3/22/2023 0 Comments Slate shinglesIf you are looking to match an existing roof it’s important to get a variety of samples from manufacturers and understand if they are fading or unfading so the match will last more than a few months. These slates should be expected to change color with exposure though it is not a sign of deteriorating. The fading varieties will change color much like wood weathers to a soft grey. Slate varieties are classified as either “fading” or “unfading” and they mean exactly what you think. The most common are grey, blue-grey, black, various shades of green, deep purple, brick red, and mottled varieties. Slate is available in a variety of colors. There has been a recent resurgence in slate’s popularity thanks in part to historic preservation efforts and education about the the benefits of the material. Combined with a lack of the skilled labor required to install a slate roof compared to other roofing materials slate quickly fell from its peak of popularity to become the specialty item it is today. The slate roofing industry was at its peak between 18 across the country before loosing ground to other less expensive materials like wood and asphalt shingles which could be more easily mass produced and shipped. As the railroads spread so did the proliferation of slate roofs and by the 1870s the US had become a net exporter of slate with over 200 quarries in operation largely in New England and mid-Atlantic states like Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. It was reserved for high end buildings usually in big cities in the 16s, but once slate became available locally the costs came down and it began showing up in more places. Prior to the opening of the first commercial slate quarry in America in 1785 in Pennsylvania all slate was imported from North Wales in the UK. A lot of the information in this post was gleaned from the National Parks Service Preservation Brief 29 The Repair, Replacement and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs which is a very useful publication on the topic. A slate roof may not be in your budget but if you already have one on your house then knowing its benefits and how to care for it so it can last centuries is a big money saver. In this post I’ll give you a little history of slate roofs in America and how to repair and maintain them. Sometimes installed in unique patterns utilizing the multitude of different colored slates available, patterned slate roofs stand out unlike anything else. Not only is it long lasting, but it is very tough and very beautiful. That’s a lifespan you simply won’t find with other roofing materials like asphalt or wood. A slate roof can last 60-200 years with with the right materials and a little maintenance. A slate roof has been a sign of quality and craftsmanship for centuries.
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