Modern alternatives to natural slate roofing

By Kate Smith, DaVinci Roofscapes.

What’s the difference between real slate and composite slate roofing?

Natural slate has been used as roofing for at least a thousand years. The layered structure of this attractive stone makes it easy to split into shingles; plus, it’s a durable, fire-resistant surface that can last up to a hundred years on a properly maintained roof. However, natural slate does have its drawbacks. Because it’s very heavy, the structure must be reinforced; it’s easily damaged by walking on the roof; it requires regular cleaning; and it’s expensive compared to other roofing materials.

While slate tiles are typically found on historic buildings, they’re also used on recently built homes to create an elegant, classic look. Unless a new home is very high end and constructed to carry the weight of real slate, it’s likely that the “slate” roof tiles are alternative slate material made from composite resins.

Natural slate vs. alternative slate

Natural slate roofing is made from slabs of stone that are hand split and shaped into thin, uniformly sized shingles. Like any other roofing shingle these are nailed in place in an overlapping pattern. Because the product is expensive to make and ship, today’s slate shingles are thinner, which makes them more fragile. Shingles may break if anyone walks on the roof, like HVAC repairmen, cleaners or installers. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find replacements in the right color.

Alternative slate is a modern solution that combines the unique look of real slate with the durability and consistency of synthetic materials. And because alternative slate is much lighter, it won’t require any structural reinforcements. The alternative slate shingles made by DaVinci are modeled from actual slate shingles to create a natural, non-repeating design.

• Single-width slate replicates uniformly sized shingles (on the left of the cover image)
• Multi-width slate replicates shingles in a combination of sizes (on the right of the cover image)

Composite slate shingles from DaVinci Roofscapes

DaVinci Roofscapes composite slate shingles resist rotting, cracking, chipping and breaking, and have a Lifetime Limited Material Warranty. With WUI 4175 certification as well as Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings, DaVinci slate products are high performance. They’re made from virgin resins with UV and thermal stabilizers along with a specialized fire retardant. DaVinci offers four different lines of alternative shingles, so there is a style for nearly any home.

Multi-width slate

In the photo, you can see DaVinci Roofing multi-width slate in Slate Gray. These types of DaVinci products are:

• Available in 12″, 10″, 9″, 7″ and 6″ widths
• 1/2″ tile thickness
• Can be installed at 6”, 7”, 7-1/2”, and 8” exposure
• Modeled from actual slate for a natural, non-repeating look
• Tiles arrive at the job site bundled and pre-sorted by color and size, eliminating sorting and guesswork at the site

Single-width slate

Here, you can see DaVinci Roofing's single-width slate in European Color Blend. These tiles come:

• 12″ tile width
• 1/2″ tile thickness
• Can be installed at 6”, 7”, 7-1/2”, and 8” exposure
• Modeled from actual slate for a natural, non-repeating look
• Tiles arrive at the job site bundled and pre-sorted for color, eliminating sorting and guesswork at the site

Province slate

In this photo the DaVinci Roofing province slate is shown in Slate Black. Here are some quick facts about this tile option:

• 12″ single-width tiles
• 5/8″ tile thickness
• 8” exposure
• Self-aligning single-width tiles allow for quick installation
• Replicates traditional slate with extraordinary accuracy

Inspire slate

To the right, the photo shows DaVinci Roofing's inspire slate in a custom color blend. This slate type comes in:

• 12” single-width tiles
• 1/4” tile thickness
• 6” to 7.5” exposure
• Designed for easy installation
• Available in 20 colors/color blends

The best composite slate roof colors

DaVinci offers composite slate roofing tiles in a full range of authentic slate colors, from black to gray, brown and even green. DaVinci’s slate blends combine different shades to create a natural variance in color, enhancing their realistic look. With DaVinci, homeowners can choose a single shade, a historic-style blend or create their own custom color blend. Try the color options in the DaVinci color visualizer.

Let’s look at the top DaVinci blends.

Brownstone

A blend of brown and gray-brown, Brownstone has subtle color variations within each tile. Color shifts from one tile to the next give the roof added dimension. It has a historic look that harmonizes beautifully with siding, stucco, bricks and stonework.

Slate Gray

Slate Gray is a versatile color that blends warm and cool tones. Each tile has slight color variations that add to its authentic look. The warmest gray, Slate Gray has been a popular choice for as long as slate has been topping homes. It’s an excellent solution for homes with black or brown exterior colors because it harmonizes with both.

Castle Gray

Castle Gray mixes medium to dark shades of a neutral gray. Slight color variations in every tile add to their authentic appearance and add dimension to the roof’s surface.

European

European is a beautiful blend of light to dark grays and a warm maroon accent tile. The color variations create an attractive upgraded roof surface.

Slate Black

Slate Black is the darkest slate and provides a crisp contrast to the brickwork and trim. This versatile classic color has been popular for as long as slate has been topping homes. The strength of this deep shade and the combination of slate and brick will give your home a stately appearance.

Aberdeen

This low-contrast blend combines warm colors that are comparable in tone. From a distance, the surface looks like a single color, with the beauty of the Aberdeen blend becoming more apparent as you get closer.

Vineyard

The rich pattern of Vineyard blend combines warm accent hues with cool gray in between. This versatile blend enlivens almost any home, from a classic cottage to a grand Victorian.

Evergreen

While the name evokes a green shade, Evergreen is a combination of gray greens with a hint of golden brown. This traditional blend is an ideal complement for a timeless brick country home.

Cool roof slate colors

DaVinci also offers Cool Roof colors in Brownstone, Castle Gray, and Slate Gray. These premium blends provide energy savings by reflecting sunlight and heat away from your home. DaVinci Cool Roofing meets the Title 24 requirements for California residents.

Upgrade your home with composite slate roofing

Composite slate roofing is a high-quality durable alternative to real slate shingles. Whether you choose single- or multi-width shingles, a color blend or a single color will depend on the style of your home. DaVinci offers more than 50 slate colors that are mixed to create multi-color and single-color blends that complement traditional architecture. To learn more about choosing roofing and exterior colors, be sure to check out our article, The Best Exterior Color Scheme to Match Your Roof.

Ready to choose your new roof? Visit the DaVinci Top-Down Color Visualizer to quickly see how your home will look with alternative slate roofing. It’s fast and simple to use; you can upload a photo of your own home or use one of 10 available home styles.