Around 590 million years ago, Penrhyn slate was formed. It still exists and remains one of the earth’s most durable and beautiful minerals.
Today, as we have been doing for the past 400 years, Welsh Slate operate one of the largest slate quarries in the world, which continues to produce roofing slate from what are internationally acknowledged as the finest slate deposits in the world.
Unsurprisingly these slates are of the highest possible quality, promising not only unique aesthetic advantages in terms of colour, character and natural beauty, but also a durability and sheer longevity of performance that has been known to survive the rigorous weathering and pollution of more than 400 winters and summers.
General properties
Slate benefits from a number of highly practical properties. It is exceptionally durable, unaffected by normal extremes of temperature and is highly resistant to acids, alkalis and other chemicals it is an ideal roofing material.
In addition, slate is non-combustible, retains its colour, even in UV light and is impermeable to water.
| Water Permeability |
Impermeable |
| Sunlight unfading |
Unaffected by UV light |
| Heat |
Unaffected by normal heating, freezing and thermal cycling |
| Chemical Resistance |
Unaffected by atmospheric pollution, sea air and sea spray |
| Biological Resistance |
Unaffected by vegetable growth, rot or insect attack |
| Compatibility |
Compatible with all building materials |
| Fire Resistance |
Slate is non combustible and does not support combustion. AA fire rating |
| Thermal Expansion |
8.5 – 11x10-6 mm per ºC |
| Thermal Conductivity |
Approx. 2.0 W/mk |
The present day environment at Welsh Slate is one of traditional skills working side by side with the most sophisticated up-to-the-minute quarrying technology to meet the growing demand for Penrhyn slate roofing.
Although the huge quarry blocks are now reduced in size by ultra modern diamond sawing, they are still split by hand using the same time honoured craftsmanship methods that have always made all the difference.
For further information please see www.welshslate.com