Slate can be a wonderful choice when it comes to your new roof. If you are going to retrofit a slate roof onto your existing house, then you should talk to the roofing contractor to get some information before you make the final decision as to whether or not you should get a slate roof. Spending the time to get that information will help you make an informed decision, which is always a good thing. So, what are some of the things that you should talk to the contractor about?

Weight

One of the things you should talk to the contractor about when you are trying to decide whether or not slate is the perfect choice for you and your roof is the weight. Slate is very pretty, but it is also a rock. Even the thinnest slate tiles are going to add a lot of weight to your roof. Your roof may not be able to bear the weight of the slate, so you will have to ask the contractor to take a look at the supports and load-bearing walls of your house to see if they can carry the weight. Make sure that you ask if there is any way to retrofit the house to hold the extra weight. 

Lifetime

Another thing that you should find out about any kind of roofing material that you might want to put on your house is its lifespan. Knowing what the average lifespan is can help you because you can then decide whether the initial financial outlay is going to be worth it when compared to the lifespan of the roof. The longer the lifespan is, the less your roof is going to cost over its life. 

Maintenance

You also want to talk to the contractor about how easy it is to maintain the slate roofing. That means asking how easy it would be to replace any missing tiles or how hard it is to patch any leaks that might pop up. If it is hard to maintain the roof, it may not be the right material for your roof. 

If you want to have a slate roof, make sure that you talk to the contractor to see if it is something that you can easily retrofit onto your house. They will be able to help you make an informed decision about the material. Contact a roofing contractor for more information.