Del Carmen
Del Carmen: World-Class Spanish Slate
Del Carmen is a Spanish quarry renowned for extracting high-quality slate from a single, consistent vein. This slate's exceptional quality and unwavering consistency have earned official certifications, allowing its use in prestigious sites such as English Heritage, and Heritage Scotland .
Features & Benefits:
• Colour : Blue/Black
• Material : Natural Slate
• Low water absorption
• Extremely durable and long-lasting roofing slate
• High-quality quarried Spanish slate
• Accepted by English Heritage and Heritage Scotland as an alternative to Welsh slate
• 50-100 year guarantee depending on the grade of the slate
Certification:
• Norm Francais (NF 228)
• ASTM American standard
• BS EN 12326
• A1-T1-S1 (with ultra-grade slates)
Sensational slate, all from the same source
Some quarries mix and match slate from different seams of rock, and even different quarries, then sell it under the same brand name. At SSQ, that goes against everything we stand for. When you buy slate from us, you’re guaranteed the very finest quality – and we can point to the exact seam it came from.
Find out more about the Del Carmen quarry
Trusted by the best
When it comes to slate, people are understandably picky. Roofs are a substantial investment – and if you’re responsible for a historic building, or even a national landmark, you’re going to be even more discerning about what material you will and won’t accept.
It’s a testament to the outstanding quality of SSQ’s Del Carmen slate that it’s been accepted for use as an alternative to indigenous slate by Heritage England and Heritage Scotland in a number of cases.
What’s more, it’s also been approved for use by the French authorities – who maintain the highest and strictest natural slate standards in the world.
Del Carmen: the slate that started it all
Del Carmen is the sensational natural slate that started it all. It was when our founder, Ahmed El-Helw, first found Del Carmen that the SSQ journey really began.
One of the finest quarries in the most renowned slate-producing region of North-West Spain, Del Carmen produces outstanding Spanish slate with a deep blue-black colour that will not fade in sunlight, characteristic longitudinal grain, and highly distinctive, faintly-rippled texture.
That’s why when architects, contractors and homeowners want to crown a property in style, they choose Del Carmen.
Request a free quoteSlate roofs that could outlive the building
At SSQ, we’re so confident in the quality and longevity of our Del Carmen slate roof that we’re willing to guarantee it for a century – which, given the average building has a lifespan much less than that, mean a Del Carmen roof may well outlive the property it’s installed on.
Download our brochure
Frequently asked questions
What is slate made from?
Slate is a metamorphic rock that splits easily into thin, strong slabs. It is formed from a fine clay or sedimentary rock, sometimes with sand or volcanic dust, and created under low-grade metamorphic conditions.
True slate splits along planes of cleavage, not along the bedding plane, and this cleavage direction depends on the stress applied during metamorphism. Slates are available in various colours like black, blue, purple, red, green, or gray, and the presence of minerals like hematite and chlorite gives them their colours.
Does slate break easily?
Slate does not break easily because it is a durable material that resists cracks, scratches, breaks, and chips. This makes it an excellent choice for roofing and flooring applications. It is known to last for over a hundred years when used as a roofing material and it is one of the strongest natural stone options when used as a flooring material.
Contact usDiscuss Your Project
Discuss Your Project
Just fill in the form below, and a member of our experienced team will be in touch. Please feel free to give as much detail as you need, and include any design or technical questions you have.
Request a Sample
Request a Sample
The best way of judging the quality of slate and phyllite is to hold it in your hands, and examine it in detail for yourself.
If you’d like a sample of any of the products we provide, don’t hesitate to fill in the form below.
Booking a CPD
Book a CPD
At SSQ, we love sharing our decades of natural slate expertise with architects, and our CPDs are always extremely popular.
On our RIBA-approved Why Specify Slate CPD, you’ll learn about:
- How to guarantee a perfect slate roof
- The secret to specifying
- Unusual roof designs
- How to avoid specifying defective slate
- The difference between CE tested and true quality slate
- The legal requirements when it comes to specifying slate
- How to specify random coursed roofing slates
- The difference between hook and nail fixing
- The environmental benefits of natural slate
- Specifying heritage roofing slates
… and a whole lot more.
If you’re interested in booking a place on our next CPD, simply fill in this form.
Resources
SSQ Professional Resource Centre
When you work with SSQ, you get so much more than world-class slate and architectural stone.
Over the last forty years, we’ve built up a huge amount of expertise covering natural slate, roofing, geology, specifications and so much more – and you can benefit from that, along with case studies, CAD drawings, technical PDFS and a wealth of other support, on our Professional Resources centre.
Testimonials
With the roofs being such a visible feature, the choice of roofing slate was a significant decision. We involved the roofing contractor at an early stage in the selection process and they recommended SSQ’s Del Carmen Blue-black slates. Although it’s not an indigenous slate, it is an excellent match for the originals and, having used Spanish slate on other projects, we know the quality is there.
Richard Thorpe, Ridge and Partners LLP
Testimonials
Everyone liked Sarria: the client was delighted with its appearance and its consistency made it easy to cut and lay.
Gary Lambert, Complete Roofing Contractors
Testimonials
SSQ Matacouta slate was chosen as the most sympathetic option. Its consistency and competitive price make it a clear winner over indigenous slates.
Historic Scotland
Testimonials
The quality and strength were there, the colour was similar to indigenous Welsh slate and its ‘traditional’ look was in keeping with the surrounding community. In fact, as I had used it on my own Edwardian house, I knew it was a good slate!
Julian Bohling, OSP Architecture
Testimonials
SSQ Ultra Del Carmen slates come with a 75-year guarantee and that was important. Not only that, the on-site services promised – and delivered – by SSQ enabled a smooth and easy workflow.
Stuart Howes, Architect
Testimonials
We put forward Riverstone as a cost-effective, yet high quality alternative to Welsh Slate, and it was accepted on that basis. The refurbishment work has now been completed and both the owners and ourselves are very happy with the result.
Keith Hicks Architect at Pave Hall
Testimonials
Working in a conservation area brings a special responsibility. SSQ Riverstone slate fits perfectly, its tone and texture blending seamlessly with its surroundings.
Joan Kinane, Architect
Testimonials
The choice of SSQ Del Carmen was made easier after confirmation that it had gained approval for use in the Welsh National Parks as an alternative to indigenous materials. We were also pleased with the level of technical, design and on-site support we received from SSQ.
The Hafod Renewal Office
Testimonials
It was an absolute pleasure to meet you today, and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your time and a wonderfully informative CPD.
The whole team really enjoyed it, and you definitely conveyed your passion and knowledge of your products!
I would say I will keep SSQ in mind for future projects, but they always have been. However, I have definitely left with a need to utilise more slate in my design work!
Michael Clifton BSc ACIAT - Oakbridge Bespoke Homes Ltd
Testimonials
SSQ Rocaber Blue-grey slate was actually chosen at the initial design-concept stage. A natural slate roof was in keeping with the traditional local architecture.
Tom Ewan, Architect at Model Developments
Testimonials
The choice of slates was made easier due to the quality of product you provide and the support of Gary Firth throughout the process – which I much appreciate. Gary is a good ambassador for your company.
Pat Murray, Senior Project Engineer, Alvance Group
Testimonials
We specified SSQ First Domiz Blue-grey roofing slate for both technical and aesthetic reasons:its strength and quality gives the performance needed and its cold, hard, colour provides a dramatic foil to the rich warmth of the western red cedar walls.
Mark Webber, Architect, Nichols Brown Webber
