Natural slate is the longest-lived roof we install - genuine stone quarried into thin tiles that can protect a building for a century or more. It brings a depth and permanence that suits heritage and high-end homes around Vancouver, and it is as close to a permanent roof as a homeowner can buy.
Slate is unforgiving of poor workmanship, which is why it is specialist work. Each tile is individually fastened with non-corroding copper or stainless fixings, and the flashings - ideally copper - have to be detailed to outlast the surrounding tile, because the slate will still be sound long after a cheap flashing has failed. We work to proper headlap and exposure so our wind-driven coastal rain cannot drive up under the tiles.
The stone itself is immune to the rot and insects that threaten a wood roof, and dense, smooth slate gives moss far less to take hold on than a textured surface - though shaded, damp roofs still benefit from periodic clearing. We install new slate, carry out careful repairs that match existing stone, and re-roof heritage homes that deserve to keep their original character. It is a significant investment, and on the right home it is the last roof the building will ever need.