| Author |
Message |
    
dan
Citizen
Username: Dml
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:18 pm: | 
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I'm a new owner of a slate roofed house. I'm looking for recommendations for slate roofers? Also, can anyone offer suggestions of things to look out for and be aware of when talking to the contractors?
Thanks!
dml |
Darren Say Grrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 506
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 4:30 pm: |
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Glenn Roofing. Best slate guy in the area.
973-372-1200 |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1070
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 5:32 pm: |
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Pennsylvania slate (the gray kind) is not as durable as Vermont slate (the multicolored kind). We have Pennsylvania slate and it's about 80 years old. Starting to flake, chip and we usually have to have about 8-10 slates replaced each year. Acid rain causes problems for slate. Also, we had to have the flashings repaired a while ago.
I call Al de Castro (it's a Maplewood phone number) and he comes over and fixes things. He used to work on the slate roofs of most of our public schools back in the 1980s and 1990s. |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 358
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 9:08 pm: |
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I have Vermont slate, just had Lowe Roofing do some maintenance and repairs.
They came and looked when they said they would, and did the work shortly after I sent their deposit.
They were recommended here on MOL, and I'm very satisfied with their work.
http://www.loweroofing.com/contact.html |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 1272
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 9:13 am: |
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Has anyone heard of or used this product?
They look like slate, but are made of a composite material...
http://www.tamko.com/ProductDisplayTest/tabid/53/ControlType/productDisplay/item id/940/Default.aspx |
maddie sumera
Citizen
Username: Maddogsu06
Post Number: 1
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 8:50 pm: |
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I just had a family member replace their slate roof w/ that composite material and it looks amazing. It looks very close to slate and looks nice and neat. Real slate does look fabulous but the amt of maintenance it requires over time may not make it worth it in the very long run. Plus it's very, very costly. It cost about $11k to get the roof down using composite material. This is for a small ranch house. |
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 152
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 8:57 am: |
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How do you know you need a slate replaced? |
Darren Say Grrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 507
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:45 am: |
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Joking aside, it slides off your home.
The main reasons why slate roofs fail is because of the fasteners that hold it to your home eventually break down, corrode, etc., and the slate will slide out of place. With the advent of modern stainless steel fasteners newer slate roofs should get you 100+ years. My thoughts.
Maplewoody,
My father has the fake slate on his home and it does look good. I don't know if this will be the case ten years from now. The fake slate products take a beating all day long from the sun. My thoughts are that the sun is going to bleach the product, no matter how many UV inhibitors they put into the composite material. Depending upon what color you choose it may look different a number of years down the road. Otherwise, I've seen the product firsthand and its impressive. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1075
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 12:48 pm: |
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Slates do fall out, but can also flake and chip over time and from the weather.
If anyone is walking on your roof for any other repairs, it is possible for them to damage slates as well.I had some damaged years ago by a gutter-cleaner who crawled over a portion of the roof to get to some debris wedged in the valley coming down the side of the house. His weight broke a few slates.
Sometimes, after a winter snowstorm, you may find some loosened slates that have broken or slid off in the garden around your house. It's a good idea to take a really good look at your slate roof with a pair of binoculars from time to time to see what's happening up there. |
Nam10
Citizen
Username: Nam10
Post Number: 14
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 5:47 pm: |
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If the slate starts to fall off does that mean it's time to replace or can you just repair it and it will last for another 100 years? Is a roof maintanance contract a good idea for a slate roof or is it just better to call when you need repairs? |
daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 830
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 8:02 pm: |
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"If the slate starts to fall off does that mean it's time to replace or can you just repair it and it will last for another 100 years?"
Most of the slate roofs in Jersey are either Pennsylvania or Vermont slate. Occasionally you'll get a mix of both. Pennsylvania slate is a softer slate and not as enduring as Vermont, which is considered a "lifetime" product in most instances. Pennsy slate (blue / black in color)usually have a diagonal ribbon running thru the slate and they tend to fracture at this point and fall out as they age. Being soft, they absorb water and flake and they are also prone to UV damage.
Without knowing what type of slate you have and its condition, it would be hard to estimate its remaining life. You really need to develop a relationship with a slate contractor and set up a maintenance / inspection schedule to avoid major problems. |
extuscan
Citizen
Username: Extuscan
Post Number: 679
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 9:38 pm: |
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If you have a slate roof like CHS does, where the slates are cut into regular shingle shapes, you are looking at a far cheaper proposition to repair than some complicated (varigated?) roofs. On Burgdorff Realtors in Maplewood center the slates vary in thickness from 1/3" to an inch thick and are in very irregular shapes. Take a look at the side building between the cultural center and the realty office. The roof is very close to the ground and would give you a good idea of what I'm talking about. I can't imagine having to redo that! The church building itself has more regular slates like the school buildings. The new 1990's additions on Tuscan school have what appear to be slate roofs... including missing slates!... does anyone know if that was real or composite? Looks real to me.
-John |
Carol Greeley
Citizen
Username: Chinzo
Post Number: 48
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 9:42 pm: |
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Lowe Roofing!!! |
J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 17
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 11:09 am: |
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Quite pleased to recommend A. Maarten Roofing for installations, maintenance & repairs - 973 467 4502
As for synthetic slates, the pics show one roof plane that I replaced myself. Should be obvious which surface, however, I'd be VERY hard-pressed to say that the color match to the real slates disappoints. Product is by Ecostar.
[ www.ecostarinc.com ]
Easy to install, 50 yr warranty (following mfgrs installation requirements), lighter than real slate...... what's not to like? |
dan
Citizen
Username: Dml
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 12:23 pm: |
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thanks for all the info! |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 1088
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 1:19 pm: |
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My children were at Tuscan when the addition was put on. I asked at that time if the new roof was done with real slate or composition and I was told they were composition because real slate would have been much too expensive to install. |
Nam10
Citizen
Username: Nam10
Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 4:01 pm: |
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Her are some pictures of our roof. What do you think? Good, bad, or ok?
  |
daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 838
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 4:37 pm: |
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Your snow guards are spaced too closely in the first pic, but the roof looks OK. It's a Vermont slate. In pic 2, there is a missing slate high on the rake and a broken slate in the third course. It looks like a mix of fading and unfading green. Your gutter is definitely out of whack in #2. |
Nam10
Citizen
Username: Nam10
Post Number: 16
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 5:00 pm: |
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Daylaborer,
Thanks for your help. I saw on an older post you had recommended a couple of slate roofers. Who would be your top 3 to call first to get a couple of estimates?
Thanks.
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daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 850
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 5:54 pm: |
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Glenn, Stiefel, Fania. |
Nam10
Citizen
Username: Nam10
Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - 3:08 pm: |
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Thanks again. Do you have the number to Stiefel and Fania? |
daylaborer
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 852
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 - 7:00 pm: |
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