There’s an awful lot of jargon flying about when it comes to roofing, so you could be easily excused for frequent spells of confusion. Sadly, there’s no Oxford Roofing Dictionary to go with the OED, but we would be happy to clarify two particular pieces of jargon right here…
You’ve probably seen or heard the words “pitched” or “slate” quite often in descriptions of roofs. Strictly speaking, the terms aren’t opposites – but here’s a rundown of what they actually mean…
Here’s the pitch: it’s on your roof
Practically any well-built roof will be a pitched one, too – as the pitch would be necessary for allowing rainwater to run off the building structure and into the gutters. Without this pitch, water could pool on the roof’s surface and ultimately penetrate the structure.
As pointed out by RCI, even so-called “flat roofs” are pitched, if only slightly. However, different roofs can vary in their pitches, depending on the material used for the roof covering or when exactly the roof was originally built.
As acknowledged by one of our suppliers, Marley, the BS 5534 code of practice traditionally recommended that roofs were pitched at a minimum of 20°. However, relatively recently, tiles and slates have been developed allowing roofs to be pitched as low as 15°.
What’s the lowest roof pitch you should consider?
Over time, demand has increased for low-pitch solutions. One cause of this has been the rising popularity of ground-floor extensions, spurred by the relaxation of planning laws. To accommodate existing obstructions like second-floor windows, extensions the level below often must be low-pitched.
You might feel a little anxious now, out of uncertainty over what the minimum pitch should be for the particular roof you might be thinking about having fitted. However, it takes just a quick Google of “recommended roofers near me” and a phone call to receive advice from an expert.
When you phone our North East roofers on 0191 497 8980, for example, we can specify the minimum pitch for the particular type of roof you are considering. For your roof, you could be drawn to tiles, or perhaps slates… but what exactly are slates? Allow us to elaborate for you…
Slate: a very popular roofing material, both traditionally and now
Slate has been present on our roofs for centuries, so it’s obviously a thoroughly tried-and-tested material. Its natural appearance has also won it many fans, even in the here and now, with alternative materials like clay and concrete also available for roofs.
Aesthetically, slate is especially well-suited to traditional properties, and its extreme durability means it can stay the course for up to 150 years. Fixmyroof observes that slates are reused more than any other roofing covering; it’s not unusual for about 70% of slates on an existing roof to remain in a reusable condition, meaning a slate roof can often be readjusted without needing to be replaced.
So, a roof can be both pitched and slate – and we can install or fix that roof for you.
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