Natural slate is renowned across the construction industry as one of the best roofing materials. It is durable, weather resistant, attractive, and sustainable. It is the roofing material of choice for many architects and developers and is often the only roofing option for replacement roofing on heritage properties and buildings in conservation areas.
Much of the slate used in the UK today comes from Spanish quarries. Spanish slate is indeed one of the best slates in the world today. There are, however, different types of Spanish slates; some are among the industry’s best while others are not as high performing or attractive. When you’re planning a roofing project, you want to use the best materials. That’s why at SSQ, we supply only the best Spanish slate available today.
Del Carmen Spanish slate from SSQ
At SSQ, one of our highest-performing, most aesthetically attractive, and most popular Spanish slates is Del Carmen. Del Carmen slate is mined from one of the finest quarries in the slate-producing region of Northwest Spain. It has a deep blue-black colour which will never fade from exposure to the sun’s UV rays and features a distinctive slightly rippled texture and longitudinal grain.
Del Carmen slates have one of the longest life expectancies of all Spanish slates. At SSQ, we are so confident in its longevity, we guarantee all Del Carmen slates for up to 100 years. This is often longer than the lifespan of the building on which it is installed. Del Carmen slates have been accepted for use by Heritage England and Heritage Scotland across the UK as an alternative slate to indigenous slates. This is a testament to their superior appearance and similarity to the British slates mined in Wales.
Phyllite – educating the market
If you’re an architect or developer looking to source roofing slates in a competitive market, have you ever considered using a slate alternative? Phyllite is a type of metamorphic rock which is formed over hundreds of millions of years. It is harder, denser, and stronger than slate and has a subtle green grey Phyllitic sheen which is similar in appearance to Cornish and Scottish slates.
Riverstone Phyllite from SSQ is mined from the SSQ owned quarry in Argentina. We have thousands of pallets of Riverstone stored in the UK; so, when you need large quantities of slate delivered quickly, we can help. Phyllite is an excellent and viable alternative to other slates and is a popular choice alongside some of our Spanish slates.
If you’d like to find out more about Riverstone slate or any of our Spanish slates, get in touch with SSQ today. Give us a call on 020 8961 7725 or fill in your details using our online contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
