Weight considerations when working with stone roof tiles

Correctly installed natural stone roofing is virtually unmatched in terms of its durability, quality and weather resistance, but it is important to make sure that you consider the weight of the tiles before selecting them for your project.

This blog post looks at some of the reasons why it is important to consider the weight of your roof tiles when planning your project.

Weight Loading Capacity

Weight loading on a roof is especially important, particularly when replacing the tiles on part or all of the roof. For example, if you are replacing older or poor-quality slates with superior natural stone roofing, it is important to make sure that the roof structure is able to accommodate any additional weight load.

This becomes even more important when working with historic or listed buildings where it may not be possible to make changes to the roof structure.

It is also important to remember that the effective weight of roof tiles becomes greater at steeper roof angles,

Think About Logistics

Lighter materials are simply easier and more cost effective to transport and store. It’s easy to overlook transportation costs when budgeting for a project, and even a slight increase in weight-per-tile can add up when working with a large number of them.

Consider Your Options

Lighter natural stone roof tiles are available, so it may not be necessary to compromise on quality while helping to keep overall weights down. For example, Truestone’s traditional 18mm Ash tiles weigh 105kg/m² versus around 130kg/m² for much of the rest of the range.

Summary

Weight considerations are a key – but sometimes overlooked – aspect of planning a roofing project. If you’re unsure about the weight loading capacity of a roof, it is always a good idea to speak to an expert for advice. Our team is also on hand to help you select the ideal natural stone roof tiles for your project – give them a call today.