Slate is an excellent choice for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. It is a naturally sourced roofing material with a very low embodied energy, making it one of the most environmentally friendly roofing options available worldwide. In comparison to other roofing materials, slate has an impressively minimal carbon footprint, accounting for only 16% of the carbon footprint of other materials.

Slate is also incredibly durable and able to withstand harsh conditions such as fire, hail, and strong winds. Its long lifespan reduces the need for frequent roof replacements. Slate is also reusable and recyclable, often finding new life in other roofing projects or artistic endeavors. There are many environmental benefits of slate, including prolonging a roof’s life, non-toxic properties, diverting waste from landfills, and contributing to energy efficiency.

Usually, the answer is yes. In order to warranty an entire new roof, all flashings should be replaced. Some roofers may quote roof replacement without replacing any flashings at all, but this is only appropriate if existing flashings are just a few years old and were installed correctly. 

Otherwise, your brand-new roof may still leak in the old flashing areas. Further, it is less expensive to install new flashings when all old roofing coverings have already been removed for your roof replacement. Slates overlap flashings, so your new slates would have to be removed to replace flashing that leaks in the future. Finally, flashing replacements should NEVER involve installing new metal on top of old metal. Read your quote carefully. A proper flashing replacement includes removal of all old flashings before new flashings are installed. 

Yes, initial estimates are always free of cost and obligation. Our estimators do not work on commission. Their recommendations are for the betterment of your home’s historic roof, not for our bottom line. Olde World Slate estimators are experts, and their work is detail-oriented. If your roof needs service, your estimator will accurately describe the work required and the costs expected with those repairs.

Yes! A few slate color options include black, plum, red, green, and naturally occurring mixed color variations. If you have a slate roof on a historic home, chances are it’s one-of-a-kind.

You should have your historic roof inspected annually to check for cracked, misaligned, broken, or missing slates or tiles. Contact Olde World Slate today to learn more about our inspection process and schedule your free roof inspection.

Slate is a type of rock that is fine-grained and homogeneous. It is made up of clay or volcanic ash that has been metamorphosed in layers. Slate has two lines of breakability, known as cleavage and grain, which make it possible to split the rock into thin sheets. Slate is durable, resistant to weather, eco-friendly, and beautiful. These qualities make it ideal for use as a roofing material.

Slate is mainly composed of quartz and muscovite, a type of mica. It may also contain biotite, chlorite, and hematite, as well as apatite, graphite, kaolin, magnetite, tourmaline, or zircon, although less frequently. Some of the best quality slates in the world come from Spain, Wales in the United Kingdom, the east coast of Newfoundland, the State of Virginia, the “Slate Valley” of Vermont, and New York.