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ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
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
Slate Roof References
Slate Sources, Repairs
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION CLASS
STANDARDS for ROOFING
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE
More Information

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How to Inspect and Repair Slate Roofs - A Photo Library of Slate Roofs
RoofAPedia ^©

Photo Guide to Slate Roof Inspection
Photo library of slate roofing materials & slate conditions
Slate roofing patterns
Slate colors, types, and defects
Slate wear indicators
Slate repairs
Examples of worn-out slate roofs

Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

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 article also references slate repair procedures, repair slate sources, and slate quarries. The original of this article appeared in the winter 1991 issue of the ASHI Technical Journal - the content has been substantially edited and updated and many © photographs have been added for this online version - April 2006-January 2007. Slate roofing is considered a high-quality, durable, and aesthetically pleasing material which receives considerable focus in both the sale of properties and in the evaluation of building condition. As we emphasized in our main article on slate repairs, opinions run heavier than actual data. The abandonment of good slate roofs which should have been repaired is a financial shame and the destruction of a valued asset. At the same time, careless optimism about a bad slate roof which is at the end of its life risks an angry inspection client. 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 2008 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.

A Photographic Guide to Slate Roof Patterns

Photographs of Closed Lap Staggered Slate Roof Pattern

Closed lap staggered slate pattern, don't mistake this for the leak-prone "Dutch lap" which too often was installed with minimal side lap between slates

Photos of conventional slate roofing pattern

Conventional staggered horizontal slate pattern, good condition on a steep mansard roof - good nails must have been used

Photographs of Slate used on a Curved Roof Shape

Curved ridge slate roof, this unusual design risks wind-blown rain leaks
Curved ridge slate roof, close-up view of gaps - slates don't bend along a curve

Photographs of Diamond Pattern Slate Roofs

Diamond pattern slate roofs, tar patched, a few missing slates, this roof may seem OK, but what about all of that tar/mastic patching?

Photo Guide to Diagonal Pattern Slate Roofs

Diagonal pattern slate, red and green, good condition

Slate Roof Dutch Lap or Staggered Slate Lap Roofing Pattern Photographs

Dutch lap pattern with good side lap, adequate side lap makes leaks less likely but quite often shingles were installed in this pattern with just an inch of side lap and very little head lap, making for a leaky roof.

Photo Guide to French Pattern Roofing Slates

French Pattern Slates, generous side lap visible where slate is missing, tarred valley, thin, delaminating slates

Photo Guide to Graduated Slate Roofing Patterns

Graduated Slates, generally good, some roof mastic patching at a missing slate; note the mastic at sidewall step flashing?
Graduated Slates, green slates, generally good condition, note less algae below copper salts washing down from skylight

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

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 expert information on Slate Roof Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair

ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
SLATE ROOF PHOTO LIBRARY
Slate References
Slate Sources, Repairs
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION CLASS
STANDARDS for ROOFING
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE
More Information

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
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Plumbing Water Septic
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Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Contact Us

More Information on Roof Inspection and Repair, and 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

More expert information on Roofing, Home Inspection, Construction Defects

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How to Inspect and Repair Slate Roofs - A Photo Library of Slate Roofs RoofAPedia ©