Ridge finish
Snow guards keep snow from sliding off in sheets with spare slate left for repairs.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation Newton, NJ
A roofer in Newton can install a natural slate roof, from checking that the framing can carry the stone to hanging each slate on copper nails with the right headlap and finishing the valleys and ridges in copper. One call to (973) 858-9950 reaches a nearby slate installer.
A slate roof starts with picking the stone. Different slates vary in durability as well as color, from long lived hard slate to softer slate with a shorter service life. Color stability matters too: unfading slate stays the same, while weathering slate changes tone over time.
Before ordering slate, the roof framing needs a hard look. Because slate is so heavy, rafters or trusses are checked, and reinforced if needed, before a conversion from a lighter roof. Codes generally call for slate only on slopes of 4 in 12 or steeper, over solid sheathing.
How the slate is hung decides how long it lasts. Each slate is fastened with two copper or stainless nails driven so the slate hangs on them rather than being pinned tight, which lets the stone sit flat without cracking. Copper flashing at valleys, walls and chimneys is the usual match, because it lasts on the same timescale as the stone.
Slate Roof Installation is often paired with slate roof replacement and slate roof repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Newton, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-9950 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a slate roof installation
A slate roof is built slowly and by hand, one course at a time.
Plan the roof
The job begins with the structure, the choice of slate and a layout that sets the exposure for every course. The exposure works out to half of what is left once the headlap is taken from the slate length.
Dry in the roof
Solid sheathing is checked and covered with underlayment, plus self-adhered membrane at eaves and valleys in cold climates. Drip edge and a cant strip at the eaves come next.
Lay the starter
The roofer lays a starter course over a cant strip so the bottom row sits flat and sheds water like the rest. The first exposed course goes directly over the starter, with its joints offset.
Hang the slate
The field slate goes on course after course with offset joints, consistent headlap and two nails per slate that are never driven tight. Headlap is set by slope, with more on lower pitches and less on very steep ones.
Flash the roof
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper or another long life metal as the slate goes on. Snow guards help hold snow on the roof, since snow slides off smooth slate in heavy sheets.
Close the top
Ridges and hips are finished with a saddle or combed ridge, mitered or Boston hips, or copper ridge caps. Spare slates from the same lot are left for future repairs.
What is included
Parts of a slate roof installation
Copper fasteners
Every slate hangs on two copper or stainless nails which keeps water out at every joint.
Slate selection
Slate is chosen by grade, size, thickness and color to suit the home and climate.
Underlayment
Sheathing is repaired and dried in before the starter course goes on.
Valley metal
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper instead of metals that wear out early.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing Newton, NJ
Natural slate roofing is quarried stone split into thin sheets, and its long life comes from the stone itself, not from coatings or additives. It is fireproof, does not rot and holds up to weather for generations when it is properly hung. Natural variation in texture and edge gives every slate roof a distinct look.
For a natural slate roof in Newton, the grade, thickness and color of the slate shape both the look and the lifespan. Synthetic slate is lighter and easier to install, but it does not carry the same lifespan as quality natural stone. Seeing actual slate samples, not just a brochure, helps you pick the right color and texture.
Local help
Slate Roof Installation Near Me
Around Newton, slate installations range from additions matched to an original slate roof to full new slate roofs on custom homes. From Newton out to Andover, Hopatcong, Allamuchy and Franklin, a slate roof goes on slowly and by hand, so planning ahead with the roofer matters, and snow guards and copper flashing are worth planning for from the start.
Searching for slate roof installation near me from Newton or Andover, Hopatcong, Allamuchy and Franklin? Call (973) 858-9950 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Newton, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Newton
Roofers in Newton know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Slate Roof Installation questions
Why do slate roofs have snow guards?
Snow guards are common on slate because snow slides off smooth stone in heavy sheets that can damage gutters and hurt people below. They are most important above entries, walks and lower roofs. Where snow is rare, they may not be needed.
Why are copper nails used on slate roofs?
Slate can outlast ordinary nails by many decades, so copper or stainless nails are used to match the life of the stone. Rusted steel nails are the reason so many older slate roofs have slipped slates. Two nails hold each slate, set so it hangs loosely and does not crack.
How long will a slate roof installation take?
Slate goes on slowly because every slate is laid and nailed by hand, so most homes take several weeks. Dormers, valleys, turrets and framing upgrades all extend the schedule. Once the underlayment is down, the house is protected from rain.
What is the difference between hard and soft slate?
Hard slate is denser and can last well over a century, while soft slate gives a shorter, though still long, service life. Soft slate is easier to work, though it is not meant to last as long. Pick based on the lifespan you want and the look of the house.
Can my house support a slate roof?
Slate is among the heaviest roof coverings, several times the weight of asphalt shingles, and thicker slate weighs more. Whether a particular house can carry it depends on the framing, so a structural check comes first on any conversion. Thinner slate or synthetic slate can be options where the framing falls short.
More questions? Call (973) 858-9950
Related services
Slate Roof Replacement
Slate roof replacement that strips the roof, sorts reusable slate and rebuilds the deck, underlayment and copper flashing, so the new roof lasts as long as the old one did.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Repairs for natural slate roofs, from a single broken slate to failed copper valleys, so a roof built to last a century keeps going.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
Residential roofing work from a single leak to a full tear-off, from the first inspection through cleanup.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (973) 858-9950 to talk to a roofer serving Newton, NJ.