Roofing slates are roofing tiles made out of slate. The rock is split into thin sheets which are cut to the required size before shipment. This contrasts to slabs which are milled to produce larger structural components. They are the primary product of the slate industry.
History
The Romans were the first to mine and install standard-sized slate on roofs.
In his writings, Pliny the Elder mentions the existence of slate in Liguria, near Genoa.
Modern production The world's biggest consumer of slate is France, followed by the UK, USA and Germany.
In 2012, Spain produced more than of slate worth about $380 million. This made it the largest slate producer in the world, followed by China and Brazil.
See also
Roofing material List of commercially available roofing materials Slate industry in Wales (has information about different sizes of roofing slates) North Wales Quarrymen's Union Slate industry in Spain
References
External links
Trade association in the United States. Slate Roofing Contractors Association Slate association in France