After being closed for more than a decade Ffestiniog Quarry is back in full production, due to the huge demand for Welsh slate here in the UK and worldwide, producing the world renowned Blue Grey roofing slate.
image: Welsh slate site for illustration only – Open Government Licence V3.0
… Each grade of slate has a subtly differing character…
Welsh Slate writes:
Ffestiniog produces a beautiful Blue Grey slate with a smooth riven texture.
Located in the heart of Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales, it has been producing slates from 1818 and was formed by the Ordovician slate beds laid down over 470 million years ago.
Ffestiniog Welsh Slate characteristically produces a thin uniformed slate with less texture than Cwt-y-Bugail, our quarry located nearby. Although without the immense capacity of its sister quarry at Penrhyn in Bethesda it is still able to produce large volumes of roofing slate.
Ffestiniog Welsh Slate comes in three thickness grades to suite your projects specific roofing needs.
WHICH GRADE OF FFESTINIOG WELSH SLATE DO YOU NEED?
Ffestiniog 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 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) however, the quality of the stone will allow production of roofing slates in excess of 1 metre in length. Each grade of slate has a subtly differing character, but all have the intrinsic quality that makes Ffestiniog slate much sought after.
If you need help in understanding the precise benefits or which grade of Ffestiniog Welsh Slate roofing will provide your roofing project with the best solution, then please call us – we’ll be happy to explain more.
FFESTINIOG CAPITAL GRADE
Ffestiniog Capital Grade is the thinnest production at Welsh Slate Ffestiniog at 5.5 mm thick.
Only limited parts of our quarries will make this slate. With its smooth 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 London, continental Europe and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
FFESTINIOG COUNTY GRADE
Ffestiniog County Grade is the main production thickness at Welsh Slate Ffestiniog 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.
FFESTINIOG CELTIC GRADE
Ffestiniog Celtic Grade is the thickest of Welsh Slates Ffestiniog 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: There is no doubt that this is a natural slate roof.
