Valley metal
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper as the slate goes on.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation New Milford, NJ
A roofer in New Milford 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. Dial (551) 374-2044 to talk with a local roofer about a new slate roof.
A slate roof starts with picking the stone. Slates are graded by how long they last, with hard slate outlasting soft slate, and they come in a range of natural colors. Some slates hold their color, called unfading, while weathering slates shift in tone over the first years.
Slate is heavy, so the house has to be ready for it. A slate roof weighs several times as much as asphalt shingles, and thicker slates weigh more, so a home switching from shingles often needs an engineer to review the rafters and sometimes add framing. Slate also needs a solid deck and a slope of at least 4 in 12 under typical building codes.
A slate roof is only as long lived as its nails and metal. 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 valleys and flashing are standard on slate, since lesser metals wear out decades before the stone does.
Many slate roof installation calls in New Milford also turn up a need for slate roof replacement or slate roof repair.
Dealing with this in New Milford, NJ right now? Call (551) 374-2044 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a slate roof installation
Every slate is placed and nailed by hand, and the layers below matter as much.
Check the structure
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
Underlayment goes over a solid deck, with ice barrier at the eaves where codes require it. Drip edge and a cant strip at the eaves come next.
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
Course by course, slates are set with offset joints and the right headlap, each hung on two copper or stainless nails. 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.
Cap the ridge
Ridges and hips are finished with a saddle or combed ridge, mitered or Boston hips, or copper ridge caps. A stock of spare slate is left with the owner for later repairs.
What is included
Parts of a slate roof installation
Snow guards
The ridge and hips are capped in a traditional pattern with spare slate left for repairs.
Proper headlap
Slates are nailed loose enough to hang so they lie flat without cracking.
Underlayment
A solid deck is covered with underlayment before the starter course goes on.
Structural review
The framing is checked for the weight of slate to suit the home and climate.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing New Milford, 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 does not burn, it resists rot and insects, and good slate barely changes over generations. Each slate is slightly different in thickness and texture, which gives the roof its handmade look.
Natural slate roofing in New Milford is a long term choice, so it pays to match the slate grade to how long you want the roof to last. 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 New Milford are most often seen on older and historic homes, but new slate still goes onto custom homes and additions. For homes in New Milford and nearby towns like River Edge, Bergenfield, Dumont and Oradell that were framed for shingles, the structural check is what decides whether slate is practical, and good layout and copper details are what let the roof last for generations.
For slate roof installation in New Milford, NJ or nearby towns like River Edge, Bergenfield, Dumont and Oradell, call (551) 374-2044 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around New Milford
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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in New Milford, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across New Milford and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Slate Roof Installation questions
Which is better, hard or soft slate?
The main difference is durability: hard slate lasts longer than soft slate. 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.
Why do slate roofs have 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. Where snow is rare, they may not be needed.
Can my house support a slate roof?
A slate roof weighs far more than shingles, with the exact load depending on the thickness of the slate. Whether a particular house can carry it depends on the framing, so a structural check comes first on any conversion. Where framing is limited, thinner slate or a lighter synthetic slate may work.
How long does it take to install a slate roof?
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. Once the underlayment is down, the house is protected from rain.
Why are copper nails used on slate roofs?
The nails have to last as long as the slate, which is why copper or stainless steel is standard. 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.
More questions? Call (551) 374-2044
Related services
Slate Roof Replacement
Replacing a slate roof that has reached the end of its life, by relaying the sound slate on new nails or installing new natural or synthetic slate, with salvage of good slate wherever possible.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Replacing cracked, slipped and missing slates, renewing worn flashing and fixing the nail and valley problems behind most slate leaks, without damaging the sound slate around the repair.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
Finding the right roofer for the job and knowing what to ask, from the first inspection through cleanup.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet slate roof installation help in New Milford
Call (551) 374-2044 for a local roofer in New Milford and nearby towns.