Pennsylvania Slate Roof

By 1876 roofing slate imports had all but dried up and the united states became a net exporter of the commodity.

Pennsylvania slate roof.

125 to 175 years. There are buildings in our area roofed in our local slate which have lasted over 150 years so far all from the pennsylvania big beds that we are named after. Vermont and new york slates. In 1850 at the crystal palace exposition in england it was deemed the best roofing slate in the world.

60 to 90 years. Slate is a fine grained foliated homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low grade regional metamorphism it is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. We excel in providing our valued customers professional slate roofing that will last longer and look better than any other roofing material in pennsylvania and new jersey. Today slate is still in high demand especially in the u s where discriminating buyers and designers specify it for commercial and residential alike.

175 years or more. Slate from different mines has different average slate roof life expectancies with proper installation and regular maintenance. Slate is the material of choice on roofs with architects for it s unsurpassed beauty fire proofing and longevity. Pennsylvania slate roofing the production of roofing slate in pennsylvania dates back to 1734 when welsh settlers discovered the peach bottom slate deposit in york county pa.

Slate production increased dramatically in the years following the civil war as quarries were opened in vermont new york virginia and lehigh and northampton counties pennsylvania. Our company has been making roofing slate since 1934. The slate can be described as dark black with a slight sheen or crystalline texture. 100 to 200 years.

Other factors in roof longevity. Foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering but instead is in planes perpendicular to the direction of metamorphic compression. Pennsylvania or ribbon slates.