Copper flashing
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper to match the life of the slate.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation North Arlington, NJ
A North Arlington slate roofer can help you choose a slate, plan the layout and install the roof with fasteners and flashing that last as long as the stone. Dial (551) 348-7205 to talk with a local roofer about a new slate roof.
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. Some slates hold their color, called unfading, while weathering slates shift in tone over the first years.
Before ordering slate, the roof framing needs a hard look. 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.
How the slate is hung decides how long it lasts. 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.
Depending on what the roofer finds, slate roof installation in North Arlington, NJ can go hand in hand with slate roof replacement and slate roof repair.
Dealing with this in North Arlington, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-7205 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in North Arlington.
Call nowThe process
How slate roof installation works
Here is how a slate roofer typically installs a new slate roof.
Check the structure
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.
Lay the underlayment
Solid sheathing is checked and covered with underlayment, plus self-adhered membrane at eaves and valleys in cold climates. 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
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.
Flash the details
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper or another long life metal as the slate goes on. Snow guards are often added so snow does not slide off the slate in sheets.
Close the top
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
What slate roof installation includes
Proper headlap
Each course gets the headlap the slope calls for which keeps water out at every joint.
Deck preparation
Sheathing is repaired and dried in with ice barrier at eaves where needed.
Slate selection
The framing is checked for the weight of slate to suit the home and climate.
Snow guards
Ridges and hips are finished in slate or copper to protect people, gutters and plantings below.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing North Arlington, 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.
Choosing natural slate for a North Arlington home means planning for a roof that may outlast everyone who installed it. 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
In North Arlington, new slate is installed both to match older slate roofs and on newer homes built for a long lasting roof. For homes in North Arlington and nearby towns like Kearny, Rutherford, East Rutherford and Secaucus 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.
Need slate roof installation around North Arlington? Call (551) 348-7205 for a North Arlington roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around North Arlington
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, 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. Most homeowners in North Arlington, 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
Roofers in North Arlington 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 FAQ
Do slate roofs need 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 matter most over doorways, walkways, decks and lower roofs. In places with little snow, they are less of a concern.
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. Steel nails rust out and cause slates to slip, the most common failure on older slate roofs. Each slate gets two nails, driven so the slate hangs without being clamped.
How long does it take to install a slate roof?
Slate goes on slowly because every slate is laid and nailed by hand, so most homes take several weeks. Complex rooflines, copper detailing and structural work add time. The roof is dried in early, so the house stays protected during the work.
What is the difference between hard and 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. The right choice depends on how long you want the roof to last and what matches the home.
Can my house support a slate roof?
Natural slate is heavy, often comparable to tile and several times the weight of shingles. Homes built for slate carry it fine, but a house framed for shingles may need an engineer and added framing before switching. Where framing is limited, thinner slate or a lighter synthetic slate may work.
More questions? Call (551) 348-7205
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, planned around the weight and look of the home.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Repairs for natural slate roofs, from a single broken slate to failed copper valleys, using methods and materials that match the original roof.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
A local roofing contractor for repairs, replacements, inspections and new roofs on homes, with a written scope before any work starts.
Learn more
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