BMI Redland has released an on-demand webinar to help specifiers make informed choices when selecting slate roofing, as natural stone and engineered alternatives continue to shape contemporary roof design. Titled Natural Slate and Slate Alternatives: A Specifier’s Guide, the session is presented by Mat Woodyatt, Product Manager at BMI Redland, and is aimed at architects, contractors and others responsible for long-term material decisions.

Natural slate remains one of the UK’s most enduring roofing materials, valued for its geological character, subtle colour variation and proven longevity. But the webinar makes clear that successful specification involves more than choosing a traditional product. Sourcing, standards compliance, workmanship and system design all play a critical role in how a slate roof performs and ages. Woodyatt explores how these factors influence appearance, durability and whole-life cost, positioning slate as a material system rather than a single material choice.

Alongside natural slate, the webinar examines the growing range of slate alternatives, increasingly specified to address issues of availability, cost certainty and sustainability. Rather than framing engineered products as simple substitutes, the session presents them as part of a broader material palette that can deliver a slate aesthetic while responding to contemporary technical and environmental requirements.

Key topics include design suitability, structural implications, fixing and detailing, and compliance with British Standards. Sustainability forms a clear thread, with discussion around responsible sourcing, embodied carbon and how alternative slates can help reduce pressure on finite geological resources. The webinar also introduces BMI Redland’s 10-point checklist, designed to help specifiers align product choice, detailing and installation standards from the outset.

“There’s a growing demand for the traditional slate aesthetic, not only in heritage refurbishment but also across new-build developments,” Woodyatt notes. “This webinar provides practical insight into achieving that look, whether through natural or engineered materials.”

BMI Redland forms part of BMI UK & Ireland, the only roofing systems provider in the region offering both flat and pitched roofing, bringing together the heritage of Redland and Icopal. Backed by around 180 years of industry experience, BMI positions roofing as more than a protective layer, seeing it as an integral part of buildings that can support living spaces, green roofs and renewable energy systems. Through the BMI Academy in Gloucestershire, the company also delivers training to architects and contractors, reinforcing the link between material choice, workmanship and long-term performance.

The webinar is available to watch on demand via BMI Redland’s website.