Proper headlap
Every slate hangs on two copper or stainless nails which keeps water out at every joint.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation Lyndhurst, NJ
A Lyndhurst 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) 348-2859 to talk with a local roofer about a new slate roof.
The first choice on any slate roof is the slate itself. Hard slate can last well over a century and soft slate somewhat less, and colors range from grays and blacks to greens, purples, reds and mottled blends. Unfading slate keeps its color, and weathering slate mellows to new shades with exposure.
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.
The fasteners and flashing are what make a slate roof last. 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 flashing at valleys, walls and chimneys is the usual match, because it lasts on the same timescale as the stone.
Many slate roof installation calls in Lyndhurst also turn up a need for slate roof replacement or slate roof repair.
Looking for Lyndhurst slate roof installation? Call (551) 348-2859 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Lyndhurst.
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.
Plan the roof
The roofer confirms the framing and deck can carry the slate, helps choose a grade, size and thickness, and lays out the pattern and exposure. The exposure works out to half of what is left once the headlap is taken from the slate length.
Prepare the deck
Solid sheathing is checked and covered with underlayment, plus self-adhered membrane at eaves and valleys in cold climates. Drip edge and a cant strip at the eaves come next.
Lay the starter
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.
Nail the field
The field slate goes on course after course with offset joints, consistent headlap and two nails per slate that are never driven tight. Lower pitches get more headlap, and very steep pitches can use less.
Install copper flashing
Valleys, walls, chimneys and pipes are flashed in copper or another long life metal as the slate goes on. Snow guards help hold snow on the roof, since snow slides off smooth slate in heavy sheets.
Cap the ridge
The ridge is finished in slate or copper, and hips are laid in a traditional pattern. Spare slates from the same lot are left for future repairs.
What is included
Parts of a slate roof installation
Deck preparation
A solid deck is covered with underlayment before the starter course goes on.
Valley metal
Open copper valleys and step flashing are installed to match the life of the slate.
Ridge finish
Snow guards keep snow from sliding off in sheets to protect people, gutters and plantings below.
Slate selection
Slate is chosen by grade, size, thickness and color and reinforcement is planned if needed.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing Lyndhurst, NJ
Natural slate roofing uses stone that has been quarried and split into slates, with no coatings or binders to wear off. 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 Lyndhurst is a long term choice, so it pays to match the slate grade to how long you want the roof to last. Synthetic slate is lighter and easier to install, but it does not carry the same lifespan as quality natural stone. 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 Lyndhurst are most often seen on older and historic homes, but new slate still goes onto custom homes and additions. For homes in Lyndhurst and nearby towns like Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington that were framed for shingles, the structural check is what decides whether slate is practical, while snow and storms make fastening and snow guards part of the design.
Need slate roof installation around Lyndhurst? Call (551) 348-2859 for a Lyndhurst roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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 Lyndhurst, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Lyndhurst know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about slate roof installation
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. Dormers, valleys, turrets and framing upgrades all extend the schedule. Once the underlayment is down, the house is protected from rain.
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. Thinner slate or synthetic slate can be options where the framing falls short.
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. Steel nails rust out and cause slates to slip, the most common failure on older slate roofs. Two nails hold each slate, set so it hangs loosely and does not crack.
What is the difference between hard and soft slate?
Slates vary by quarry, and hard slates outlast soft ones. Soft slate can still be a good choice and is easier to cut and shape, but it wears sooner. The right choice depends on how long you want the roof to last and what matches the home.
Why do slate roofs have snow guards?
Smooth slate sheds snow all at once, so snow guards hold it in place to melt gradually. They are most important above entries, walks and lower roofs. In places with little snow, they are less of a concern.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2859
Often needed together
Slate Roof Replacement
Full slate roof replacement when the stone, the nails or the flashing have failed across the roof, planned around the weight and look of the home.
Learn moreSlate Roof Repair
Slate roof repairs done with a slate ripper, copper hooks and matching slate rather than tar, using methods and materials that match the original roof.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
Residential roofing work from a single leak to a full tear-off, with a written scope before any work starts.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Lyndhurst roofer about slate roof installation
Call (551) 348-2859 to talk to a roofer serving Lyndhurst, NJ.