mineral / Stone / Metamorphic

Slate wall cladding (10mm, 20mm, 30mm)

Natural metamorphic stone cladding offering exceptional durability, low water absorption (<0.4%), and non-combustible fire rating. Available in 10mm, 20mm, and 30mm thicknesses for interior and exterior wall applications across all Australian climate zones.

Atlas code
MIN-STN-MET-005
mineralstonemetamorphicslatecladdingnon-combustiblenatural-stone
Slate wall cladding (10mm, 20mm, 30mm)
At-a-glance signals

Natural metamorphic stone cladding offering exceptional durability, low water absorption (<0.4%), and non-combustible fire rating. Available in 10mm, 20mm, and 30mm thicknesses for interior and exterior wall applications across all Australian climate zones.

Overview
Executive summary

Slate wall cladding is a fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock derived from shale through low-grade regional metamorphism. Characterised by its distinctive slaty cleavage allowing splitting into thin sheets, slate provides superior weatherproofing with water absorption below 0.4% (AS 4456.11). The material offers 100+ year service life with minimal maintenance, natural fire resistance (AS 1530.1 non-combustible), and excellent resistance to UV exposure, salt spray, and freeze-thaw cycles. Available in natural grey, green, purple, and black tones.

Best when…
  • Exceptional durability (100+ year lifespan)
  • Non-combustible (AS 1530.1 compliant)
  • Extremely low water absorption (<0.4%)
  • Natural aesthetic with colour variation
  • Resistant to UV, frost, and chemical degradation
  • Suitable for all Australian climate zones
  • BAL-FZ rated for bushfire zones
  • 100% recyclable natural material
  • Low maintenance requirements
  • Excellent acoustic properties
Top advantages
  1. 01 Exceptional durability (100+ year lifespan)
  2. 02 Non-combustible (AS 1530.1 compliant)
  3. 03 Extremely low water absorption (<0.4%)
  4. 04 Natural aesthetic with colour variation
  5. 05 Resistant to UV, frost, and chemical degradation
Top limitations
  1. 01 High initial material cost ($150-400/m²)
  2. 02 Requires specialist installation
  3. 03 Limited Australian quarries
  4. 04 Heavy weight requires structural consideration
  5. 05 Natural variation in colour and texture
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
2750 kg/m³
Specific gravity
2.75
Porosity
0.5 %
Water absorption
0.3 %
Hardness
3.5
UV resistance
excellent // No degradation under UV
Chemical resistance
excellent // Resistant to acids except HF
pH tolerance
3-11
Surface roughness
0.5 µm
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
12 MPa
Compressive strength
45 MPa
Flexural strength
38 MPa
Shear strength
15 MPa
Poisson's ratio
0.25
Impact resistance
moderate // Brittle material, careful handling required
Creep resistance
excellent // No creep at service temperatures
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
0.06
Carbon footprint
12
Embodied energy
1 MJ/kg
Water footprint
150 L/kg
Recycled content
0 %
Renewable content
0 %
Circular score
8
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
Combustibility class
non-combustible // NCC C2D10(5)
Fire resistance level
non-combustible // AS 1530.1
Flame spread index
0
Smoke dev. index
0
Heat release rate
0
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
150-400 // $/m² - Varies by origin and quality
Material cost (per unit)
250
Lead time
4-12 weeks // Import dependent
Lifecycle cost
400
Annual maintenance
2
Market availability
moderate // Limited Australian suppliers
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
100
Maintenance interval
10
Warranty period
30
Layer D

Where it's used

External wall cladding (rainscreen systems)
Interior feature walls
Facade systems for commercial buildings
Heritage building restoration
Bushfire-prone area cladding (BAL-FZ)
Marine environment applications
Ventilated cavity wall systems
Architectural accent panels
MIN-STN-MET-005 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.