Introducing the World's Finest Roofing Material... ROCK!

Very special rock... Slate is nature's own "high tech" roofing material, formed over millions of years under great pressure, heat and moisture. Though passing eons these geologic forces transformed beds of ancient clay and silt into densely laminated sheets of crystaline mica. In vast formations, miles long and wide, this material would lay for eons more til men finally discovered nature's perfect roofing material!

For strength, durability and beauty few materials have withstood the test of time like Slate. Modern slate rooftops, if well constructed, can easily last 100 years or more. Churches and other structures exist in Europe with 400 year-old slate rooftops.

Slate is also unique in that its application depends entirely upon skilled human hands. After centuries of use it remains the domain of the master craftsman. Each piece must be cut and fitted by hand. The hips, corners, valleys and ridges are custom fabricated for the individual rooftop. Thus each slate rooftop is unique, not unlike a work of art.

SLATE COLORS AND QUARRIES OF ORIGIN:
Available in a variety colors, textures, and patterns, natural slate will not fade, streak, blotch or effervesce.
Black - Pennsylvania, Maryland and Maine
Blue/Black - Pennsylvania
Grey - Vermont, New York
Blue/Grey - Virginia
Purple - Vermont, New York
Mottled Purple and Green - Vermont, New York
Green - Vermont and New York
Red - New York
(note: colors are oftem termed unfading or weathering)

COMMON SLATE TOOLS AND THEIR USES:
Ripper - about 24" long, used for removing slate and the hook (on the end) enables the slater to cut and remove slating nails.
Hammer - one end is a sharp point used for punching slate. The other end is to hammer the nails. There is a claw in the center to pull nails out. On each side of the shank there is a sharp edge for cutting slate.
Stake - The long edge is used to rest slate on and/or cut slate. This is also used as a straight edge for marking slate when fitting around chimneys, hips etc. The short point is tapered to a point so it can be driven into a plank or scaffold. There are also stakes with two points.
Punch - used to punch holes into slates (probably for nails).

Photo: U.S. Nat'l Park Service

SLATE TRIMMINGS:
Unlike clay tiles, slate trim pieces are not pre-formed. Instead they must be hand crafted for each project.
Open Valley - The Slates do not touch - there is a visible section between them (you may see copper or they may use galvanized). There is a wider line running down the valley and the flashing is visible.
Closed Valley - the slates touch and are cut to fit BUT they do not cross over into the pattern - there is a visible line down the valley.
Rounded Valley - the pattern is actually extended in a round form which covers the valley entirely without breaking the pattern. There is no line running down the valley.

ROOFING STYLES IN AMERICA:
Gable - The Gable type roof is a well defined design in which two opposite sides are supported by sloping rafters. The other two sides extend upward with an A shape conforming to the slope of the rafters. Most American houses have gable roofs.
Gambrel - The Gambrel or "barn" style roof is a gable roof with more than one roof angle. (ie, a change in slope partway up) The design maximizes the usable floor space in the attic. These distinctive and functional roofs are sometimes known as "Dutch Colonials". There are also partial gambrels which do not have anything built up on the deck - flat decks!
Mansard - A sort of "French Gable" roof, very distinct with its flattened roofline (vs triangular Gable) A defining feature of the Second Empire style and the French Chateau.
Shed - The Shed Roof is similar to a gable roof, it's advantages being ease of construction, and ability to run off (shed) rain and snow!
Hipped - A low-pitched roof, often with large eaves, also helps rain and snow to run off easily. (Cross Hipped has two parts that cross)
Other Roofs include Saltbox: similar to a gable, but with asymmetrical sides; Pyramidal: a hipped roof that forms a pyramid shape; and Flat: easy to build, impractical in some climates.