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Photo library of 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 page left) describing procedures for evaluating the condition of slate roofing. How to inspect, identify defects, and estimate remaining life of slate roofs are addressed.

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.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

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.

Photo Guide to Colors of Roofing Slates

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

Photos of Green Slate Roofing

• Green Slate roof probably ok but, look for failing fasteners - note the slates slipping down?

Photographs of Red Roofing Slates in Good Condition

• Red slate roof, perhaps from the Granville NY quarry - 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.

Photographs of Ribbon Slates - What is the Life Expectancy of Ribbon Slate on Roofs?

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  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. 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 this photo.
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  This ribbon slate roof 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.

Pennsylvania Black, Vermont Gray, Virginia Buckingham Gray slates

• 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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SLATE ROOF PHOTO LIBRARY
SLATE ROOF PATTERNS
  CLOSED LAP
  CONVENTIONAL
  CURVED ROOF
  DIAMOND
  DIAGONAL
  DUTCH LAP
  FRENCH
  GRADUATED
SLATE ROOF COLORS
  GREEN SLATES
  RED SLATE
  RIBBON SLATE
STEEP SLATE ROOFS
  MANSARD ROOF
  STEEPLES
SLATE ROOF HARDWARE
  SNOW GUARDS
SLATE ROOF DEFECTS
  BROKEN CRACKED ROOFING SLATES
  DELAMINATING
  FLASHING
  LOOSE LOST SLIDING SLATES
  MINERAL INCUSION
  STAINING SLATE
  THICKNESS
SLATE ROOF REPAIRS
WORN OUT SLATE ROOFS
  SOFT DETERIORATED SLATES
  BEYOND REPAIR

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Slate Roofing References

• 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.
• 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.
• Slate Roofing Contractors Association of North America
• National Slate Association includes list of slate testing laboratories

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