Quality

We often take our roofs for granted while not realizing the important function they play. Natural roofing slates are thin pieces of rock which are generally 6-7mm thick and are designed to keep our homes dry and secure for a lifetime! As such, it is critical to choose the correct product for covering your roof and not to let price be the sole differentiating factor in your decision making.

We at LBS are alarmed at the influx of cheaper and lesser quality slate which has been coming into the country over the last number of years. There has been a number of high profile failures which is why we only deal with slates we know will last the test of time! We deal only with reliable and established quarries which offer guarantees and independent certifications. Our own quarries in Wales have been selling slates which have stayed on roofs for hundreds of years - this is the ultimate testament of quality. On the other hand we have come across imported slates which have failed after only a few months on a roof!

It is important that the home owner is not lulled into a false sense of thinking by he is saving money by going for the cheaper option at the start. More times than not, these cheaper slates can cause problems down the line and cause the roof to fail. In these instances the homeowner may be forced to re-strip and re-slate the roof - something which will add many tens of thousands of euro to his bill in addition to months of disruption and inconvenience. In many of these instances the company from which the homeowner has bought the slates from has disappeared into the sunset and taken the "guarantee" with them! It is not possible to assess the quality of a slate by looking at it in the hand - many slates have defects which are hidden to the eye such as high calcium carbonate content.

LBS strongly recommend that the homeowner take the following into account when choosing a slate roof:

● Does the slate have a track record in the harsh Irish climate? Ask to see examples of the oldest roofs covered with this particular slate.

● Is the company you are purchasing the slate from a reputable slate specialist? Bear in mind that there are a number of 'rogue traders' operating throughout the country who are to be avoided at all costs!

● Stay away from general builders merchants offering slates at "super prices". Generally these merchants have very little knowledge of slates and they can get you into trouble down the line.

● Stay away from standard / economy grade material? This product is defined as 'rejects' by the quarry and is cheap for a reason i.e. the quality is low.

● Is there any visible iron pyrities / defects in the slate? Bear in mind that these pyrities could oxidize and rust down the line.

● In the BS EN 12324 testing, what results has the slate scored in the following categories: water absorption, calcium carbonate and reactive minerals - A1, S1 and T1 are the highest results available in these categories.

● Ensure that any test certificates given have been issued by an independent lab (at Welsh Slate we use Cel Test Ltd) and ensure that any results given are no more than 12 months old!

● What guarantees are being issued with the slate? What do these guarantees cover? But please do not take these guarantees at face value - please see below.

● How strong is the company offering the slate? Are they likely to be around in years to come? In particular, is the company selling the slate likely to be around for the duration f the guarantee? If not then bear in mind that your guarantee is meaningless.

LBS are not commodity traders but deal at the quality end of market. In addition to external testing, we continually test all our products at our internal testing laboratories to ensure they meet our rigid quality requirements. When you buy from LBS, you can rest assured that you have bought a quality product which will last the lifetime of a building!