Slate Roof History

Cutting sculpting splitting trimming and hole punching 1.

Slate roof history.

It s malleable breakability yet tough qualities allow it to be broken into thin but durable sheets. To find the roots of slate roofing you have to go way back in the history books. It wasn t widely used in the united states until the late 1800s. Slate roofs first appeared in america in the 16th century but it wasn t until 1785 until the first slate quarry opened and slate was made available to general consumers.

Tar or roofing cement should not be found at chimneys sidewall flashings plumbing vents or elsewhere. Slate roofing is mainly sourced from the state of vermont. The first recorded slate roof of a private home is reported to be in north wales england around 1300a d. The history of slate roofing slate is a fine grain homogeneous rock that derives from shale sediment composing of clay or volcanic ash.

Some of the earliest known slate roofing can be found on roman forts in wales and on welsh castles from the 14th century. Slate roofs were introduced in boston as early as 1654 and philadelphia in 1699 regarding slate roofing manufacturing today nps reports tiles are still manufactured by hand using traditional methods in a five step process. More than 700 years in fact as there is evidence that slate was used as a roofing material in north wales england during the early 14th century.