The History of Slate Roofing: Providence Commercial Roofing

The first-ever recorded slate roof installed on a private home was around 1300 in North Wales, England. The reason why this is notable is that previously the material was thought to be too expensive for use on a home. Before this discovery, it had only been installed on castles and military structures. However, in the 1800s, a quarrying process was invented by the Spanish that allowed for the production of slate materials for use in residential applications. The Spanish influence on roofing slates and tiles remains today, as studies show nearly 90 percent of all slate roofing in Europe originates from Spain.

Slate roofing first appeared in America in the 1600s. However, the first quarry opened around 1785. Once the quarry began work, slate roofing became available to homeowners. Mass production of slate materials did not begin until the late 1800s. In New England, Vermont is still a major producer of slate in this country, providing high-quality stone since 1850. It is important to understand that the slate found in Vermont and New York is special in its composition and comes in a rare range of colors, including greens, purples, reds, grays, and blacks. It is the only place in the world that produces such a broad selection of color options.

What is Slate Roofing?

Slate is a very fine-grained rock that comes from shale sediment. It is composed mostly of clay or volcanic ash. While it is quite tough, which explains its popularity as a roofing material, it can also be broken into thin, yet durable sheets of material and used as slate roofing in Providence and the surrounding area. Professional roofing services are the best choice for installation, maintenance, and repair of roofing materials like these, as it requires a lot of knowledge and experience to get the job done right. While not as popular as cheaper materials, especially for commercial properties, there is still a market for roofing slates and tiles in the New England area.

Slate roofing is one of the most durable and beautiful roofing materials. Used for centuries on some of the greatest, most well-known buildings in the world. Some slate roofs have lasted for hundreds of years, standing up to the test of time and nature. However, compared to other materials, slate roofing in Providence is quite expensive and heavy, which makes them impractical for many commercial property owners. If you are interested in slate roofing, speak with our professional roofing services team to get a FREE estimate for installation. We can also answer any questions that you might have about maintenance and repair for roofing, including replacement of roofing slates and tiles.

Why Choose Slate Roofing?

Slate is a natural product. The shingles are quarried from New England mines, providing long-lasting, durable roofing that can easily last 100 years or more. Slate shingles are hung in rows using nails that are attached to an underlying framework. The shingles are designed to overlap each other to hide the nails and allow rain to flow over the shingles. This method of installation has worked for centuries, and it is the way it is still in use today. It can be difficult to find professional roofing services that work with slate roofing in Providence and the surrounding area. In fact, it can even be difficult to get maintenance and repair for roofing made from this beautiful material.

A&M Sheet Metal & Roofing has experience in the installation, ongoing care, maintenance and repair of slate roofing. We can provide you with annual inspections to check for any damage that could have occurred during the winter months so you can make repairs before bad weather hits. We can also assist with the repair of broken or slipped slates. This will happen over time, more so if you have large trees near your home or if you have gone through a very strong storm. Individual slates are easily repaired and small chips on slates can be inspected to ensure that they won’t cause a leak. It is important to watch for any missing or broken slates to prevent further damage from occurring.

Contact A&M Sheet Metal & Roofing direct by calling 401.654.4128 to speak with one of our roofing material experts. We can set up an appointment for a FREE estimate or go over all of the options for residential, commercial, and industrial roofing systems in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.