Process
Six steps, no surprises
You see every finding, every price and every option in writing before anyone climbs a ladder with a hammer.
The six steps
Site visit
A lead roofer spends about 90 minutes at your house: on the roof where it is safe, binoculars where it is not, and in the attic with a flashlight.
Condition report
A slate count by slope, the state of every valley and chimney, photos of each finding, and priced options for repair, restoration or replacement.
Approvals
In historic districts we prepare the drawings, slate samples and photos the preservation board needs, and we come to the meeting with you.
Sourcing
Salvaged slate comes from our yard. New slate ships from Vermont and Pennsylvania quarries. Copper is cut and formed in our Kingston shop.
On the roof
Pipe scaffolding instead of ladders on your gutters, plywood over the plantings, and one crew from the first slate off to the last one on.
Walkthrough and care
We walk the finished roof with you, hand over the photos and warranty, and offer an annual check to keep it that way.
No. 1The big question
Repair, restore or replace?
The condition report answers this for your roof. Here is the rule of thumb we start from.
Repair
Under 5 percent of slates cracked or missing. Flashing sound.
We swap individual slates and fix small flashing problems. Most repairs take a single day.
Restore
5 to 25 percent damaged. Valleys or flashing failing. Slate still sound.
We open the problem areas, reuse every good slate, and renew valleys, flashing and gutters.
Replace
Slate soft or flaking across the roof, or the deck rotted through.
We save sound slates for your future repairs and lay a new roof in matching stone.
No. 2The report
What a condition report looks like
One page of findings, then the photos. You can hand it to any roofer, an insurance adjuster or a preservation board.
- Slates counted and graded slope by slope
- Valleys, chimneys and gutters rated
- A clear recommendation with a price range
38 Pearl Street, Kingston
Inspected September 9, 2026 by Nora Hagen
- Roof area
- 31 squares
- Slate
- Vermont gray, 1888
- Slates counted
- 3,420
- Cracked or missing
- 412 (12%)
- Valleys
- Tin, failing
- Chimney flashing
- Lead, failing
- Gutters
- Copper, sound
Sound 78%Worn 10%Failed 12%
Recommendation: restore. Expected life after restoration, 60 years or more. Price range $38,000 to $44,000.
No. 3Care plan
The annual roof check
Every spring a roofer climbs your roof, replaces up to 10 cracked slates, clears the valleys and gutters, and sends you a photo report. Small fixes stay small.
$395per year, 10 slates included
Questions
Before you call
Can you work in winter?
On dry days above about 25 degrees, yes. Slate gets brittle in hard cold, so we plan full restorations for April to November and handle winter leaks as repairs.
Do I need approval in a historic district?
Often, for anything that changes material or color. We prepare the application, bring samples, and attend the meeting with you.
Will you work with my insurance company?
Yes. We document storm damage with photos and slate counts and price repairs in a format adjusters know.
What does the warranty cover?
Our workmanship: 25 years on slate and copper, 10 years on cedar and steel. Quarry and manufacturer warranties cover new materials.
Can we stay in the house during the work?
Yes. The house is watertight every night, and we keep the driveway and front door clear.
Step one
Book the site visit
Most visits happen within two weeks of your call. The $250 fee comes off your project.