Slate roofing is extremely desirable both for its appearance and its longevity. For many homeowners, however, choosing a slate roof might mean an unfinished basement in lieu of a home theater. Slate is expensive to buy, expensive to install and often requires additional roof framing to support its weight. In many cases though, the curb appeal of a natural slate roof is priceless.
Luckily for style-conscious but budget-minded homeowners, slate alternatives abound. They range from composite materials that mimic the look of natural stone to asphalt or fiberglass shingles patterned after natural stone.
Crowe Building Product's rubber-like "Authentic 2000" is another option. Made from Baljen TPO (thermoplastic olefin), a composite material most commonly used in automobiles and household goods, it is approximately the same weight as standard asphalt type shingles. The weight reduction over natural slate shingles eliminates the need for additional roof supports. It can be installed in hot and cold temperature extremes, and can be cut on-site with a knife (a time- and labor-saving advantage over real slate, which is typically cut with a saw). Standard 1-1/2-inch galvanized roofing nails are used for installation.
Providence, Rhode Island roofing contractor Joe Pilkington, who installed the Authentic 2000 roofing on Home Again with Bob, noted that it was easy to work with, adding "You can lift it up easy and make a repair. If you have to put a pipe in through the roof later on, You can take it off. We found it easy."
For more information visit the Authentic Roof website.
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