The Repair, Replacement
& Maintenance of Historic
Slate
RoofsJeffrey S.
Levine
»Introduction
»History
of Slate Use
»Character
and Detailing
»Where
Does Slate Come From?
»Deterioration
of Slate and Slate Roofs
»Repairing
Slate Roofs
»The
Replacement of Deteriorated Roofs
»Maintenance
»Conclusion
Conclusion
Slate roofs are a critical design feature of many historic buildings
that cannot be duplicated using substitute materials. Slate roofs can, and
should be, maintained and repaired to effectively extend their serviceable
lives. When replacement is necessary, details contributing to the
appearance of the roof should be retained. High quality slate is still
available from reputable quarries and, while a significant investment, can
be a cost effective solution over the long term.
Further Reading
Copper And Brass Research Association. Copper Flashings. 2nd ed.
New York: Copper And Brass Research Association, 1925.
Dale, T. Nelson, and others. Slate in The United States,
Bulletin 586. Washington, D C.: U S. Department of the Interior, United
States Geological Survey, 1914.
Heim, David. "Roofing With Slate." Fine Homebuilding, No. 20
(April/May 1984): 3843.
Levine, Jeffrey S. "Slate Roofs For Historic Religious Buildings."
Inspired. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Historic Preservation
Corporation, 1987.
____________, "Slate Quarrying and Shingle Manufacture" Fine
Homebuilding No. 71 (Jan. 1992): 6468.
McKee, Harley 1. "Slate Roofing." APT Bulletin, Vol. 2, Nos. 1-2
(1970): 7784.
National Slate Association. Slate Roofs. 1925 Reprint. Fair
Haven, Vermont: Vermont Structural Slate Co., Inc., 1977.
Pierpont, Robert N. "Slate Roofing." APT Bulletin, Vol. 19, No.
2 (1987): 1023.
Sweetser, Sarah M. Preservation Briefs 4: Roofing for Historic
Buildings. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Technical Preservation Services Division, 1975.
Acknowledgements
1) This article was published by the National Park Service and is available online
2) Jeffrey Levine is an independent roof consultant located in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
The author, Jeffrey S. Levine, is an Architectural Conservator with
John Milner Associates, Inc., and gratefully acknowledges the technical
review of this publication by the following: Russel Watsky, Watsky
Associates; Kenton Lerch, The Structural Slate Company; Matt Millen,
Millen Roofing Co.; Alex Echeguren, Echeguren Slate Company; Bill
Markcrow, Vermont Structural Slate Company; and Dick Naslund, Department
of Geological Sciences, State University of New York at Binghamton. In
addition, invaluable comments were provided by Sharon Park, Doug Hicks and
Michael J. Auer, National Park Service; Suzanne Barucco, Martin Jay
Rosenblum, R.A. & Associates; and Fred Walters, John Milner
Associates, Inc.
Sharon C. Park, AIA, Senior Historical Architect, Preservation
Assistance Division, National Park Service, is credited with directing the
development of this publication and with its technical editorship.
Washington, D.C. September, 1992
Home page logo:
Slate roof repair. Photo: Jeffrey S. Levine.
This publication has been prepared pursuant to the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, which directs the Secretary of the
Interior to develop and make available information concerning historic
properties. Technical Preservation Services (TPS), Heritage Preservation
Services Division, National Park Service prepares standards, guidelines,
and other educational materials on responsible historic preservation
treatments to a broad public.
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