Residential Slate Roofing

Restoration of a "Quaint Gardener's Cottage"

It isn't often we get to work for those who see beauty in the little things of our trade but this was certainly the case on this project. Our client demonstrating his incredible desire for authenticity and detail requested slate roofing to match the existing 100+ year old slate roofing on the other buildings on his property.

This involved expansion of an existing quaint 'gardener's house' to a magnificent residnece. The other buildings on the property included roofs made from Vermont slate (aged from the wather) of which we were required to mimic. We found healthy salvaged slates to match almost exactly those of the surrounding buildings on this estate. The challenge then was to install this multicolored slate roof pattern in a way which captured the slate artists work of yesterday. We carefully counted and calculated percentages of colors and patterns on the existing roofs before attempting to assemble. All slates were then stocked on the ground in easity identifiable and accessable locations. Construction of this roof included charts and drawings which provided guidance on all size, color, and design rations. Inside all of this aesthetic concern the roof required expansive copper flashing work as well as full integration with the stone work through lead and copper flashings. Image 15 shows the detail the lead flashings required as they intersected with the stone wall [Notes on Image 15: 1) Copper step flashings underneath the lead counter flashings. 2) Reglet cut stone for insertion of lead. 3) Lead wedges used to pinch counterflashings in reglets without penetrating. 4) Lead having 'no memory' allows itself to be dressed down and seal nicely over the irregulatly shaped stone]. Truly this was a one of a kind project for a one of a kind client. Call us if you have any questions or thoughts on this type of work for your application.

Cooper Roofing Corporation - 610.275.7663 (ROOF)