A Deep History

Slate production in the United States reached its prime in 1902, when approximately 1.45 million squares were produced in a single year. That is enough to cover the entire geographical footprint of Burlington Vermont nearly twice over. With 250 Vermont quarries operating at the turn of the 19th century, slate rapidly solidified its place in the North East's architectural vernacular. Durable, functional, beautiful and natural, slate was the most affordable and readily accessible roofing material up until WWII. Today, less than ten quarries remain open in Vermont although large deposits remain accessible.  

With improved asphalt shingle manufacturing processes came a tremendous decline in new slate roof installation. Subsequently, slate roofing as a skilled trade virtually vanished by the 1950's. Since the typical lifespan of  Vermont roofing slates is between 80 and 200 years, most slate roofs have held up well despite considerable neglect. Keen contractors who remove slate roofs are quick to realize its value. As a result, a significant market for refurbished slate has emerged. 

We are committed to keeping this high quality refurbished slate in circulation. Oftentimes, we can tell our clients exactly where in Vermont our roofing materials are sourced from. This minimizes our carbon footprint and ensures fewer landfill-bound materials find their way onto our region's structures. Our main goals with every project, come from a place of slate advocacy. We educate our clients about the state of their slate roof, carefully documenting any areas of concern and offering our recommendations based on individual budgets and holistic roof and structural evaluations.