Natural slate
Slate Roofs in Norwalk, CT
Slate slipping, cracked or the flashing giving out after many decades? Call and you are connected with an independent contractor that works on slate roofs around Norwalk.
Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
When a slate roof comes to the end
Good slate can outlast several roofs' worth of shingles. Often what fails first is everything around it: the nails, the copper or tin flashing, the underlayment. A slate specialist can tell you whether the stone has life left and the roof needs re-laying with new fasteners and flashing, or whether the slate itself is worn out.
A full replacement is a big decision. New slate is heavy, slow to install and needs a contractor with real slate experience. Some owners choose synthetic slate or a heavy designer shingle instead, which changes the weight and the look. Ask to see examples of each.
Before you sign
What to ask about slate
Experience
Ask how many slate roofs the contractor has replaced or re-laid, and to see photos of them.
Salvage or new
Sound slate can sometimes be salvaged and re-laid with new fasteners and flashing.
Flashing
Copper flashing is common on slate roofs. Ask what metal and what gauge is proposed.
Structure
Slate is heavy. Switching to it, or to a different kind of slate, can mean checking the framing.
Alternatives
Synthetic slate and designer shingles weigh less. Ask what the change means for the look and the warranty.
Walking on it
Slate breaks under careless feet. Ask how the crew protects the roof during work.
Slate on older Fairfield County homes
Slate shows up on older colonials, Tudors and church-like stone houses around Norwalk and in the towns nearby. Many of those houses also have copper gutters, snow guards and built-in gutters that should be checked at the same time.
If the house is in a local historic district in a nearby town, changing slate to another material is the kind of visible change that can need approval before work starts. Check with the town first.
Questions
Slate Roofs: common questions
Is my slate roof finished if a few pieces slipped?
Not necessarily. Slipped slates are often caused by rusted nails, not bad stone. Ask a slate contractor to judge the stone and the flashing separately.
Can slate go over an old roof?
No. Slate is installed on a clean deck, so the old roof comes off first.
Is synthetic slate allowed?
Outside historic districts, generally yes. Inside one, the commission may need to approve it. Check before signing.
Roof types
Other roof types
- Roof ReplacementOld layers off, deck checked, ice barrier and underlayment down, new roof on, permit closed.
- New RoofsAdditions, dormers and rebuilds: a roof framed, flashed and tied into the old one.
- Asphalt ShinglesThe everyday Connecticut roof: dimensional shingles over a proper ice barrier.
- Cedar RoofsShakes and shingles in natural wood, for shingle-style and older New England homes.
- Standing Seam MetalRaised-seam steel or aluminum panels that shed snow, often on farmhouses and porches.
- Low-Slope RoofsMembrane roofs for rear additions, porches, shed dormers and flat sections.
Planning the work?
Talk to a contractor about slate roofs
One call puts you through to an independent roofing contractor serving Norwalk, Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton. Ask for an inspection and a written price for the new roof.
Replacing your roof? Talk it through with a local roofing contractor.
Your call is connected with an independent roofing contractor that takes on roof replacements and new roofs in Norwalk and nearby towns.
Call (855) 365-0164Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
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