traditionally tiles are made from clay, but latterly concrete tiles have become an increasingly popular alternative.

The oldest type of tile is a dished clay pantile, which dates back to Roman times, this is a single lap tile.  The most popular and decorative tile is the plain tile, commonly known as the ‘Rosemary tile’  this is a double lap tile.

Originally all  Tiles were handmade in clay, but the introduction of modern machinery has both increased production and reduced the costs of tiles of the roofing material.

Concrete tiles have become particularly popular in the new housing market, using a single lap interlocking system.

Many accessories and decorative details can be added to a tiled roof to enhance the aesthetic appearance.  Popular additions are bonnet and arris hips, finials, crested ridge, swept and laced valleys, eyebrow dormers and patterned or shaped titles.

Cedar shingles

Cedarwood shingles were originally used in North America and Scandinavia as they are best suited to a dry cold climate.

However they provide an unusual and decorative roof covering and have been therefore become more popular on older housing throughout the UK.

Cedar shingles are strips of cedar wood cut in random widths approximately 16 inches long.  The strips taper back from 3/8” thick to nothing at the head.

One the most prestigious cedar wood contracts Matthew Charlton has been involved with is the Alnwick garden treehouse.  This is a mixture of both shingles and shakes and these have been laid on the way that gives the impression of extreme age.