Slate. Hand-laid by craftsmen, flashed in copper, built to outlive the house.

The material decides the century

A natural slate roof, properly installed and properly flashed, will outlive three generations of asphalt re-roofs. The math isn’t sentimental — it’s structural. Slate is rated for 100 to 200 years; asphalt shingles need replacement every 18 to 25. We install natural slate from quarried sources we name (Vermont, Virginia, Pennsylvania), synthetic slate when the framing won’t carry the natural weight, and we never mix a synthetic slate roof with steel flashing. Copper, or it doesn’t get fastened.

The work is slow. A residential slate roof in Boston takes three to six weeks depending on complexity. We don’t storm-chase, we don’t subcontract the roof itself, and we don’t quote slate work without walking it first.

Detail of slate roof tiles with hand-soldered copper gutter in Boston

How the work actually gets done

On-roof assessment

Arturo walks every roof himself. We measure pitch, framing capacity, deck condition, and existing flashing. Free, no obligation.

Material specification

Natural or synthetic. Quarry source named. Underlayment, ice-and-water shield, copper or stainless flashing — specified line by line in your quote.

Controlled tear-off

We protect landscaping, drives, and adjacent structures. Old slate is salvaged where reusable, recycled where not. Deck inspected before new install.

Hand-laid install

Slate goes on one tile at a time, by senior craftsmen, with the correct copper flashings at every penetration, valley, and ridge. No nails through the slate face.

Final inspection

We walk it with you, document every flashing detail, and hand you a binder with the warranty, material origins, and a maintenance schedule.

A glimpse of the portfolio

See the full portfolio →

2005 Family-run since
4.9★ 30 Google reviews
75–150 yr Slate roof lifespan
In-house Crew — never subcontracted

Licensed & Insured · MA Construction Supervisor · MHIC Registered