Slate roofs are the epitome of refinement and elegance, with an unmistakable look that will last the lifetime of the home it is built upon. Without question, slate roofs are the best type of roof you can install. Depending on the type, properly installed slate roofs have a life expectancy of at least 100 years.

When installing slate, as with tile, it is extremely important in how it is applied and ventilation is critical. Slate should be install on solid plank decking without underlayment in order to allow the slate to breathe. The best method to install slate is with copper nails of copper hooks. All flashing should be either copper or lead because of their durable qualities.

One important issue with slate that some other roofers neglect are the laps, or the amount a piece of slate overlaps another. When the roof pitch changes, the laps must also change accordingly: the steeper the roof pitch, the smaller the lap and vice-versa. However, laps should never be less than three inches.

The length of the lap also affects how many slate are needed to complete the roof. Often however, other roofers will use the same length lap regardless of pitch and, because of the number of slate needed for varying laps, the unknowing customer is left with bids that range widely in price. We urge you to do your research and avoid bids that are significantly (several thousand) lower or higher than the others. Slate roofs that have the wrong size laps will inevitably start to leak over time, and well before the life of the roof has expired.