roofing
Natural slate
Quarried slate roofing tiles. The longest-lasting residential roof material — can exceed 150 years on a properly framed roof.
Cost tier
LUXURY
Cost / sqft
$18–$35
Install
specialty
Durability
premium
Maintenance
low
Moisture
excellent
Cost notes
Highest material + structural cost. Worth it on heritage and high-end work.
Aesthetic
- Finish: natural cleft
- Color range: gray, black, purple, green, blended
- Pattern: graduated, uniform, random width
- Visual weight: heavy
Climate suitability
✓ Hot-humid
✓ Hot-dry
✓ Mixed-humid
✓ Mixed-dry
✓ Cold
✓ Arctic
Code notes
IRC R905.6 governs natural slate. Heaviest residential roof option (10-15 psf); structural verification required.
Source
Architectural Graphic Standards — Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper) — Materials chapter
Tags: slate, premium, historic, long-lasting