Valley metal
Open copper valleys and step flashing are installed instead of metals that wear out early.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation Maplewood, NJ
Slate roof installation in Maplewood is about more than the stone: the slate grade, deck, underlayment, nails, headlap and flashing all decide whether the roof lasts a century. Call (973) 858-1830 to reach a local roofer who installs slate.
The first choice on any slate roof is the slate itself. Different slates vary in durability as well as color, from long lived hard slate to softer slate with a shorter service life. Unfading slate keeps its color, and weathering slate mellows to new shades with exposure.
Slate is heavy, so the house has to be ready for it. Because slate is so heavy, rafters or trusses are checked, and reinforced if needed, before a conversion from a lighter roof. Building codes typically require a minimum slope of 4 in 12 for slate, laid over a solid deck.
The fasteners and flashing are what make a slate roof last. Slates are hung on two copper nails each, set just right so the slate is held but not clamped, since a nail driven too hard cracks the slate. Copper flashing at valleys, walls and chimneys is the usual match, because it lasts on the same timescale as the stone.
Many slate roof installation calls in Maplewood also turn up a need for slate roof replacement or slate roof repair.
Need slate roof installation in Maplewood? Call (973) 858-1830 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Maplewood.
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
Framing is checked, the slate is selected by grade, color and size, and the exposure is worked out from the slate length and headlap. The exposure works out to half of what is left once the headlap is taken from the slate length.
Lay the underlayment
The deck is sheathed or repaired, then covered with underlayment, with ice barrier membrane at the eaves and in valleys where the climate calls for it. Edge metal goes on along the eaves and rakes.
Start at the eave
At the eaves, a starter row and a raised cant strip set the first course at the correct pitch. Joints in the first course are offset from the starter below.
Hang the slate
Each course is laid to a chalk line with the vertical joints offset, and every slate is hung on two copper nails driven just enough to hold it. Lower pitches get more headlap, and very steep pitches can use less.
Install copper flashing
Copper step flashing is woven in along walls and dormers, counter flashing is set into chimney mortar joints and valleys are lined with copper. Snow guards help hold snow on the roof, since snow slides off smooth slate in heavy sheets.
Finish the ridge
Hips and ridges are closed with slate laid in a saddle or combed pattern or capped with copper. Spare slates from the same lot are left for future repairs.
What is included
A complete slate roof system
Proper headlap
Each course gets the headlap the slope calls for so the fasteners last as long as the stone.
Underlayment
Underlayment and ice barrier go down with ice barrier at eaves where needed.
Ridge finish
Snow guards keep snow from sliding off in sheets to protect people, gutters and plantings below.
Structural review
An engineer or span check confirms the structure to suit the home and climate.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing Maplewood, NJ
Natural slate is real rock, split by hand into roofing slates, which is why it can last longer than nearly any other roof covering. It will not burn or rot, and quality slate shrugs off weather for a very long time. Each slate is slightly different in thickness and texture, which gives the roof its handmade look.
For a natural slate roof in Maplewood, the grade, thickness and color of the slate shape both the look and the lifespan. Some owners compare natural slate with synthetic slate, which weighs less but lasts far fewer years. Ask the roofer to show real slate samples before ordering so you see the true color and texture.
Local help
Slate Roof Installation Near Me
Slate roofs in Maplewood are most often seen on older and historic homes, but new slate still goes onto custom homes and additions. From Maplewood out to Vauxhall, Union, Springfield and Short Hills, a slate roof goes on slowly and by hand, so planning ahead with the roofer matters, and good layout and copper details are what let the roof last for generations.
Need slate roof installation around Maplewood? Call (973) 858-1830 for a Maplewood roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Maplewood is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Maplewood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about slate roof installation
Do slate roofs need snow guards?
Slate is smooth and steep, which lets snow slide off suddenly, and snow guards prevent that. They are most important above entries, walks and lower roofs. In places with little snow, they are less of a concern.
What nails should be used for slate?
The nails have to last as long as the slate, which is why copper or stainless steel is standard. Steel nails rust out and cause slates to slip, the most common failure on older slate roofs. Two nails hold each slate, set so it hangs loosely and does not crack.
What is the difference between hard and soft slate?
The main difference is durability: hard slate lasts longer than soft slate. Soft slate can still be a good choice and is easier to cut and shape, but it wears sooner. 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. Homes built for slate carry it fine, but a house framed for shingles may need an engineer and added framing before switching. Thinner slate or synthetic slate can be options where the framing falls short.
How long will a slate roof installation take?
Expect a longer schedule than shingles or tile, often several weeks for an average home. Dormers, valleys, turrets and framing upgrades all extend the schedule. The roof is dried in early, so the house stays protected during the work.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1830
Often needed together
Slate Roof Replacement
Full slate roof replacement when the stone, the nails or the flashing have failed across the roof, planned around the weight and look of the home.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Replacing cracked, slipped and missing slates, renewing worn flashing and fixing the nail and valley problems behind most slate leaks, so a roof built to last a century keeps going.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
Finding the right roofer for the job and knowing what to ask, with a written scope before any work starts.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Maplewood roofer about slate roof installation
Call (973) 858-1830 for a local roofer in Maplewood and nearby towns.