When Is A Slate Roof Not A Slate Roof?

What is the true essence of a slate roof? If I take one thousand slate shingles and nail them to a roof, is that a slate roof, or is there something more? What is the essential nature of a slate roof?  These innate qualities of a slate roof must be present and they suggest they be neither good nor bad, they just "are." I think we would all agree that one characteristic of a slate roof would be craftsmanship. Now, don't stray and pair the words "good" or "bad" with craftsmanship.  There is only craftsmanship or there is not. Craftsmanship is the culmination of all of the skills of the craftsman, woodworker, carpenter, mechanic, artist, carver, etc.

Think of What Will Happen Years After the Roof is on

Aimed at contractors of the early 1910's, these old slate advertisements from couldn't be more telling of things to come. "Think of what will happen years after the roof is on." Could the quarries of Bangor slate have imagined their products of 1916 would still be on roofs in the 21st Century? Believe it or not, there are still a few original Bangor roofs quarried in the teens on roofs today. 

Yet, in an even smaller advertisement promoting the "genuine Peach Bottom roofing slate," we sit in amazement that this product of the earth will survive on roofs far into the 21st Century. Chapman slate roofs continue to prove long lasting on many, many roofs, as well. 

What could be more historical and more eco friendly than a material that far outlasts nearly all other building materials?

Warning! NSFSR (Not safe for slate roofers)

People are totally unaware of what goes on thirty feet above their heads, yet I'm sure a check was written and cashed for the lousy workmanship shown below. For a very simple primer on how to correctly repair a slate roof, click here. 

From time to time, I will be posting content about slate roofing best practices. I have inspected thousands of slate roofs over twenty-three years  and worked on slate while in college. Slate roofing is a craft, and I have seen a lot of great work and craftsmanship and met some good people along the way. But I've also encountered a lot of shoddy workmanship and I hope to explore the good and the bad. Information now abounds about slate roofing. There are many books, articles and a journal or two devoted to the craft and maybe we can highlight a few of those, too.