Natural quarried slate is an amazing, traditional roof choice. As the saying goes, “They don’t make it like they used to” – traditional roofing methods like slate and copper, while skilled and not cheap, promise a rock-solid performance! S1 Grade Slate lasts 75-150 years, with manufacturers’ warranties to back it. Expect to pay around $2,000/square for a solid 2×6 deck (can’t use plywood/OSB!) and quarried slate roof.
Historic buildings prove that quarried slate can last a really long time. Whether you go with a plain-Jane 14″x24″ solid color roof, or a random-width, staggered-butt, multi-color piece of art, your roof is going to impress and protect for a century or two! The image below shows a deep-bevel slate roof with the SRCA logo pattern done in hand-cut slate with a copper overlay.
Professional contractors know to avoid cheap, low-quality slates such as often are obtained from China or other foreign markets. The slate in the image below has deteriorated after just 15-some years of life! Real slate feels amazing in your hand, and even “rings” when tapped with a hammer (rather than making a thud or a buzzing noise). Caldwell’s Roofing only uses grade S1 slates from quarries of proven-record such as Canada’s North Country Slate, New York’s North American Slate, Vermont’s Greenstone Slate, Camera Slate, or the Vermont Slate Company, guaranteed to last 75+ years.
Caldwell’s Roofing recently attended the 2018 SRCA’s slate roofing expo to learn from top industry experts on proper installation of slate. Owner Brad Caldwell helped install the North Country Slate Unfading Black 8″x14″ tiles on the mock-up below, maintaining a 3″ headlap.
Here are some great “be natural” slate videos: