Slate Roof Colors - A Photo Library of Slate Roofs

Photo catalog of roofing slate colors & slate types - pictures of roof slate color choices: varied, green, red, ribbons, gray, black roofing slate
Photos of rust-stained roofing slates
Photos of green algae-stained roof slates
Photo Guide to Slate Roof Inspection
How does roof slate color or pattern affect anticipated roofing slate life?
Roof slate colors and patterns can often identify the source or even source quarry of roofing slates
Questions & Answers about roof slate colors & patterns
References

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Photo guide to roofing slate colors and slate types. This slate roofing photo library shows various kinds of roofing slate, slate roof colors, slate roof patterns, and roofing slate defects. This photographic dictionary of roofing slates is a supplement to our detailed article (links at Related Topics ) describing procedures for evaluating the condition of slate roofing. How to inspect, identify defects, and estimate remaining life of slate roofs are addressed. Other roof slate colors, patterns, and stains are discussed at MINERAL INCUSION and at STAINING SLATE. The main article reviews types of slate, common defects, inspection topics, and some repair tips. Also see How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs for a detailed article about evaluating the condition of slate roofing and repairing worn or damaged slate roofs.

Photo Guide to Colors of Roofing Slates

An online photo dictionary of roofing slate colors, types, and conditions

This article assists home inspectors, building buyers or building owners, and roofing contractors in evaluating the condition of slate roofs by providing photos of various slate materials, patterns, defects, and conditions.

Readers should also see How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs for a detailed "how to" article on inspecting, evaluating, and repairing slate roofs.

Colors: Varied slate colors, in good condition but with a suspect valley - note the roof mastic in the valley and the missing slate

Green Roofing Slate Photos

Green Slate roof that is probably ok but, in our photo at left, but look for failing fasteners - note the slates slipping down? Our second "green slate roof" photo (below right) demonstrates that algae growth on roofing slates can leave a green coating. This home was observed on Brookside in Mt. Kisco, NY.

Photos of green roofing slate, probably from Vermont

Red Roofing Slates in Good Condition, Photographs

Red slate roof, perhaps from the Granville NY quarry are shown at below-left. We don't know how long this superb material will last as we've never found one that was worn out on a roof in the U.S. but a rated life may be 300 years. Our second red roof slate photo (below right) illustrates a mix of red slates from the Granville NY quarry and ribbon slates on a home on Clinton St. in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Photos of red slate roofing material in good condition

Rusty Red Roof Slates

Below we show red-looking slates on a home in Poughkeepsie, NY. Rust-stains on roof slates may turn some slates red below rusting steel flashings. Our second rust-stained roof slate photo (below-right,Putney VT) is quite clearly showing rust staining on roof slates from a rusting ridge cap. But other roofing slates are naturally rust colored as we show below at Rust-colored Slates from China

Ribbon Slates, Photos, Patterns, & What is the Life Expectancy of Ribbon Slate on Roofs?

Ribbon Slate is roofing slate with linear colors running in stripes through the slate material. Often the "ribbons" are diagonal depending on how the slate was quarried.

References about slate roof durability, at least among home inspectors and some slate books, claim that ribbon slates were inferior and likely to have a shorter life due to their mineral inclusions. However in New York one of the authors (DF) has observed ribbon slate roofs which appeared to be in good condition after 80-90 years. The inspector needs to examine the specific roof to determine if the ribbon slates involved are deteriorating from mineral wash-out or alternatively if they are in good condition.

We were taught that "ribbon slate" was a cheaper product with shorter expected life than better quality solid colored slates from Vermont or Virginia.

But ribbon slates were sometimes chosen deliberately for decorative purposes, and not all of the ribbon slate roofs we've seen suffered from such a short life. This ribbon-slate roof in Poughkeepsie, New York was about eighty years old when we took the photos above and at left, and it remains in good condition.

Details about ribbon slates are at SLATE ROOF TYPES, RIBBON SLATES

This ribbon slate roof (photo at left) has been repaired at its lower edge by the installation of asphalt shingles - or perhaps metal roof edge flashing was replaced.

We would not guess the condition and remaining life of these ribbon slates without a closer inspection.

Rust-colored Slates from China

Rust colored slates, China, Baoding City Meijia Building Materials Co.,Ltd

The rust-colored roofing slates shown at left are produced in the Hebei Province, China.

Photograph of rusty roofing slates provided courtesy of Baoding City Meijia Building Materials Co.,Ltd

Minnesota Gray Slate Photos

Pennsylvania Black, Vermont Gray, Virginia Buckingham Gray slates: photos requested.

how that this roof has not been maintained for a decade or more. Thin delaminated slates are worn out.

Pennsylvania Black, Vermont Gray, Virginia Buckingham Gray Slate Pictures

Pennsylvania Black, Vermont Gray, Virginia Buckingham Gray slates: photos requested.

how that this roof has not been maintained for a decade or more. Thin delaminated slates are worn out.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the different colors of roofing slates

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Questions & answers or comments about roof slate colors & patterns.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Baoding City Meijia Building Materials Co.,Ltd, Add: R.303 Baisheng International Mansion,No.22 Yard,Xuefu Alley,Baoding City,Hebei Province,China, Attn: Mary Li Tel: 86-312-5931498 Fax: 86-312-5931758 MSN: bdmjjc003@hotmail.com E-mail: bdmjjc002@yahoo.cn Website: www.mjstone.com.cn
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs a detailed article about evaluating the condition of slate roofing and repairing worn or damaged slate roofs.
Slate Roof Photo Library photographs of colors, types, patterns of slate roofs, slate roof wear, slate roof conditions.
Slate References page from the ASHI Technical Journal
Slate Sources, Repairs page from the ASHI Technical Journal
Roofing: Defect Recognition, Repair, Prevention for Roofing & Flashing main web page
Inspecting and Evaluating Slate Roofs Hudson Valley ASHI seminar content
Choosing a Roofing Contractor How to find and select a roofing contractor - (thanks to Jessie Schrader)
Slate Roofs, National Slate Association, 1926, reprinted 1977 by Vermont Structural Slate Co., Inc., Fair Haven, VT 05743, 802-265-4933/34. (We recommend this book if you can find it. It has gone in and out of print on occasion.)
The Slate Roof Bible, Joseph Jenkins, www.jenkinsslate.com, 143 Forest Lane, PO Box 607, Grove City, PA 16127 - 866-641-7141 (We recommend this book).
Slate Roofs , Steven Trapasso, presentation to NY Metro ASHI, Inc. chapter seminar, November 1990.
The Old-House Journal , Special Roof Issue , April 1983, The Old-House Journal, PO Box 50214, Boulder, CO 80321-0214
National Slate Technology Center courses for architects, builders, etc.
Slate Roofing Contractors Association of North America
National Slate Association includes list of slate testing laboratories

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724 ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
Green Roof Construction and Maintenance, Kelley Luckett, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2009, ISBN-10: 007160880X, ISBN-13: 978-0071608800, quoting: Key questions to ask at each stage of the green building process Tested tips and techniques for successful structural design Construction methods for new and existing buildings Information on insulation, drainage, detailing, irrigation, and plant selection Details on optimal soil formulation Illustrations featuring various stages of construction Best practices for green roof maintenance A survey of environmental benefits, including evapo-transpiration, storm-water management, habitat restoration, and improvement of air quality Tips on the LEED design and certification process Considerations for assessing return on investment Color photographs of successfully installed green roofs Useful checklists, tables, and charts
Handbook of Building Crafts in Conservation, Jack Bower, Ed., Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, NY 1981 ISBN 0-442-2135-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Nr. 81-50643.
Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008) ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
Historic Slate Roofs : With How-to Info and Specifications, Tina Skinner (Ed), Schiffer Publishing, 2008, ISBN-10: 0764330012 , ISBN-13: 978-0764330018
Problems in Roofing Design, B. Harrison McCampbell, Butterworth Heineman, 1991 ISBN 0-7506-9162-X (available used)
Roofing The Right Way, Steven Bolt, McGraw-Hill Professional; 3rd Ed (1996), ISBN-10: 0070066507, ISBN-13: 978-0070066502
Slate Roofs, National Slate Association, 1926, reprinted 1977 by Vermont Structural Slate Co., Inc., Fair Haven, VT 05743, 802-265-4933/34. (We recommend this book if you can find it. It has gone in and out of print on occasion.)
Roof Tiling & Slating, a Practical Guide, Kevin Taylor, Crowood Press (2008), ISBN 978-1847970237,
If you have never fixed a roof tile or slate before but have wondered how to go about repairing or replacing them, then this is the book for you. Many of the technical books about roof tiling and slating are rather vague and conveniently ignore some of the trickier problems and how they can be resolved. In Roof Tiling and Slating, the author rejects this cautious approach. Kevin Taylor uses both his extensive knowledge of the trade and his ability to explain the subject in easily understandable terms, to demonstrate how to carry out the work safely to a high standard, using tried and tested methods.
This clay roof tile guide considers the various types of tiles, slates, and roofing materials on the market as well as their uses, how to estimate the required quantities, and where to buy them. It also discusses how to check and assess a roof and how to identify and rectify problems; describes how to efficiently "set out" roofs from small, simple jobs to larger and more complicated projects, thus making the work quicker, simpler, and neater; examines the correct and the incorrect ways of installing background materials such as underlay, battens, and valley liners; explains how to install interlocking tiles, plain tiles, and artificial and natural slates; covers both modern and traditional methods and skills, including cutting materials by hand without the assistance of power tools; and provides invaluable guidance on repairs and maintenance issues, and highlights common mistakes and how they can be avoided. The author, Kevin Taylor, works for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors as a technical manager presenting technical advice and providing education and training for young roofers.
The Slate Roof Bible, Joseph Jenkins, www.jenkinsslate.com, 143 Forest Lane, PO Box 607, Grove City, PA 16127 - 866-641-7141 (We recommend this book).
Slate Roofing in Canada (Studi4es in archaeology, architecture, and history),
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