Dr. VĂctor Cárdenes Van den Eynde
Geologist and roofing slate independent consultant
08/03/2021
Today I will discuss something that can either be very funny or very sad, depends on the eye of the beholder. Let me explain some of the facts about fake roofing slates. Nowadays it is possible to find artificial or synthetic “slate” shingles, usually made of asphalt, rubber, plastic…anything but stone. Of course, companies that […]
02/03/2021
From looking at the pictures in this interview, we can all agree that Michael WeiĂź is an artist (@incrediblewhite). This German roofer has specialised in the ornamental side of natural slate. “Even with small decorative elements, you can make every roof, every facade, every chimney into something individual”, he says. In roofing, like in every […]
25/02/2021
A number of pre-existing farm structures have been reconstructed using our HEAVY 3 natural slate in order to house this new Scottish whisky distillery, Ardross. Located in the scenic Averon Valley, the project involved the refurbishment and extension of an old farm, retaining the original 19th-century steading buildings, farmhouse and cottages. Existing stone and slate […]
Dr. VĂctor Cárdenes Van den Eynde
Geologist and roofing slate independent consultant
01/02/2021
The British Isles keep one of the most interesting slate architectural and historical heritage in the world. Since Prehistory, the many cultures that have populated the British Isles have used slates for lots of purposes: walls, hobs, tombs and gravestones, tools, engravings…you name it. The first proper roofing slate shingles were found in the Roman […]
Dr. VĂctor Cárdenes Van den Eynde
Geologist and roofing slate independent consultant
05/01/2021
Most of the roofing slate outcrops in America are located in the Northeastern states of the USA and the Southwestern states of Canada, in other words, along the Apalachians. For me, the most remarkable characteristic of Northern America is variety. Quarries are not as big as in Spain, but the diversity of commercial categories is […]
Dr. VĂctor Cárdenes Van den Eynde
Geologist and roofing slate independent consultant
09/12/2020
Standards are useful, since they can be used to predict the performance of the roofing slate along its lifespan. Nowadays, there are two main roofing slate standards in the world, the European EN12326 (parts 1 and 2) and the North American ASTM C-406. There are other two standards, the Indian IS 6250 and the Chinese […]
04/12/2020
We are so excited to share with you some amazing news: CUPACLAD, our natural slate rainscreen cladding system, has won the 2020 Build it Awards for the best cladding product. We are so happy to receive this recognition, it is a great reward for all the hard work and effort done by all our team. […]
01/12/2020
Here at CUPA PIZARRAS we believe that education is essential for the future of many trades. We invest heavily in encouraging young people to develop their skills and learn a beautiful yet traditional trade with a secure future through a career in roofing. One of the ways we do this is through the partnership we […]