I’ve done two self builds now with Cedral Rivendale and recognise many of the things you talk about. It’ll be interesting to see how the building insurance business regards the recycled plastic. Gone are the days of always ticking the box “tiled roof on brick walls”.
Cedral Rivendale are a top Quality fibre cement slates so he's a question. Did you double batten ventilate underneath the tiles because all fibre cement slates are classed as a closed and 95% of all roof inspections I do but somebody has used a fibre cement slates have fitted in incorrectly then one of the only products in the market that is classed as a catalyst and needs venting in a special way.
@@SteveRoofer yep, exactly that. It got even more complicated because it was on a warm roof with counterbattens. The eaves detail with where the membrane lay in relation to the vents took some thinking about because it's not a "usual" thing. Shame I can't post photos to the reply...
And you don't really appreciate how "tight" a finish it is until you get up close to it..... especially on a new build where most stuff is square and true and lie very tight and close.
Cedral shoot themselves in the foot with the price of their accessories. Especially the ridge tiles and vent fittings. Because of this, just about every Cedral roof I've seen has cheaped out on a generic ridge roll and concrete ridge tiles rather than splash out on the Cedral rip off. I put this to their regional sales rep and he just nodded.... he couldn't argue.
I'm a 77 year old male in the UK and was a roof tiler from age 17 to 23 or 24 (I can't remember the exact time I stopped) Back in those days we used to carry the tiles from the stack up to the roof using a padded cap on our heads, I used my old boy scout beret. I learnt to balance the tiles on my head from the stack to the ladder but had one hand on them while climbing the ladder. I remember the occasional job using artificial slates. Geoffrey.
@@philtucker1224 I honestly don't know but it's possible. I was born 16 months after the European part of the second world war ended. I grew up in a council house on one of the new estates in Brighton built after the war. It was surrounded by farm land and downland. Almost all the mothers of children including mine were full time housewives and most had between two and five children, I'm the eldest of five brothers. As children we spent a lot of time out roaming the countryside in both summer and winter. For a good number of years the boys including myself collected birds eggs, it wasn't illegal back then. We walked over hill and dale for miles and miles and thought nothing of it. Compare that to kids of today who don't seem to get much exercise, my eldest Grandson who will be 18 this month spends most of his free time playing computer games. I'm currently a cancer survivor, from October 2017 until March 2020 I had five operations in three different hospitals, the final op was shortly before the covid lockdown. Maybe all the exercise as a child helped me to survive, however, my brother Eric who was four years younger than me died on January 2nd 2022. My mother and father both died in 2007, mum was 82 and dad was 86 and was a smoker up until he was about 80. His elder brother was over 90 when he died.
@@calibreman Hi Cal es I thought as much, I am a fifties child farm born in Kent. I think a lot of out door kids developed a higher resistance to diseases then compared to modern “house reared” children…
@@jonneym possibly very true! Having been involved in a lot of new build house sales near London over the last decade, having met a lot of young professional families ordering their personal (off plan) house floor layouts, many of them opt for a smaller kitchenette style kitchen in favour of a larger ground floor lounge/living area for the family, “as they don’t have time to prepare food at home” - but visit nanny and grandad every couple of Sundays “for a proper roast” ! sad but true…☹️
Tapco. I've used them. I slipped off my roof onto these a while ago. Absolutely slammed into them from a good few feet, I'm 320lbs. Not a scratch on them. No wind-up lift. No wind "chatter." They are superb. So easy to use. Absolutely solid.
I’m a floor fitter and have been for 5 years. Would love to work underneath a company like yours. You’ve taught me a lot about a trade I’d love to learn.
Been in trade 30 years . Welsh slate if you can afforf it . Cement slate if budget tight. Any plastic will fade , go brittle & cause unimaginable problems if there's a fire with melting & toxic smoke . External plastics dont last .
Cupra Spanish slates on our new house here in the Scottish highlands and I'm happy with them. They are solid and heavy and impossible to lift or move, which we need in our weather. I would NEVER have allowed the architect to spec a lightweight synthetic slate.
I think you are correct specially where you are. It's very interesting to see that up north. You only have very high-standard slates. Some of them are 10 to 12 mm thick down here we start at around 5 mm too thin
I love Steve;s hair...It is strong and thick and looks good and won't come off in a gale, though it will lighten in the sun. . Mine is flimsy and thinning even though I am only 76. Envious !
These seem to be Tapcoslates. I am NOT Trade, but I am my father's son, and grew up with "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well" ringing in my ears. We re-roofed a 160sq m Edwardian house in Bristol 5yr ago with Tapco; slivers in the loft space told us the original roof was Welsh slate, and loads of pigeon poop indicated that it had been long-neglected. But what we were throwing out was concrete tiles - 7 tons of them. I arrived at the choice of Tapco after eliminating the other possibilities with the same reasoning as yours. There is some good to report to support your view: our sagging purlins are loving the lighter Tapco (14Kg/m2 at pitches above 30) & the roofers loved the easy setting out and cutting. But, but, BUT.... ...a hint of moisture and they are slippery as buggery, even in climbing shoes. They encourage rather than inhibit, algal growth: North-facing slopes are green and even slippier in only 2yr. And they fade with extraordinary speed: dark pewter has become silver grey in under 5yr, and Tapco's guarantee has weasel words to exclude covering this. The weasel words go much further: if your Tapcoslate roof fails completely, Tapco won't pay for ANY flashings or membranes necessarily used, or even for the full cost of new tapcoslates beyond 7 (SEVEN) years. Instead, you'll get an inflation-reduced sum that after 15yr is only 25% of the original cost of the slates...paid in today's money! So much for a '40yr guarantee'. Finally, I disagree I'm afraid, with your remarks about the ease of replacing Tapcoslates: the polypropylene they are made of is stiff in all except heatwave conditions, and is brittle as well below 5 degC. And even if NOT using the most durable fixings (Stainless ring-shanked clouts) the extra lapping for low-pitch roofs will make a tidy replacement (say after investigating & fixing a flashing leak) quite impossible. So, while they have some significant attractions, Tapcoslates ALSO have some big drawbacks, and I don't think you painted the full picture for us.
Hi I really appreciate the info. I've been contemplating using these on my new build. The fading I've seen first hand on a house the tapco salesman recommended me to go see. That in and of itself wouldn't put me off. I'd just go for the lightest colour. I'm more concerned about the structural integrity of the plastic, i.e will the weather make it brittle over the years. It's the brittle nature of regular slate that first attracted me to the durability of the tapco
Tapco tiles, love them, used them for years. Come in various colours and are easy to work with. Built a 5m a 14m decking with a roof on it. Used these to great effect.
Hi Steve, sorry I just commented on your flat roof video but realised this would've been better. For a warm pitched truss roof, would it be ok to sandwich insulation between truss and OSB, then cover with breathable membrane, before fitting tapco directly without any batten? I know with a flat roof any bounce can cause the screw heads to pop through the membrane but hoped it would be fine for pitched roof. We are surrounded by squirrels and field mice here, so I'd like to avoid any voids for them to crawl through. Also what thickness insulation would you recommend and should we insulate between the trusses? Really appreciate your advice, cheers!
So how long do these Tapco tiles last, or guaranteed for in the UK? Be interested to know as our Welsh slate roof will need doing (no felt) and we have a few small leaks. Neighbours reused 2/3 of their original Welsh slate using a French system apparently, where the tiles are hung on a V shaped wire with a hook at the bottom which sits behind the tile and affixes into the battens. Looked good and recycled original tiles but is this cost effective solution compared to these newer 'plastic' tiles?
Another great video Steve. Are these Tapco? Iko? I'm building a new house (pitched 'warm roof' with sarking) and seriously thinking about these, they cost about the same as slate but the difference is you can fit them yourself, no need for a skilled roofer and you can walk on them, no cracking!
I’ve done a few self builds now and whilst some of what you say is true, the devil is in the detail. The material you tile with ultimately doesn’t really matter. The biggest challenge is the layout. Getting the details right around the eaves, ridge, valleys and hips etc You can only put tiles where you have battens. It’s far more nuanced than would seem at first glance. The details will make or break your roof, not the material. If you have a square estate “box”, it’ll be many times easier than an “interesting” roof with lots of angles. Good luck!
Yes Tapco slates what BerkeleyTowers says above is so true. The only problem I have with the slates and all manufacturers seem to be doing the same and that is they don't make a slate and a half which really does make it difficult when you're cutting into verges skylights and so on. Now I've just finished filming a rear extension roof that we came down to 13°, which is right on the limit of these. However, we used a sarking felt from SIGA that can be used down to 10° and was unbelievably bullet-proof. We also vented the roof in a quite interesting way. Just remember whenever you are using a artificial slate. It is classed as a closed. The roof covering is classed as a closed so are basically forming a pitched flat roof and you need to think about how you were going to vent it. I see so many people installing artificial slates extremely well, but forgetting that they are air closed basically you cannot use a so-called breathable sarking felt directly underneath them, you have to use a felt that is non-breathable or you have to cross, batten and ventilate above and below the sarking felt.
@@SteveRooferthanks Steve, I really appreciate the Info. Especially given the relatively hard to find info./advice on working with these new products. I'll look into these details and hopefully get back with something interesting when it comes to installing the roof. I'll certainly look up this SIGA felt for a start, as that was one thing I was wondering, with all the varieties of felt out there, what really works with tapco. And iko. I actually spoke to some tapco guys at the building convention at the SEC in Glasgow and they suggested anything would be fine, they were nice guys but salesmen at the end of the day so perhaps just being agreeable to be nice. Really excited about this product in general, it's always been a pet peeve of mine when going onto a slate roof and hearing a crack!
@@BerkeleyTowersappreciate the advice! Thankfully my roof will be a relatively simple pitch, no dormers or valley troughs. Just 2 velux and 1 chimney flue. I wouldn't attempt doing a real slate with all the grading involved, a bit beyond my skillset , hopefully I'll be ok with the tapco given the consistency, but you're absolutely right, I'll be double and triple checking my measurements and taking my time!
Used the tapco ones recently, absolutely brilliant, look great, easy to install very little waste, a bit pricey maybe, but supaslate is well worth checking out too, every bit as good as tapco but quicker to lay, would recommend them both,
I'm guessing plastic roof tiles will put insurance costs up, could even void your insurance if not declared, they would not be fire resistant, in fact they would burn easy and release toxic fumes with black smoke, also, plastic degrades over time as well, (plastic curtain hooks are bendable when new, but snap when a few years old)so they could become very brittle and brake easy after a few years of sun radiation light and frost, time will tell, I would go for slate, but if on a tight budget, It's going to be the cement board.
Interesting, has anyone found problems in these areas? Insurance, fire resistance etc. Though If you think about it, most houses are covered in plastic, windows, doors, eaves, insurers don't have a problem insuring these things
How much on average are those slates you really liked at the end? If they are recycled plastic, how well would they hold up to extreme heat? I'm thinking of the horrendous heatwave we had a couple of years ago that caused some gutters on houses to start sagging.
Hate to see them in the event of a fire. Dripping molten plastic into the building not to mention the smoke and fumes. Also most plastics go brittle over time as plastisizers evaporate over time.
(Maybe the guy was showing us as part of a sponsored promotion). The main problem I find with the recycled plastic outdoor stuff like park benches, boardwalk planks etc is that they don’t stay flat after hot weather..
What about Redland Cambrian's ? I spec;d and used these in a Conservation area approx. 35 odd years ago. Still there, looking great and have a riven edge similar to a Welsh but about half the cost. Yes, made with resin, slate dust & flakes and very hard wearing!
Been using these tiles for 7 years on replacement roofs customers love them because they are make of recycled material, car tyres I think easy to use and can stand on them.
Have you troubled to speak to Tapco directly? I did, and the answer was VIRGIN polypropylene and limestone. Car tyres are made of rubber. The world is full of shit information because people have lost their critical faculties and keep repeating it. It's not an exaggeration to say that this collective stupidity will get our race into serious trouble, especially as we've decided we have no need of experts any more.
I was aware of the Tapco slates but they were quite expensive last time I checked and I know they don't use recycled materials, which company is it that manufactures the tiles with recycled material?
only time will tell , most of our fibre mix/asbestos roof slates on the rear extension have lasted until last year - they were put on in 1970, some broken ones were replaced over the years - but looking after your roof by a trusted roofer is vital , the non asbestos 600 by 300 mm fibre tiles on the rear roof were taken off to do chimney and wood work , these are 1984 made , although we have plenty of new ones still in the pack - most of the 1984 ones went back on as they were fine , we live in windy wet cornwall , you can walk on any part of our roofs treading carefully
Perfect timing Steve. About to do a reroof of ny house and was looking around for a slate replacement and these look just the job. Would be keen to learn what they are
Tapco Roof Slate however there are now others on the market the only drawback I have found is that there is no slate and a half, they only do one size of slate
I've used those before on a job back in 2004, after a year the ends were curled and cupped. I'm sure they improved the product since then but still weary about the plastics.
As already said in comments Tapco roof tiles i did a small lean to roof on my place over six years ago no sign of fading as yet and easy to cut and lay.
SORRY...this question/comment has nothing to do with these slates but fibreglass GRP Flat roof. My cold deck GRP flat roof has been making that loud as hell banging noise due to, i'm guessing here, the separation of the grp from the plywood boards underneath. So invited several builders in that all gave DIFFERENT advice/solutions. One said rip out the entire grp and just replace with standard torch-on felt. Another said replace with rubber membrane. When I suggested your method of simply repairing by making cuts into the grp and then fixing back down - they all said I WAS MAD!!!!! So I am thinking of DIYing it myself. is that advisable? The price for the rubber roof came in quite cheap but I have foxes that regularly climb unto the roof and do a lot of scratching, hence why I'm keen to repair the harder GRP top coat.
Red bank sold a man made slate approx twenty years passed. Now no longer ! The slate failed to stand up to the weather when fixed to a south slope. So only time will tell with this . For Spanish read as Brazilian some are good but none are excellent and many are poor
That is a lot of pyrites in those slates! Do you know how old that slate roof was? Shame about the welsh, scottish and green slate supplies. Seen many a good welsh slate roof replaced with what I considered poorer quality spanish slate because the owners wanted the "new roof" look.
I don't know you'll have to phone and find out definitely more expensive than some artificial slates but a lot easier to install also, no breakages, that makes a big difference
Those recycled plastic slates look just the job for areas where scaffolders or other workers are likely to damage slate ones. Here in Bath there are so many Georgian roofs where someone has to go up and clear leaves out of gulleys regularly
Very strange and weird example of slating at the eaves and the top edge of slate not sitting on the batten, is that the correct gauge for that size slate ?
I thought these rubber slates had to be fixed onto 18mm plywood or osb without battens but you seem to be fixing them the traditional way? They meant to bond with the sun creating a ply effect so won't using battens cause issues?
Couple of things. You mention that the cement/fibre board ones don't last and fade in colour. Have you seen any of these after a decade to compare (not accusing here, just asking!)? Also, being recycled isnt good for the environment as a default. In fact, most recycled plastic stuff is not, it's merely kicking the can down the road. Are these going to corrode over time and leak their micro-plastic into our gutters? If it's anything like some of the plastic facia, PVC windows and conservatories after 15 years near me, then it's simply buying time until landfill. Otherwise, a very informative video as always!
Yeh the "new" ones in question do change in appearance after a while. I wouldn't say they look hideous or anything & most people probably wouldn't really notice from the ground but I'm the sort of weirdo who constantly looks at building details while out walking the dog etc so I spot them a mile off.
The issue with them Tapco slate or similar products is the costs, they almost as expensive as a good quality top of the range Spanish natural slate, furthermore were there plastic I don’t think they last more then 40-50 years either I bet the sun will make erm brittle & bend up on the exposure, they definitely better then fibre cement slates which i personally can’t see going more then 30 years myself. Personally I’ve never had an issue with Spanish slate but I buy the slates which are nearly £4 a slate Cupas R14 grade they very good slates
Yes the Spanish slates aren’t that good, never really rated the cement based look alike, but the newer ones look really good, I’ve not used them ( I’ve stepped back from roofing cos of my age) but yeah they seem versatile, nice one mate
Not sure where you are buying £5 a slate from, we redid our roof with reclaimed welsh slate for around £2.20 a tile and looks far nicer than any artificial tiles
reclaimed welsh slate may well become more available as the mainstream roofers de-skill themselves by using these easy to install essentially untested installations (as far as longevity is concerned), Though You still see the idiots who just toss the old welsh slates into a skip, after all why spend effort trying to re-coup the value of the old slates when you can just throw the recycled ones onto a roof scoop up the cash and move onto the next job. Also, natural slate now is going to be essentially the same quality from year to year regardless, Whereas the actual quality of any synthetic slate product can vary from one year to the next as the producer cuts corners or experiences change in their feedstock of materials. They might become more popular though as youtubers harness the power of xenophobia with pictures of dirty, bent, uncivilised and lazy Spanish slate - even if those pictures are of portions of roof that are not visible from anywhere other than google earth :)
they do last 20 to 60 years however we're trying to find something that's better and also more maintainable. If these still stay flexible and last that amount of time then they're a better solution
Envirotiles, similar concept but also storm proof as a result of the fixing system and require 12 per square metre compared with Tapco needing 18+, so a no brainer in terms of time taken to lay to the roof.
So we're all agreed that nothing matches Welsh slate! My stone cottage terrace built in 1892 would agree. I've seen all these new building ideas of the moment such as k-rend instead of cement, ( it discolours ) and these plastic tiles or enviro tiles, composite flashing instead of lead and whatever else but nothing is as good as the old tried tested and true old ways of doing the job.
Artificial roof slates... as opposed to the ones plucked from the branch? ps. My IRL surname is Slater, and I have researched the industry and know it is a lot more than just mining the slate and splitting it into thin pieces.
😂 you're not wrong, more info. about the artificial slate would be great! From what I understand they're commonly either tapco or iko, up and coming product from what I've seen, as for their longevity I'd like to see a 10 year old roof
This slate will be white in about 5 years they cannot colour in plastic gutters and the like . Also they will go brittle. Everything produced is a cheap version of slate. Which will last 100 years easy just look at the old terrace houses.
Concrete tiles, block paving etc. All fade and look naff / worn overtime. There's no magic bullet for dealing with the weather other than natural stones. Slate, sandstone etc. has been "weathering" for millions of years. I can see these being a real alternative for the man made range. Equipment possessing TONNS of clay and aggregate an hour are lined with plastics. I'll happily take any bet these will outlast any legacy concrete tile under any test conditions. And for the price that's their competitor, not bloody Welsh slate!
I was just thinking about the fading aspect, I've spotted 1 or 2 roof around my way with them & noticed they do change in appearance after some time (which is one of the reasons I spotted them).
@@SteveRoofer the ones I'm on about are Tapco, I know because I ordered samples of them when I was considering what to use on my roof that are still sat in my garden. A detached double garage has been done with them literally over the road from me, I wouldn't say they look terrible it's just that you can (or I can) see that they look a bit more artificial as they years go by, It's probably more obvious on a low level roof like this although I have spotted similar on a tall house roof a bit further out from where I live. I may notice it more than most as I've never liked materials pretending to look like other materials like faux brick slips etc but thats just my own personal taste & I can definately see the benefits of Tapco slates etc.
These plastic slates are easy to install and maintain, but don’t forget why we install stone or clay tiles, because they provide good temperature and sound insulation, and protect against solar radiation. Can this plastic crap do something like that?
Am i missing something, the roof he is working on has been slated from the TOP down. And the battons dont support the slate (eye level). This must be a mock up not a real roof
@@SteveRoofer yes I did, they're superb , look amazing,& so easy to use, only 12kg per sq metre, what's not to like ??? I suppose the time test is out of most people's ranges , I feel very confident in them ...
@@SteveRoofer err listen to it yourself in stereo headphones.. just trying the help mate, obviously in your video edit the audio has either been panned to one side or it was recorded in mono and not spread to both channels in the stereo video edit.
Plastics and UV never, ever, last long term, no matter what UV filters you insert in the formulation. Interior plastics, fine, but in direct sunlight, nope.
They've been tested vigorously. They use them in India without issue. Also california. I'm sure they'll hold up to uk weather without any issues. Get with the times and stop thinking everything is like it was 20 years ago.
@@benrichards1 Just because something is cheap, doesn’t make it good. Americans insist on using bitumen tiles because they are cheap, but you are lucky to get 20 years out of them.
Black plastic gutters fade and look crap after about 15 years. These will go the same way. There are good quality slates out there and if you cannot afford them then the cheap option is grey tiles. Both will look fine in years to come. It is about building a structure that will look good for 100 years not that saves £100 in build costs.
Those plastic polypropylene slates aren't good. They are amazing to use, all the same thickness, look great, lightweight. So quick and easy to use. They tick loads of boxes until you see them 2/ 3 years after you've put them on. They fade terribly like all plastic materials. The wrong client will pursue you if they are very particular
Ok on a porch conservatory, on the main roof over a large area in the uk i can see problems with wind uplift and the dreaded UV light degrading them, A yank fake fix.💩
These artificial slates are absolutely useless in Australia. Been roofing since 1974, so have seen these things come and go. Being plastic you might get 4-5 years before they turn white, oxidize and become brittle. Even the fibre-cement slates you might only get 30 years. Best to stick with natural slate or terracotta etc. They are not far of the same cost anyway. Slates & Shingles Roofing Service
Just pay for welsh slate instead of cutting corners. Welsh slate will last as long as the nails what hold them 100 years plus. These new slates are rubbish.
Hmm, why go to the bother of grinding down tyres adding binders and making into slate shapes when you could just cut up the tyres and fix them with the tread pattern showing :) - probably last longer.
reclaimed welsh slate may well become more available as the mainstream roofers de-skill themselves by using these easy to install essentially untested installations (as far as longevity is concerned), Though You still see the idiots who just toss the old welsh slates into a skip, after all why spend effort trying to re-coup the value of the old slates when you can just throw the recycled ones onto a roof, scoop up the cash and move onto the next job. Also, natural slate now is going to be essentially the same quality from year to year regardless, Whereas the actual quality of any synthetic slate product can vary from one year to the next as the producer cuts corners or experiences change in their feedstock of materials. They might become more popular though as youtubers harness the power of xenophobia with pictures of dirty, bent, uncivilised and lazy Spanish slate - even if those pictures are of portions of roof that are not visible from anywhere other than google earth :)
Well, your batten spacing is all to shit, I can tell you that! And don’t tell me to get with the times! I’ve been doing this for 40 years! Very successfully! You won’t beat a natural slate…. End of! 👍
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I’ve done two self builds now with Cedral Rivendale and recognise many of the things you talk about. It’ll be interesting to see how the building insurance business regards the recycled plastic. Gone are the days of always ticking the box “tiled roof on brick walls”.
Cedral Rivendale are a top Quality fibre cement slates so he's a question. Did you double batten ventilate underneath the tiles because all fibre cement slates are classed as a closed and 95% of all roof inspections I do but somebody has used a fibre cement slates have fitted in incorrectly then one of the only products in the market that is classed as a catalyst and needs venting in a special way.
@@SteveRoofer yep, exactly that. It got even more complicated because it was on a warm roof with counterbattens. The eaves detail with where the membrane lay in relation to the vents took some thinking about because it's not a "usual" thing. Shame I can't post photos to the reply...
And you don't really appreciate how "tight" a finish it is until you get up close to it..... especially on a new build where most stuff is square and true and lie very tight and close.
Cedral shoot themselves in the foot with the price of their accessories. Especially the ridge tiles and vent fittings. Because of this, just about every Cedral roof I've seen has cheaped out on a generic ridge roll and concrete ridge tiles rather than splash out on the Cedral rip off. I put this to their regional sales rep and he just nodded.... he couldn't argue.
Just out of curiosity how do pvc window frames in double glazed windows survive constant UV rays?
I'm a 77 year old male in the UK and was a roof tiler from age 17 to 23 or 24 (I can't remember the exact time I stopped)
Back in those days we used to carry the tiles from the stack up to the roof using a padded cap on our heads, I used my old boy scout beret. I learnt to balance the tiles on my head from the stack to the ladder but had one hand on them while climbing the ladder. I remember the occasional job using artificial slates.
Geoffrey.
Interesting, I wonder if the strength you inevitably gained in your neck muscles has contributed towards having a good long life? Please comment?
@@philtucker1224 I honestly don't know but it's possible. I was born 16 months after the European part of the second world war ended. I grew up in a council house on one of the new estates in Brighton built after the war. It was surrounded by farm land and downland. Almost all the mothers of children including mine were full time housewives and most had between two and five children, I'm the eldest of five brothers. As children we spent a lot of time out roaming the countryside in both summer and winter. For a good number of years the boys including myself collected birds eggs, it wasn't illegal back then. We walked over hill and dale for miles and miles and thought nothing of it. Compare that to kids of today who don't seem to get much exercise, my eldest Grandson who will be 18 this month spends most of his free time playing computer games. I'm currently a cancer survivor, from October 2017 until March 2020 I had five operations in three different hospitals, the final op was shortly before the covid lockdown. Maybe all the exercise as a child helped me to survive, however, my brother Eric who was four years younger than me died on January 2nd 2022. My mother and father both died in 2007, mum was 82 and dad was 86 and was a smoker up until he was about 80. His elder brother was over 90 when he died.
@@calibreman Hi Cal es I thought as much, I am a fifties child farm born in Kent. I think a lot of out door kids developed a higher resistance to diseases then compared to modern “house reared” children…
@@philtucker1224probably not eating the takeaway crap available for today’s generation helps 😂😂
@@jonneym possibly very true! Having been involved in a lot of new build house sales near London over the last decade, having met a lot of young professional families ordering their personal (off plan) house floor layouts, many of them opt for a smaller kitchenette style kitchen in favour of a larger ground floor lounge/living area for the family, “as they don’t have time to prepare food at home” - but visit nanny and grandad every couple of Sundays “for a proper roast” ! sad but true…☹️
Very nice, would be even nicer if you said the name or manufacturer of them or did i miss this part ?
Tapco
Tapco. I've used them. I slipped off my roof onto these a while ago. Absolutely slammed into them from a good few feet, I'm 320lbs. Not a scratch on them. No wind-up lift. No wind "chatter." They are superb. So easy to use. Absolutely solid.
Thanks for sharing
Are you sure about that Ben? (10 stone = 140 lbs?)
Keyboard error? If I were 22 stone, I wouldn't be on a roof!
@@simonroyle2806 I'm 23 stone.
@@philtucker1224 322lbs
I’m a floor fitter and have been for 5 years. Would love to work underneath a company like yours. You’ve taught me a lot about a trade I’d love to learn.
Thanks
Knee pads always burner! I learnt that the hard way!
you should be so lucky @@DaddyBear69
Have polymer plastic slates on our new build house for 18 years.they look great,as good as new,and have withstood 120 km per hour winds.
Been in trade 30 years .
Welsh slate if you can afforf it .
Cement slate if budget tight.
Any plastic will fade , go brittle & cause unimaginable problems if there's a fire with melting & toxic smoke .
External plastics dont last .
Car tyres are plastics of a sort..
Cupra Spanish slates on our new house here in the Scottish highlands and I'm happy with them. They are solid and heavy and impossible to lift or move, which we need in our weather. I would NEVER have allowed the architect to spec a lightweight synthetic slate.
I think you are correct specially where you are. It's very interesting to see that up north. You only have very high-standard slates. Some of them are 10 to 12 mm thick down here we start at around 5 mm too thin
What are the new tiles called? We have a house with artifical slate on and they have lightened over the last 25 years but still pretty solid.
The slate we used is made by Tapco. There are other makes coming on the market now, so have a good look round.
I love Steve;s hair...It is strong and thick and looks good and won't come off in a gale, though it will lighten in the sun. . Mine is flimsy and thinning even though I am only 76. Envious !
These seem to be Tapcoslates. I am NOT Trade, but I am my father's son, and grew up with "If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well" ringing in my ears. We re-roofed a 160sq m Edwardian house in Bristol 5yr ago with Tapco; slivers in the loft space told us the original roof was Welsh slate, and loads of pigeon poop indicated that it had been long-neglected. But what we were throwing out was concrete tiles - 7 tons of them. I arrived at the choice of Tapco after eliminating the other possibilities with the same reasoning as yours. There is some good to report to support your view: our sagging purlins are loving the lighter Tapco (14Kg/m2 at pitches above 30) & the roofers loved the easy setting out and cutting. But, but, BUT....
...a hint of moisture and they are slippery as buggery, even in climbing shoes. They encourage rather than inhibit, algal growth: North-facing slopes are green and even slippier in only 2yr. And they fade with extraordinary speed: dark pewter has become silver grey in under 5yr, and Tapco's guarantee has weasel words to exclude covering this. The weasel words go much further: if your Tapcoslate roof fails completely, Tapco won't pay for ANY flashings or membranes necessarily used, or even for the full cost of new tapcoslates beyond 7 (SEVEN) years. Instead, you'll get an inflation-reduced sum that after 15yr is only 25% of the original cost of the slates...paid in today's money! So much for a '40yr guarantee'.
Finally, I disagree I'm afraid, with your remarks about the ease of replacing Tapcoslates: the polypropylene they are made of is stiff in all except heatwave conditions, and is brittle as well below 5 degC. And even if NOT using the most durable fixings (Stainless ring-shanked clouts) the extra lapping for low-pitch roofs will make a tidy replacement (say after investigating & fixing a flashing leak) quite impossible. So, while they have some significant attractions, Tapcoslates ALSO have some big drawbacks, and I don't think you painted the full picture for us.
Hi I really appreciate the info. I've been contemplating using these on my new build.
The fading I've seen first hand on a house the tapco salesman recommended me to go see. That in and of itself wouldn't put me off. I'd just go for the lightest colour.
I'm more concerned about the structural integrity of the plastic, i.e will the weather make it brittle over the years. It's the brittle nature of regular slate that first attracted me to the durability of the tapco
Tapco tiles, love them, used them for years. Come in various colours and are easy to work with. Built a 5m a 14m decking with a roof on it. Used these to great effect.
Hi Steve, sorry I just commented on your flat roof video but realised this would've been better. For a warm pitched truss roof, would it be ok to sandwich insulation between truss and OSB, then cover with breathable membrane, before fitting tapco directly without any batten? I know with a flat roof any bounce can cause the screw heads to pop through the membrane but hoped it would be fine for pitched roof. We are surrounded by squirrels and field mice here, so I'd like to avoid any voids for them to crawl through. Also what thickness insulation would you recommend and should we insulate between the trusses? Really appreciate your advice, cheers!
Are envirotile anygood? I was looking at those. What are the ones in the video, you dont say the manufacturer, name and type. Thanks.
Tapco is the most common, I haven't seen a lot on envirotile, I hope they are the same because they are cheaper from what I can see
So how long do these Tapco tiles last, or guaranteed for in the UK? Be interested to know as our Welsh slate roof will need doing (no felt) and we have a few small leaks. Neighbours reused 2/3 of their original Welsh slate using a French system apparently, where the tiles are hung on a V shaped wire with a hook at the bottom which sits behind the tile and affixes into the battens. Looked good and recycled original tiles but is this cost effective solution compared to these newer 'plastic' tiles?
Used these on my extention about 10 years ago,and as you say you can jump all over them and will not break,and the price has come down so yes I agree
I roofed a 8ft square lean to on my house 10 years ago with tapco slate.
Have they faded slightly yes, has there been any issues with them no.
Had Redlands slate on my roof for 23 years not a problem look as good as the day that they were fitted
Another great video Steve. Are these Tapco? Iko? I'm building a new house (pitched 'warm roof' with sarking) and seriously thinking about these, they cost about the same as slate but the difference is you can fit them yourself, no need for a skilled roofer and you can walk on them, no cracking!
I’ve done a few self builds now and whilst some of what you say is true, the devil is in the detail. The material you tile with ultimately doesn’t really matter. The biggest challenge is the layout. Getting the details right around the eaves, ridge, valleys and hips etc You can only put tiles where you have battens. It’s far more nuanced than would seem at first glance. The details will make or break your roof, not the material. If you have a square estate “box”, it’ll be many times easier than an “interesting” roof with lots of angles. Good luck!
Yes Tapco slates what BerkeleyTowers says above is so true. The only problem I have with the slates and all manufacturers seem to be doing the same and that is they don't make a slate and a half which really does make it difficult when you're cutting into verges skylights and so on. Now I've just finished filming a rear extension roof that we came down to 13°, which is right on the limit of these. However, we used a sarking felt from SIGA that can be used down to 10° and was unbelievably bullet-proof. We also vented the roof in a quite interesting way. Just remember whenever you are using a artificial slate. It is classed as a closed. The roof covering is classed as a closed so are basically forming a pitched flat roof and you need to think about how you were going to vent it. I see so many people installing artificial slates extremely well, but forgetting that they are air closed basically you cannot use a so-called breathable sarking felt directly underneath them, you have to use a felt that is non-breathable or you have to cross, batten and ventilate above and below the sarking felt.
@@SteveRooferthanks Steve, I really appreciate the Info. Especially given the relatively hard to find info./advice on working with these new products. I'll look into these details and hopefully get back with something interesting when it comes to installing the roof. I'll certainly look up this SIGA felt for a start, as that was one thing I was wondering, with all the varieties of felt out there, what really works with tapco. And iko. I actually spoke to some tapco guys at the building convention at the SEC in Glasgow and they suggested anything would be fine, they were nice guys but salesmen at the end of the day so perhaps just being agreeable to be nice.
Really excited about this product in general, it's always been a pet peeve of mine when going onto a slate roof and hearing a crack!
@@BerkeleyTowersappreciate the advice! Thankfully my roof will be a relatively simple pitch, no dormers or valley troughs. Just 2 velux and 1 chimney flue. I wouldn't attempt doing a real slate with all the grading involved, a bit beyond my skillset , hopefully I'll be ok with the tapco given the consistency, but you're absolutely right, I'll be double and triple checking my measurements and taking my time!
Used the tapco ones recently, absolutely brilliant, look great, easy to install very little waste, a bit pricey maybe, but supaslate is well worth checking out too, every bit as good as tapco but quicker to lay, would recommend them both,
I'm guessing plastic roof tiles will put insurance costs up, could even void your insurance if not declared, they would not be fire resistant, in fact they would burn easy and release toxic fumes with black smoke, also, plastic degrades over time as well, (plastic curtain hooks are bendable when new, but snap when a few years old)so they could become very brittle and brake easy after a few years of sun radiation light and frost, time will tell, I would go for slate, but if on a tight budget, It's going to be the cement board.
good point, I will look into this and find out
Interesting, has anyone found problems in these areas? Insurance, fire resistance etc.
Though If you think about it, most houses are covered in plastic, windows, doors, eaves, insurers don't have a problem insuring these things
How much on average are those slates you really liked at the end?
If they are recycled plastic, how well would they hold up to extreme heat? I'm thinking of the horrendous heatwave we had a couple of years ago that caused some gutters on houses to start sagging.
Hate to see them in the event of a fire. Dripping molten plastic into the building not to mention the smoke and fumes. Also most plastics go brittle over time as plastisizers evaporate over time.
(Maybe the guy was showing us as part of a sponsored promotion). The main problem I find with the recycled plastic outdoor stuff like park benches, boardwalk planks etc is that they don’t stay flat after hot weather..
What about Redland Cambrian's ? I spec;d and used these in a Conservation area approx. 35 odd years ago. Still there, looking great and have a riven edge similar to a Welsh but about half the cost. Yes, made with resin, slate dust & flakes and very hard wearing!
I've had these black slates on my extension for about 5 years now and no problems.
7 meters by 5 meters roof.
so far we have had several people saying that they have worked very well for the last 5 to 6 years we're looking for older roofs now
Hi
Those plastic roof slates are interesting. What brand did you use in the video, and once laid, are they robust enough to walk on.
Cheers
Robert
Been using these tiles for 7 years on replacement roofs customers love them because they are make of recycled material, car tyres I think easy to use and can stand on them.
Have you troubled to speak to Tapco directly? I did, and the answer was VIRGIN polypropylene and limestone. Car tyres are made of rubber.
The world is full of shit information because people have lost their critical faculties and keep repeating it. It's not an exaggeration to say that this collective stupidity will get our race into serious trouble, especially as we've decided we have no need of experts any more.
I was aware of the Tapco slates but they were quite expensive last time I checked and I know they don't use recycled materials, which company is it that manufactures the tiles with recycled material?
There are two or three out there now I haven't got the details to hand
Hi Steve, would these be feasible on a wooden shed roof or still too heavy?
If i ever can afford to my roof redone will certainly look into using these
yes, just use them on my daughter's house so we'll see how things go
only time will tell , most of our fibre mix/asbestos roof slates on the rear extension have lasted until last year - they were put on in 1970, some broken ones were replaced over the years - but looking after your roof by a trusted roofer is vital , the non asbestos 600 by 300 mm fibre tiles on the rear roof were taken off to do chimney and wood work , these are 1984 made , although we have plenty of new ones still in the pack - most of the 1984 ones went back on as they were fine , we live in windy wet cornwall , you can walk on any part of our roofs treading carefully
I used artificial slate tiles 40 plus years ago they seemed to have a type of white fibre in the centre but were absolutely the same as slate.
it's going to be interesting to see if these things make a good difference
The older artificial slates had a fair size asbestos content in them , I still pass two roofs I worked on in 1989 and they still look as new.
Perfect timing Steve. About to do a reroof of ny house and was looking around for a slate replacement and these look just the job. Would be keen to learn what they are
Tapco Roof Slate however there are now others on the market the only drawback I have found is that there is no slate and a half, they only do one size of slate
@@SteveRoofer fwiw, Cedral do a double tile.... they're massive..... and delicate!
I've used those before on a job back in 2004, after a year the ends were curled and cupped. I'm sure they improved the product since then but still weary about the plastics.
That is a good sign, I have been keeping my Victorian Welsh slate roof going as long as possible, because the alternatives are rubbish....so far!
Hopefully you can keep them going for another 35 to 40 years and then we can see if these last
Hahaha!@@SteveRoofer
How much is the last one a tile the one your recommending? 👍🏽
Those tiles look very much like lvt flooring.
Does it have limestone in the top face by any chance?
No they are Tapco slates
If you are using those good recycled material tiles leftover from a previous job, are you therefore being paid for them twice?
As already said in comments Tapco roof tiles i did a small lean to roof on my place over six years ago no sign of fading as yet and easy to cut and lay.
good to know, thanks
I put fibre cement up 8 years ago and still looks great and I live in the country in Ireland
They won't look good for much longer - sorry.
Eight years is still relatively young. It's when you get to the 20 year mark when I think you start to see problems.
' @@SteveRoofer I'm seeing problems at 13/14 yrs, not impressed.
@@wotnoturbowell I live west coast on the causeway and they look no different
I’m not worried about that I put a new roof on again which I’m fortunate to do
SORRY...this question/comment has nothing to do with these slates but fibreglass GRP Flat roof. My cold deck GRP flat roof has been making that loud as hell banging noise due to, i'm guessing here, the separation of the grp from the plywood boards underneath. So invited several builders in that all gave DIFFERENT advice/solutions. One said rip out the entire grp and just replace with standard torch-on felt. Another said replace with rubber membrane. When I suggested your method of simply repairing by making cuts into the grp and then fixing back down - they all said I WAS MAD!!!!! So I am thinking of DIYing it myself. is that advisable? The price for the rubber roof came in quite cheap but I have foxes that regularly climb unto the roof and do a lot of scratching, hence why I'm keen to repair the harder GRP top coat.
Back to me and tell me how you get on
@@SteveRoofer Due to the weather, rain/snow - I intend to tackle this task during warmer times (spring/summer).
Many roofers will tell you it's mad to do such a thing as it means they don't get to empty you wallet.
Been out for a few years now used them a couple of times couldn’t fault them don’t know why they don’t sell more
Good to know
Red bank sold a man made slate approx twenty years passed. Now no longer ! The slate failed to stand up to the weather when fixed to a south slope. So only time will tell with this . For Spanish read as Brazilian some are good but none are excellent and many are poor
That is a lot of pyrites in those slates! Do you know how old that slate roof was?
Shame about the welsh, scottish and green slate supplies.
Seen many a good welsh slate roof replaced with what I considered poorer quality spanish slate because the owners wanted the "new roof" look.
Absolutely right, I see good slate roofs being replaced with really bad slate roofs all the time
What are they called and who stocks them, thanks.
I wonder how UV/sunlight affects them a few years down the road?
I've used them super slate the 1s I used art slate something like that nice clean work when working with them
How much are they
I don't know you'll have to phone and find out definitely more expensive than some artificial slates but a lot easier to install also, no breakages, that makes a big difference
They will definitely take off on a windy day ✌️
Those recycled plastic slates look just the job for areas where scaffolders or other workers are likely to damage slate ones.
Here in Bath there are so many Georgian roofs where someone has to go up and clear leaves out of gulleys regularly
yes we can walk all over them
Whats the name of these tiles you recommend
Very strange and weird example of slating at the eaves and the top edge of slate not sitting on the batten, is that the correct gauge for that size slate ?
I thought these rubber slates had to be fixed onto 18mm plywood or osb without battens but you seem to be fixing them the traditional way? They meant to bond with the sun creating a ply effect so won't using battens cause issues?
no, the manufacturers, so you can do either or
What is the price for the plastic tiles please.
Couple of things. You mention that the cement/fibre board ones don't last and fade in colour. Have you seen any of these after a decade to compare (not accusing here, just asking!)? Also, being recycled isnt good for the environment as a default. In fact, most recycled plastic stuff is not, it's merely kicking the can down the road. Are these going to corrode over time and leak their micro-plastic into our gutters? If it's anything like some of the plastic facia, PVC windows and conservatories after 15 years near me, then it's simply buying time until landfill.
Otherwise, a very informative video as always!
Yeh the "new" ones in question do change in appearance after a while. I wouldn't say they look hideous or anything & most people probably wouldn't really notice from the ground but I'm the sort of weirdo who constantly looks at building details while out walking the dog etc so I spot them a mile off.
All good points if they last longer and have to have a less maintenance, then that alone is more ecofriendly.
Thanks for the review 🙏
My pleasure!
The issue with them Tapco slate or similar products is the costs, they almost as expensive as a good quality top of the range Spanish natural slate, furthermore were there plastic I don’t think they last more then 40-50 years either I bet the sun will make erm brittle & bend up on the exposure, they definitely better then fibre cement slates which i personally can’t see going more then 30 years myself.
Personally I’ve never had an issue with Spanish slate but I buy the slates which are nearly £4 a slate Cupas R14 grade they very good slates
What's the name of the artificial slate called ?
Tapco are the ones featured in this video, Iko are almost identical, certainly in size anyway
Yes the Spanish slates aren’t that good, never really rated the cement based look alike, but the newer ones look really good, I’ve not used them ( I’ve stepped back from roofing cos of my age) but yeah they seem versatile, nice one mate
You forgot to mention the price mr advertiser
Make sure you get the black ones they blanch light grey in two years!!!
What are they called?
Not sure where you are buying £5 a slate from, we redid our roof with reclaimed welsh slate for around £2.20 a tile and looks far nicer than any artificial tiles
reclaimed welsh slate may well become more available as the mainstream roofers de-skill themselves by using these easy to install essentially untested installations (as far as longevity is concerned), Though You still see the idiots who just toss the old welsh slates into a skip, after all why spend effort trying to re-coup the value of the old slates when you can just throw the recycled ones onto a roof scoop up the cash and move onto the next job.
Also, natural slate now is going to be essentially the same quality from year to year regardless, Whereas the actual quality of any synthetic slate product can vary from one year to the next as the producer cuts corners or experiences change in their feedstock of materials.
They might become more popular though as youtubers harness the power of xenophobia with pictures of dirty, bent, uncivilised and lazy Spanish slate - even if those pictures are of portions of roof that are not visible from anywhere other than google earth :)
Where did you buy them ? 👍
@@140rware We traveled to a reclamation yard in south wales. I have a van so wasnt too expensive in the end
What would have been helpful was if you told us the name of the product on the slates you used?
I had a Victorian conservation area slate roof replaced and the local authority allowed cement based slate replicas to be used.
How about fibre cement roof slates? They last 20-60 years and half the price
they do last 20 to 60 years however we're trying to find something that's better and also more maintainable. If these still stay flexible and last that amount of time then they're a better solution
Envirotiles, similar concept but also storm proof as a result of the fixing system and require 12 per square metre compared with Tapco needing 18+, so a no brainer in terms of time taken to lay to the roof.
So we're all agreed that nothing matches Welsh slate! My stone cottage terrace built in 1892 would agree.
I've seen all these new building ideas of the moment such as k-rend instead of cement, ( it discolours ) and these plastic tiles or enviro tiles, composite flashing instead of lead and whatever else but nothing is as good as the old tried tested and true old ways of doing the job.
How much are they?
As above
Cost mentioned on all the slates you didn't like but no mention of cost on the one you did
Artificial roof slates... as opposed to the ones plucked from the branch? ps. My IRL surname is Slater, and I have researched the industry and know it is a lot more than just mining the slate and splitting it into thin pieces.
What they made of? What they called? Cheers
The slate we used is made by Tapco. There are other makes coming on the market now, so have a good look round. plastic
@@SteveRoofer oh it's tapco, that's what they put on these conservatory conversion roofs but yea I've always hated eternit slate too.
THanks for the video, but 95% of it was talking about everything else bar the title of the video & you gave zero info on them.
😂 you're not wrong, more info. about the artificial slate would be great! From what I understand they're commonly either tapco or iko, up and coming product from what I've seen, as for their longevity I'd like to see a 10 year old roof
Be alright them on the 19th hole stop the golf balls breaking what Evers on the roof
I think they will be okay
This slate will be white in about 5 years they cannot colour in plastic gutters and the like . Also they will go brittle. Everything produced is a cheap version of slate. Which will last 100 years easy just look at the old terrace houses.
Only time will tell, I'm still 50-50 on it
Concrete tiles, block paving etc. All fade and look naff / worn overtime. There's no magic bullet for dealing with the weather other than natural stones. Slate, sandstone etc. has been "weathering" for millions of years.
I can see these being a real alternative for the man made range. Equipment possessing TONNS of clay and aggregate an hour are lined with plastics. I'll happily take any bet these will outlast any legacy concrete tile under any test conditions. And for the price that's their competitor, not bloody Welsh slate!
I put these on a building 10 years. Great product but they do lose their colour and fade unfortunately.
I was just thinking about the fading aspect, I've spotted 1 or 2 roof around my way with them & noticed they do change in appearance after some time (which is one of the reasons I spotted them).
are we sure they are the same slate? I'm not denying that there may be a problem but there are not many roofs round with them on
@@SteveRoofer the ones I'm on about are Tapco, I know because I ordered samples of them when I was considering what to use on my roof that are still sat in my garden. A detached double garage has been done with them literally over the road from me, I wouldn't say they look terrible it's just that you can (or I can) see that they look a bit more artificial as they years go by, It's probably more obvious on a low level roof like this although I have spotted similar on a tall house roof a bit further out from where I live. I may notice it more than most as I've never liked materials pretending to look like other materials like faux brick slips etc but thats just my own personal taste & I can definately see the benefits of Tapco slates etc.
@@SteveRoofer Yep, the Tapco slate, I would post a picture if I could. Still look good when wet though which is fortunate living in the UK
Lets come back after 10 years and see how they look after UV rays have done their work.
well that's the big thing that's really what I want to see it's alright now but what is it like in the next 10 to 20 years?
These plastic slates are easy to install and maintain,
but don’t forget why we install stone or clay tiles, because they provide good temperature and sound insulation,
and protect against solar radiation.
Can this plastic crap do something like that?
I love using em.they are unbreakable But there too expensive to earn any dollar with
Am i missing something, the roof he is working on has been slated from the TOP down.
And the battons dont support the slate (eye level).
This must be a mock up not a real roof
Price?
The price is quite reasonable but when you consider no breakages and easier to use then a lot cheaper than slates or fiber cement slates
So easy to use , super lightweight.....
I take it you use them, did you like them?
@@SteveRoofer yes I did, they're superb , look amazing,& so easy to use, only 12kg per sq metre, what's not to like ??? I suppose the time test is out of most people's ranges , I feel very confident in them ...
I would guess that they will start discolouring after some decent UV exposure.
Only time will tell
Sir you complained that the cement fiber board was bendy and held its shape then immediately said you liked the slate because it was really bendy.
no, I was talking about the other one
what do you expect? truth in advertising? - lovely video, shame about the content.
Your audio is only on 1 side, tiles look great though
you have any person that that's happening to
@@SteveRoofer err listen to it yourself in stereo headphones.. just trying the help mate, obviously in your video edit the audio has either been panned to one side or it was recorded in mono and not spread to both channels in the stereo video edit.
No sound on the video for me mate?
Its there for me and all the others
@@SteveRoofer try it with headphones. It's coming on the left channel only for me.
The eternit/ cembrit are rubbish and they’ve become expensive. Can’t beat natural slates if you buy a good quality one
Eternits and cambrains are gold compared to these
Plastics and UV never, ever, last long term, no matter what UV filters you insert in the formulation. Interior plastics, fine, but in direct sunlight, nope.
I hope you're wrong I hope by now I've got something sorted out, but somehow I tend to agree with you
100% right
They've been tested vigorously. They use them in India without issue. Also california. I'm sure they'll hold up to uk weather without any issues. Get with the times and stop thinking everything is like it was 20 years ago.
@@benrichards1 Just because something is cheap, doesn’t make it good. Americans insist on using bitumen tiles because they are cheap, but you are lucky to get 20 years out of them.
@@yp77738yp77739 I'm not sure what your point is. I never mentioned cost. They're really good
Black plastic gutters fade and look crap after about 15 years. These will go the same way. There are good quality slates out there and if you cannot afford them then the cheap option is grey tiles. Both will look fine in years to come.
It is about building a structure that will look good for 100 years not that saves £100 in build costs.
Those plastic polypropylene slates aren't good. They are amazing to use, all the same thickness, look great, lightweight. So quick and easy to use. They tick loads of boxes until you see them 2/ 3 years after you've put them on. They fade terribly like all plastic materials. The wrong client will pursue you if they are very particular
Only problem is when they fade
I never liked the Spanish slate they are thick ,very brittle and often don't sit flat on the lats
Ok on a porch conservatory, on the main roof over a large area in the uk i can see problems with wind uplift and the dreaded UV light degrading them, A yank fake fix.💩
These artificial slates are absolutely useless in Australia. Been roofing since 1974, so have seen these things come and go. Being plastic you might get 4-5 years before they turn white, oxidize and become brittle. Even the fibre-cement slates you might only get 30 years. Best to stick with natural slate or terracotta etc. They are not far of the same cost anyway. Slates & Shingles Roofing Service
What a total waste of time. Plastic and UV are the biggest no no for roofs. Did he mention that?
But most houses in the UK are covered in plastic, doors, windows, eaves
There’s nothing wrong with the fibre cement tiles , just super slippery when wet , and I reckon you will get 100years out of them
I think 100 years a little bit over the top, I have 60 of the most
Just pay for welsh slate instead of cutting corners. Welsh slate will last as long as the nails what hold them 100 years plus. These new slates are rubbish.
totally agree, however, it's super expensive and you need to have a lot of expertise to visit correctly
These are tyres not slates
Hmm, why go to the bother of grinding down tyres adding binders and making into slate shapes when you could just cut up the tyres and fix them with the tread pattern showing :) - probably last longer.
reclaimed welsh slate may well become more available as the mainstream roofers de-skill themselves by using these easy to install essentially untested installations (as far as longevity is concerned), Though You still see the idiots who just toss the old welsh slates into a skip, after all why spend effort trying to re-coup the value of the old slates when you can just throw the recycled ones onto a roof, scoop up the cash and move onto the next job.
Also, natural slate now is going to be essentially the same quality from year to year regardless, Whereas the actual quality of any synthetic slate product can vary from one year to the next as the producer cuts corners or experiences change in their feedstock of materials.
They might become more popular though as youtubers harness the power of xenophobia with pictures of dirty, bent, uncivilised and lazy Spanish slate - even if those pictures are of portions of roof that are not visible from anywhere other than google earth :)
Not sure about that..fire spreader..slippy..Spanish would be OK if they holed the right end ..few scrapage...
Plastic Roof!!! Should go up like a house on fire!!??🤔
Well, your batten spacing is all to shit, I can tell you that!
And don’t tell me to get with the times!
I’ve been doing this for 40 years!
Very successfully!
You won’t beat a natural slate…. End of! 👍