Busting the myths about slate roofs on cabins: – A roof you’ll never want to replace
For Per Kjetil, it was a dream come true to finally be able to lay stone on his roof – of his own cabin.
For Per Kjetil, it was a dream come true to finally be able to lay stone on his roof – of his own cabin.
– I’m a bit ’spoilt‘, but there’s something about how the sun plays on the rock and changes it throughout the day which I think is quite beautiful. Some people might think it’s a bit strange to put a slate roof on a small isolated cabin in Tynset, Norway, but for me, it was a dream come true.
So says Per Kjetil Holthe-Berg, and the reason he calls himself ’spoilt‘ is that he is a sales manager for Minera Skifer.
– I’ve worked with slate for decades, but I’m still just as inspired when I drive around in Norway and see the beautiful slate roofs that have been there for generations. So that was the main motivation behind investing in this for my own cabin, he explains.
– A roof laid with Norwegian slate is the icing on the cake of a great home or cottage. Just the fact that a slate roof of Light Oppdal already is 750 million years old when the stonemasons extract it from the mountain, makes me almost religious. And it makes it very easy to understand why a roof of this type of slate will last hundreds of years.
A roof made of local slate is something truly special. The slate flows exceptionally well into the terrain and fits in perfectly – after all it is originating from our surrounding nature. A roof made of Scandinavian slate has a classic elegance and timeless quality. It will never go out of style.
– It’s not at all uncommon that the only thing left behind from dilapidated old buildings built several hundred years back, is the slate roof tiles. This stone is of the same technical quality as when it was first laid and can be used again and again, he says.
You might associate mountain lodges with grass and turf on the roof. However, your children may not. Per Kjetil can see a growing trend for slate on roofs.
– There are a lot of fine turf roofs, but they require a lot of maintenance and become very heavy compared with slate roofs. Moreover, a lot of moisture is stored in turf roofs and there is always a risk of leakage. You don’t get that with slate, he explains.
Even laying a slate roof is relatively easy. At least if you get a little help, which Per Kjetil recommends.
– Laying a slate roof is not your typical DIY job. If you are reasonably practical, it is certainly possible, but I would probably recommend getting professionals to take care of this particular job, he explains.
He hired a company that completed the entire process in just three days.
– They were incredibly fast. Within three days, three roofers had completed a total of 120 sqm. So I thought that was certainly well worth the money, Per Kjetil says.
– Yes, it costs more, but it will last longer. I’ve decided to see this as an investment and over time, the initial outlay soon pays for itself. A slate roof is something you’ll never get rid of, Per Kjetil explains.
In the past, the wood under the stone might rot and collapse. This was because the slate roof was mounted in a way that did not allow the wood to breathe, and wood doesn’t appreciate that. Now, attachment methods have improved. So your roof can last for a very long time.
– If this cabin is ever to be demolished this roof will definitely be moved to another building, he says.
A lot of people are worried about this. Roof slates are thin and the Norwegian mountains are generous with their snow. But this is not something you need to worry about.
– Due to slate’s strength, there is no problem. In other countries, the market is dominated by clay slate. This bears no comparison to the slate we quarry in Norway and Sweden. Nordic slate is far more solid and can withstand the snow masses that accumulate on cabin roofs, he says.
If you’re still a little concerned, you could consider going down a bit in format.
– If your cabin is in a very snow-prone area, you probably shouldn’t use the largest tile size. For smaller tile sizes, there will be a shorter distance between each attachment point, and the roof will withstand more. I haven’t been worried for a second about whether the roof would withstand the weight, he says.
– The short answer here is that it doesn’t require any maintenance. None at all, says Per Kjetil.
He says that in the 12 years his cabin has had a slate roof, he has not replaced a single tile.
– I inspect the roof from ground level on a regular basis, but this is mostly for my own sake. The roof is actually completely maintenance-free!
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