Penrhyn® Welsh Slate Roofing
Penrhyn® Heather Blue slate, also known as Bangor Blue and Penrhyn® Purple, is produced from a fine-grained slate deposit, laid down over 500 million years ago in the Cambrian period.
Penrhyn® Quarry in the heart of Snowdonia is one of the largest slate quarries in the world, and has been in commercial production for over seven centuries. The properties of the Penrhyn® slate allow it to be split into thin sheets but still retain its strength and unparalleled durability.
Penrhyn® slate comes in three thickness grades to suit your projects specific roofing needs.
Which grade of Penrhyn® Welsh Slate do you need?
Penrhyn® Welsh Slate roofing is available in three thickness grades: Capital, County, and Celtic. The thickness of the three specific grades is to suite the range of different roofing project requirements.
The quality of the stone will allow production of roofing slates in excess of 1 metre in length, but the majority of the production is focused on the core production sizes (500 x 300 mm, 400 x 250 mm and 300 x 200 mm) in three thickness grades; Capital (5.5 mm), County (7 mm), and Celtic (9mm). Each grade of slate has a subtly differing character, but all have the intrinsic quality that makes Penrhyn® Slate the envy of the slate world.
If you are a home owner, developer or specifier requiring advice or wish to purchase, our customer services team are here to help you
Penrhyn® Capital
Capital Grade is the thinnest production of Penrhyn® Welsh Slate at 5.5 mm.
Only limited parts of our quarries will make this slate with its fine-grained riven surface. The thinness of the slate gives a flat uniform finish to the roof and was traditionally the material transported to the more distant markets such as continental Europe and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
Penrhyn® County
County Grade is the main production thickness at Penrhyn® Welsh Slate at 7 mm thick.
The surface texture is similar to the Capital Grade, but the slightly thicker leading edge gives more focus to the slate on the roof. Traditionally sold in the Midlands and North West of England it is now sold widely across the World.
Penrhyn® Celtic
Celtic Grade is the thickest of Penrhyn® Welsh Slates production at 9 mm.
As its name suggests its natural home is on the roofs of buildings facing the prevailing westerly winds in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The more textured surface and thicker leading edge give the slate a more rural appeal but the Celtic Grade slate does find its way into city centres where it can be used to make a statement.
Why Choose Penrhyn® Welsh Slate for your roof?
All Welsh Slate used in roofing is the very best quality, which is why it's guaranteed for 100 years and has a much greater life expectancy. So why choose Penrhyn® Welsh Slate?
Typically, if it comes to a choice between Cwt-y-Bugail and Penrhyn® slate, it boils down to the distinctive aesthetic qualities of the Penrhyn® slates. Their sumptuous heather tones and natural green markings create a beautiful roof which is capable of complimenting ultra modern and heritage architecture alike. The unique colours of Penrhyn® Welsh Slate, with its natural variations, combined with a performance measured in centuries is why it adorns building roofs across the world.
Penrhyn® Welsh Slate Roofing Key Facts
Modern building regulations require quality standards which Penrhyn® Welsh Slate exceeds; gracing the roofs of the world with a performance measured in centuries.
Penrhyn® Welsh Slate...
- holds the independent accreditation British Standard Kitemark and the Belgian ATG approval
- absorbs less than 0.3% of water
- has a high resistance to acid and alkali that helps keep its natural colour even in Ultra Violate light
- it is non-combustible
- it is compatible with all other building materials
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Download our Roofing Brochure for a Comprehensive Guide to Technical Requirements and Standards
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Latest News and Case Studies
Roofing
WELSH SLATE HELPS TO BRING HISTORIC CHURCH BACK FROM THE BRINK
An £8 million project to rescue one of central London’s most significant churches from Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register is now complete, and topped with Welsh Slate.
Roofing
SALVAGE HUNTERS: GEORGIAN HOUSE RESTORATION
The programme includes Drew Pritchard at Penrhyn Quarry to see the process of splitting and dressing slate as he buys Welsh Slate for the renovation of his Georgian House in Bath.
Roofing
WELSH SLATE TOPS THE FOREFRONT OF A BUILDING REVOLUTION
The Red House was a blueprint for York’s building revolution as following the Great Fire of London, the Government of the day issued new building regulations, including a requirement that any new houses fronted onto a pavement must be built of brick and/o
Roofing
DM ROOFING & ROUGHCASTING LTD CELEBRATES TRIPLE WIN AT NFRC AWARDS WITH WELSH SLATE
The University of Glasgow project showcases the pinnacle of roofing expertise and the timeless beauty of Welsh Slate. The Cwt-y-Bugail slate, renowned for its durability and aesthetic appeal, perfectly complements the heritage architecture of the universi
Roofing
THREE IMPRESSIVE PROJECTS UTILISING WELSH SLATE HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS FINALISTS IN THE PITCHED ROOFING AWARDS
Lucent, St Andrew's Church and The Roundhouse are battleing it our in the "Best use of slate for a commercial project"
Roofing
FROM COURSES TO HORSES
One of the key factors in choosing Welsh slates was their high-quality natural appearance. We recognised the importance of maintaining the architectural integrity of the church, and these slates perfectly matched the authentic look of the existing roof.
Roofing
CWT-Y-BUGAIL QUARRY GRANTED EXTENDED LEASE FOR SLATE PRODUCTION
This not only safeguards jobs in the local community but also allows Welsh Slate to meet the ongoing demand for this traditional architectural, hard landscaping and roofing material.
Roofing
WELSH SLATE HELPS ALL SOULS FROM THE END OF AN ERA TO A NEW ONE
The church is an iconic building, occupying a key position on Regent Street, and is highly visible from the surrounding streets, therefore the aesthetic qualities of Welsh Slate were a major consideration.
Roofing
WELSH SLATE HELPS SHED NEW LIGHT AT AT BRIGHTON DOME
Adjoining the famous Royal Pavilion, the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre have been refurbished by award-winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) for a 21st Century audience. The Welsh slates were also used on the roof of the Grade II
Roofing
WELSH SLATE IS THE LUCID CHOICE FOR LUCENT
Prior to its development, the triangular site at Piccadilly Circus was a mixture of 13 buildings of different ages, architectural styles, listings, ownerships and uses.
Roofing
WELSH SLATE EARNS A DEGREE OF LONGEVITY AT KING'S COLLEGE
Careful recording of the existing diminishing course arrangement allowed it to be re-established, with discreet additional ventilation provided at the eaves and ridge to improve airflow across the roof void. In addition, the PV panels were laid on top of
Roofing
WELSH SLATE WINS THE HEARTS OF PARISHIONERS, AND AN AWARD PLACE
Largely rebuilt in the early 14th Century with rubble and stone slate roofs, the church is an important landmark with a distinctive (and rare) arrangement of two separate towers