SLATE ROOF REPAIR & INSTALLATION

Sources of Slate, Slate Specialties, and Experienced Contractors

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Because the majority of today's roofing contractors are experienced only with strip asphalt shingles and roll roofing, they don't want to bother with slate and other historic roofing materials. Faced with a historic slate roof, the typical roofer will solemnly declare: "It can't be fixed." Of course, that's simply not true. In the listings below are both sources of natural slate and contractors experienced in both repairs and new installations of traditional slate.

The issue of cost is sure to arise; slate is definitely more expensive than asphalt shingles. The countervailing viewpoint is that: (1) A slate roof should last at least five times longer than typical asphalt shingles; and (2) Nothing can compare with the look of a natural slate roof. As an acceptable compromise between cost and aesthetics, some designers specify slate substitute materials that replicate much of the appearance of natural slate without the full cost and weight.

The 28 firms compiled by our Editors in the list below fall into five major categories: (1) Newly Quarried Natural Slate; (2) Salvaged Slate; (3) Look-Alike Slate Substitutes; (4) Specialties related to slate roofs; (5) Experienced Slate Roofing Contractors. A number of the sources are experienced in matching existing slates for repairs and additions to historic buildings. There's also a listing for a book that contains many secrets of the slater's trade.

This Supplier List has been extracted from recent issues of TRADITIONAL BUILDING magazine. (The table here has been simplified somewhat to provide speedier down-loading.) Each issue of TRADITIONAL BUILDING contains around 15 such reports covering products and services used in restoration, renovation, and historically inspired new construction. If you would like to subscribe, please visit our subscription page.

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American Slate Company Walnut Creek, CA 800-553-5611; 925-977-4880; Fax: 925-977-4885 http://www.americanslate.com	Manufacturer & supplier of natural-slate roofing: large range of colors; large stock.
Bartile Roofs, Inc. Centerville, UT 800-933-5038; 80; Fax: 801-295-3485	Custom fabricator of color-blended lightweight concrete roof tile: interlocking turret tile; slate-replica tile; wood shingle-replica tile; more than 300 colors & 9 profiles.
Camara Slate, Inc. Fair Haven, VT 802-265-3200; Fax: 802-265-2211	Supplier of new & used natural Vermont roof slate, flooring slate & flagstones.
Castle Metal Products Schaumburg, IL 847-806-4540; Fax: 847-806-4541 http://www.castlemetalproducts.com	Supplier of ridge vents for slate roofs, sheetmetal flashing & trim: built-in & half-round gutters, leaders, boxes & more.
Durable Slate Co. Columbus, OH 800-666-7445; 614-299-7100; Fax: 614-299-7100 http://www.durableslate.com	Distributor & installer of metal & slate roofing in the Midwest & on the East Coast: custom metalwork, standing-seam & flat-lock roofs, copper-lined box & stop gutters, metal fabrication & installation; natural-slate & clay tile.
Echeguren Slate, Inc. San Francisco, CA 800-992-0701; 415-206-9343; Fax: 415-206-9353 http://www.echeguren.com	Importer & distributor of flooring & roofing: slate from the U.S., Spain, China, Brazil, India & Africa.
Evergreen Slate Co. Granville, NY 518-642-2530; Fax: 518-642-9313 http://www.evergreenslate.com	Supplier of natural roofing slate from Vermont: all sizes, colors & thicknesses; experts in replacement slate; matches any roof slate applied; blends or creates contrasts for new installations; graduated roofs; slate cutters & more.
GAF Materials Corp. Wayne, NJ 973-628-3000; 973-628-3452; Fax: 973-628-3865 http://www.gaf.com	Manufacturer of Timberline fiberglass asphalt shingle with wood look: Slateline imitation-slate shingles; Country Estates shingles with natural-stone or slate look.
Greenstone Slate Dorset, VT 802-287-4333; Fax: 802-287-5720 http://www.greenstoneslate.com	Quarrier of Vermont roofing slate & slate tools: wide range of sizes, colors & weights; matches slates for roof restoration, additions & new construction; graduated roofs, blending, contrasting & all effects.
Heather & Little, Ltd. Markham, Ont. Canada 800-450-0659; 905-475-9763; Fax: 905-475-9764 http://www.heatherandlittle.com	Custom fabricator & supplier of sheetmetal roofing & specialty architectural sheetmetal: finials, cornices, lionheads, cresting, canopies, shingles, siding, cupolas, steeples, domes & snowguards; reproductions; custom metal windows.
Hilltop Slate, Inc. Middle Granville, NY 518-642-2270; 518-642-1453; Fax: 518-642-1220 http://www.hilltopslate.com	Quarrier & manufacturer of natural slate from VT, NY & Wales; supplier of roofing, flooring & architectural products; all colors & textures; slate-roofing tools.
Jenkins Publishing Grove City, PA 800-689-3233; 814-786-8209; Fax: 814-786-8209 http://www.jenkinspublishing.com	Publisher of 'The Slate Roof Bible,' a repair & restoration manual: illustrated step-by-step roof installation, repair, flashing, chimney-work, safety & slate-recycling instructions; sources of tools, slate & accessories.
Jenkins Slate Roofing Services Grove City, PA 866-641-7141; 814-786-8209; Fax: 814-786-8209 http://www.jenkinsslate.com	Supplier of slate, tile & asbestos roofing: installation, restoration, repair, inspection & consultation.
Klimer Mfg., Inc. Hornby, Ont. Canada 905-876-4063; Fax: 905-876-3791 http://www.klimer.com	Supplier of mast-climbing work platforms: powered scaffolding for restoration & new construction projects.
Leeland's Slate Roof Repair Ephrata, PA 888-927-5283; 717-733-7663; Fax: 717-721-3511 http://www.leelands.com	Repair & restoration of steeples, bell towers, slate roofs & metal flashings: slate, copper & custom millwork; photographic reports, budget forecast & multi-year programs developed.
Midland Engineering Co. South Bend, IN 219-272-0200; Fax: 219-272-7400 http://www.midlandengineering.com OR www.coppercornice.com	Contractor providing roof & architectural-sheetmetal restoration: fabrication & installation of exterior cornices, slate & tile roofing, domes & steeples; other exterior work on large historical properties.
NIKO Contracting Co. Pittsburgh, PA 412-687-1517; Fax: 412-687-7969 http://www.nikocontracting.com	Nationwide roofing & sheetmetal contractor & fabricator: historic restoration projects; custom architectural sheetmetal fabrication & installation; slate, tile & other historical roofing; cresting, finials, cornices, cupolas, domes & steeples; snowguards; copper, lead-coated copper, zinc, galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass & terne-coated metals.
Penn Big Bed Slate Co. Slatington, PA 610-767-4601; Fax: 610-767-9252 http://www.pennbigbedslate.com	Custom fabricator of flooring & roofing slate: imported slate & colored slate from NY & VT; standard thickness 3/16 to 1/4 in.; 3/8 or 1/2 in. can be made to order; has mined & manufactured slate since 1934.
Renaissance Roofing, Inc. Rockford, IL 800-699-5695; 815-547-1725; Fax: 815-547-1425 http://www.claytileroof.com	Restorer of historic tile & slate roof systems: slate roofing materials; new & salvaged tiles; church work; custom copper work.
Roof Tile and Slate Co. Carrollton, TX 800-446-0220; 972-446-0005; Fax: 972-242-1923 http://www.vermontslate.com	Supplier of clay tile & slate flooring & roofing: pavers & trim; custom blending; historic projects; new & salvage tile; field tiles & trim are palletized & ready to ship.
Sheldon Slate Products Co., Inc. Monson, ME 207-997-3615; Fax: 207-997-2966 http://www.sheldonslate.com	Manufacturer of slate products: roofing, floor tile, flagging, structural applications, signs, plaques, monuments & kitchen counters & sinks; custom cutting; church work; slate flagstone, wall stone & landscape stone.
Slate & Copper Sales Co. Erie, PA 814-455-7430; Fax: 814-455-7823 http://www.slateandcopper.com	Supplier of slate & copper roofing: 16- & 20-oz. copper gutters & accessories; copper standing-seam roofing, ridge cresting, dormers, sheets, nails, rivets & rain chains; new & salvaged slate roofing materials.
Slate International, Inc. Wilmington, DE 301-952-0120; Fax: 301-952-0295 http://www.slateinternational.com	Supplier of roofing slate & slate-covered ridge vents: domestic & imported; all colors; Yale University, the US Naval Academy & The Audubon Society are clients.
Slate/Select, Inc. Garland, TX 972-276-2000; Fax: 972-272-6400 http://www.slateselect.com	Manufacturer of substitute slate roofing: a proprietary cement matrix with reinforcing non-alkaline glass fibers; 40-year pro-rated warranty; custom blending; standard & antiques colors.
Swan Secure Products, Inc. Baltimore, MD 800-966-2801; Fax: 410-360-2288 http://www.swansecure.com	Supplier of corrosion-resistant fasteners: stainless-steel & copper-alloy nails & stainless-steel screws for roofing, wood & composite siding & decking; can be used with wood, plastic, polymer composite & fiber-cement materials.
Taran Bros. Slate Co. Poultney, VT 802-287-9308; Fax: Same as phone	Manufacturer of slate roofing tile, flagstone & structural & landscaping stone: salvaged roofing slate.
The Tile Man Louisburg, NC 919-853-6923; Fax: 919-853-6634 http://www.thetileman.com	Supplier of vintage tile (including trim) to match any existing clay-tile rooftop: clay roofing tile, concrete roofing tile & slate; consultation, free installation advice & identification services.
Virginia Slate Co. Richmond, VA 888-VA-SLATE; 804-282-7929; Fax: 804-285-4442 http://www.virginiaslate.com	Quarrier of natural Virginia slate blue/black S-1 roofing slate: natural slate in wide range of sizes & colors; matches or blends sizes & colors to create contrast; quarry in Buckingham County, VA.

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