Underlayment
Underlayment and ice barrier go down lapped to shed water to the eaves.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Installation Short Hills, NJ
A Short Hills 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. One call to (862) 424-5211 reaches a nearby slate installer.
The first choice on any slate roof is the slate itself. Slates are graded by how long they last, with hard slate outlasting soft slate, and they come in a range of natural colors. 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. Natural slate is among the heaviest roof coverings, so framing built for shingles may need reinforcement before slate goes on. Building codes typically require a minimum slope of 4 in 12 for slate, laid over a solid deck.
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 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 Short Hills, NJ can go hand in hand with slate roof replacement and slate roof repair.
Dealing with this in Short Hills, NJ right now? Call (862) 424-5211 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a slate roof installation
Here is how a slate roofer typically installs a new slate roof.
Plan the roof
The job begins with the structure, the choice of slate and a layout that sets the exposure for every course. Exposure is the slate length minus the headlap, divided by two.
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
A starter course goes on at the eave over a cant strip, so the first exposed course lies at the same angle as the rest. The first exposed course goes directly over the starter, with its joints offset.
Nail the field
Each course is laid to a chalk line with the vertical joints offset, and every slate is hung on two copper nails driven just enough to hold it. 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
The ridge is finished in slate or copper, and hips are laid in a traditional pattern. A stock of spare slate is left with the owner for later repairs.
What is included
Parts of a slate roof installation
Proper headlap
Slates are nailed loose enough to hang so the fasteners last as long as the stone.
Copper flashing
Open copper valleys and step flashing are installed to match the life of the slate.
Slate selection
The framing is checked for the weight of slate before any stone is ordered.
Snow guards
Snow guards keep snow from sliding off in sheets to close the top of the roof.
Related service
Natural Slate Roofing Short Hills, NJ
Natural slate roofing uses stone that has been quarried and split into slates, with no coatings or binders to wear off. 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.
For a natural slate roof in Short Hills, the grade, thickness and color of the slate shape both the look and the lifespan. 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
Slate roofs in Short Hills are most often seen on older and historic homes, but new slate still goes onto custom homes and additions. For homes in Short Hills and nearby towns like Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham that were framed for shingles, the structural check is what decides whether slate is practical, and snow guards and copper flashing are worth planning for from the start.
Searching for slate roof installation near me from Short Hills or Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham? Call (862) 424-5211 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
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. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Short Hills, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Short Hills
Roofers in Short Hills know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Slate Roof Installation questions
How long will a slate roof installation take?
A slate roof takes considerably longer than a shingle roof, commonly several weeks. Complex rooflines, copper detailing and structural work add time. Once the underlayment is down, the house is protected from rain.
Which is better, hard or soft slate?
Hard slate is denser and can last well over a century, while soft slate gives a shorter, though still long, service life. 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.
Why do slate roofs have 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 are most important above entries, walks and lower roofs. Where snow is rare, they may not be needed.
How heavy is 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.
What nails should be used for slate?
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. Each slate gets two nails, driven so the slate hangs without being clamped.
More questions? Call (862) 424-5211
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, with salvage of good slate wherever possible.
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
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoofing Contractor
A local roofing contractor for repairs, replacements, inspections and new roofs on homes, from the first inspection through cleanup.
Learn more
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