All posts by RIslate15

August 24, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

3 Signs Its Time To Rebuild or Repair Your Roof

Your roof is one of the most expensive aspects of your home. But due to the life expectancy of modern, efficient roofs, they can often go forgotten about for years. The last thing any home or property manager wants to wake up one day and realize they need a completely new roof due to years of neglect. Even the most basic of maintenance can add a few years on to the life span of your roof. So lets take a look at the 3 things you should be aware when it comes to the overall health of your roof.

Leaks in your Roof

Leaks can start small and grow over time. Leaks that continue to develop in a homes roof is a sign that the roof in no longer protecting the interior from water damage. This could be solved with the replacing on tiles, depending on the severity.

Missing or Loose Shingles

Older roofs that are in the process of failing are prone to having loose or missing shingles. Maybe you notice after a bad storm or windy day your lawn is littered with roofing debris. You may want to make a phone call to a roofing contractor to check on the integrity of your roof.

The Age of the Roof

New homeowners sometimes neglect the age of their roof when they move in to their new house. Overtime, as the roof, ages, you should take into consideration the total age of the roof. Remember that most roofs last an average of 20 to 25 years. Slate roofing title last much longer.

Rhode Island Slate Roofing

If you notice any of these 3 warning signs, it’s time to call the experts at Rhode Island Slate Roofing. We have been in business in Rhode Island working on homes, properties, businesses, and everything with a roof! Contact us today to get your project started.

Slate Roofing Environmental Factors

July 21, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

Slate Roofing is a natural stone that is an eco-friendly, durable, and beautiful roofing material. While it is typically at a higher price point that traditional shingle style roofing, the benefits far outweigh the cons. There’s a reason why many churches, libraries, government & university buildings use slate roofing. It is dependable as a long-lasting roofing solution and can save on heating costs.

Roofing slates are produced from natural stone that is formed under intense heat and pressure underground. A fireproof material that doesn’t saturate with water but has a characteristic that allows it to be split into pierces to form roofing slates.

The density of the slate material is what helps it be an energy reducing factor for larger homes, which is a reason why large government buildings use slate roofing when possible. The thickness regulates the temperature of your home, helping to keep it cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter. Other eco-friendly benefits of slate include how long lasting it is. Slate will outlast you’re your home, and is typically recycled during house demolitions.

Some of the top producers of Slate shingles are:

Buckingham- Slate Corporation- This Slate is blue-black and produced in Virginia
Evergreen Slate Co. – Blue-Black colored Vermont Slate
Hilltop Slate Co. – Gray-Green New York & Vermont Slate
Monson Maine Slate Co. – Black Slate
Shelton Slate Products Co. – New York & Vermont carrying all colors

To get your Slate roofing project started contact Rhode Island State Roofing Today!

What To Consider When Looking At Slate Roofing

June 27, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

Are you considering a new slate roof? This blog has already covered the benefits of slate roofing. As well as the benefits to replacing your roof. But what should you look at when making the decision whether to use slate roofing vs traditional tile?

The first thing you should look at is the quality of the roofing slate. Natural slate roofing comes in three levels of quality. These levels are S1, S2, and S3. The highest quality naturally provides the longest life term before it starts to deteriorate. These quality levels are defined by ASTM International, a 3^RD party company that takes slate through tests. In Rhode Island, and especially New England, you want to make sure your roofer contractor is using S1 slate. This will last the longest and protect your house against the harsh New England winters.

Lastly, you want to consider the experience of your contractor. Naturally in every profession there are intricacies that go into each niche. You want to make sure you have an expert in the field you are making your investment in.

At Rhode Island Slate Roofing we have been working with slate for decades now. Our projects speak for themselves.

June 5, 2017slate roofingRIslate15

Choose an Experienced Slate Roofing Contractor

Are you building a house and considering going with slate as your tile choice? Slate tiling provides a unique look to make your house stand out amongst your neighbors. Not only is it a durable material, slate roofing is a visually appealing roofing material for many styles of houses. In Rhode Island, there are many older looking homes with traditionally looks. Slate roofing is great for these types of homes.

When you are looking to select a roofer in Rhode Island for slate roofing it’s important to consider experience. You want to choose a roofing contractor that has experience in slate roofing because of slates unique properties. And when it comes to experience, the more the better.

Located in Smithfield, Rhode Island Rhode Island Slate Roofing has been the go to choice In Rhode Island for decades. Owner Doug Weiker has been working on slate roofs for many years now. He has done work on historic houses and new homes as well. Slate roofing maintenance is a specialty of Rhode Island Slate Roofing as well. A well-maintained slate roof will last much longer than traditional shingle roofing.
From new Roof Installation to regular maintenance, contact us today to get your project rolling.

Roof Work In Providence RI

May 12, 2017UncategorizedRIslate15

Its been quite a busy week at Rhode Island Slate Roofing! We completed a job on beautiful house in Westford Road in Providence and started a new job and started another job nearby on Friday.

The first job was quite special. We did basic repair and maintenance work on the roof but we found something that surprised the homeowner. Hidden beneath a board was a beautiful sky light that was covered up by a previous owner of the building. We were able to restore it to its original state after the home owner decided he wanted to. The happy home owner now has stunning natural light coming into his home.

You can see members of our crew below working on roof repairs below:

April 20, 2017roof replacementRIslate15

Slate Roofing Repair Job in Massachusetts

Rhode Island Slate Roofing recently completed a slate roofing repair job in Historic Rehoboth, Massachusetts. We were selected by the Blanding Antiquarian Society to repair their Library roof last March. March, April, and May are great times of the year to take care of the tiles you may need repaired or replaced. After a long winter in New England your roof may have suffered some damage due to ice, water, and snow.

Rhose Island Slate Roofing enjoys the opportunity to not only work on residential slate roofing jobs, but also working on historical buildings, libraries, and any other building with slate roof tiles.

We have worked on many historic buildings in the past and always look forward to preserving the integrity of the building while completing restoration work.

Our Salvaged Slate Yard

Over our decades of experience we have accumulated a large mass of slate titles so we can accurately match the size and color for every slate repair job we take on. Pictured below you can see our salvaged slate yard. Accumulating this large selection of slate tiles has only been possible due to the vast array of projects we have successfully complete over the years.

Slate Roof Tiles — **Rhode Island Slate Roofing’s Salvage Yard**

One benefit of our salvage yard is that we can save money in the long run on your repair job. Instead of having to go out and purchase new slates, we can use our salvaged slates at a reduced cost to you.

If you have noticed your slate roof may have some broken or cracked tiles contact us today for an estimate! We have the experience, know how, and resources to complete any repair job on your slate roof!

More Tips for Maintaining Your Roof

March 20, 2017winter tipsRIslate15

With the latest Nor’Easter dropping snow on overworked roofs all across Rhode Island and the rest of New England this winter, it is important to understand that a little maintenance on your roof and gutters can save you big headaches in the long run. Spring is almost here, but until the snow finally melts, Rhode Island Slate Roofing is here to offer a few post-snow maintenance tips to make sure your roof makes it through to spring in the best possible shape.

Clean Gutters and Remove Ice Dams

One of the toughest parts about owning a home is making sure the gutters are cleared in between snowfalls. To avoid any potentially dangerous injury from falling, it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor who has the special tools and experience to do the work, like the ones at Rhode Island Slate Roofing. If you let the leaves and debris build up in your gutters, the clog will start to freeze and become even harder to remove later on. Even worse, it is only a matter of time before the roof starts leaking from the hydrostatic pressure caused by water building up on your roof, leading to repair costs that easily could have been avoided. But even houses with clean gutters need to watch out for ice dams if temperatures fall back below freezing. Check out our explanation of ice dams if you need help recognizing or removing ice dams from your property.

Keep Your Trees Well-Trimmed

Dead branches near your home, especially large, heavy dead branches from older trees, must be removed if you want to avoid the risk of damage to your roof and the physical structure of your home. All it could take is one heavy instance of snow, hail, or icy rain to cause them to fall and damage your home or vehicle.

Inspect Your Roof Regularly and Hire a Professional If Necessary

Start by examining your roof by walking around the outside of your home and check for any sagging, snow buildup, or structural issues. Give us a call if you notice any potential issues, or if it has been a long time since the last time you have performed maintenance on your roof. A simple phone call to the professionals here at Rhode Island Slate Roofing to inspect your roof for potential issues could save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the road.

The Elegance of Slate Roofing

March 1, 2017slate roofingRIslate15

Slate Roofing: The Most Elegant Choice For Roofing

While Rhode Island Slate Roofing’s roofing experts can install any kind of roof onto your home for any practical or economic consideration, we feel that no other type of roofing comes close in terms of beauty, longevity, and elegance. Slate roofs are fireproof, waterproof, have a 100% green and environmentally friendly manufacturing process, and can last up to 150 years or more with proper maintenance and installation by specialists like those at Rhode Island Slate Roofing, which is by far the longest of any type of roof. Slate roofs can even be recycled into other productive uses if they outlast the lifetime of the house. Of the historic homes in New England, many of the oldest homes in the nation still have the original slate roofing from the 18^th century.

Slate Roofing Disadvantages

While we strongly feel that the advantages of slate roofing are worth any disadvantages, there are important notes to be aware of before you undergo the process of a full slate roofing installation. The two main factors that keep slate roofs from being the most popular type of roof are weight and expense. Slate is a heavy material, and not all housing architectures can support the full weight of a slate roof. Many roofs will require reinforcement of the roof deck to handle the weight of the slate tiles. The other major consideration is the price. Slate roofing is an investment into your home, but many homeowners for whom cost is a major consideration may look for a functional solution rather than the elegant solution that is slate roofing.

Hire a Slate Roofing Specialist

If you are a homeowner who is interested in slate roofing, and you are looking for a slate roofing specialist in Smithfield, East Providence, or anywhere else in MA or RI, look no further than Rhode Island Slate Roofing. Our qualified roofing experts are the hardest working contractors in the New England area, and our many years of expertise will serve you with a quality slate roof installation. Contact us today for a free estimate!

Rhode Island Slate Roofing’s Ice Dam Removal Service

February 13, 2017winter tipsRIslate15

Rhode Island’s relatively mild winter ended with the blizzards of the past few weeks. As such, one important service that Rhode Island Slate Roofing can provide to your home is ice dam removal. In freezing conditions with heavy snow like those we are currently experiencing in Rhode Island, your home may be vulnerable to ice dams. What is an ice dam and why should you care? Well, an ice dam is exactly what it sounds like — a frozen bit of ice that blocks water from properly draining through your gutter system, and it is something you should be aware of because it can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and even health risks from mold and mildew growth, when all the snow that had piled up on your roof melts and leaks through your roof and into your home instead of draining through your gutter system.

Ice dams are caused by the warm air inside your home melting the snow that piles up on the roof of your home. The melted snow flows until it reaches the edge of your roof and the gutter system, where it has become far enough from the warm air in your home to refreeze and form blocks of ice that interfere with proper drainage. If left unattended, hydrostatic pressure from the combination of the weight of the remaining unmelted snow above, and the ice blockage below forces water through the shingles of your roof, causing leaks and massive inconvenience to you, the homeowner.

The process of removing ice dams is fairly straightforward — simply get rid of the ice and get rid of the snow — but without specialized tools and roofing experience you could put yourself at risk of a serious injury if you were to fall from an inadequate ladder or using inferior tools to melt the ice. So consider Rhode Island Slate Roofing for our ice dam removal service. We can rid you of any potential ice dam issues with our quick and efficient service, and can save you potentially thousands of dollars in damage and saved headaches in the long run.

Flat Roof Pros & Cons

October 24, 2016UncategorizedRIslate15

Whether you are just curious about flat roofs, interested in designing a new building or thinking about adding a completely new roof to your home or business, flat roofs have their positives and negatives. Traditionally, especially in the New England area, we see flat roofs used on commercial buildings. Here are some various pros & cons of installation a flat roof.

Flat Roof Pros

Costs: The installment of a flat roof is far less expensive then a sloped roof. It is much easier because you don’t have to worry about any dangerous pitch which makes it difficult for the installer to navigate. There are also many more extra parts and pieces that go into the installation process of a pitched roof.

Usable Space: Often times, pitched roofs leave extra space that doesn’t get used. With a flat roof, you can maximize the space in your building and you can often utilize the space on top of your building. A nice rooftop deck or patio is very popular for apartment buildings.

Flat Roof Cons

Maintenance: Both pitched and flat roofs require maintenance during their lifetime but flat roofs may require more. Especially living in New England, flat roofs require that snow gets shoveled off of them. In the event of a couple harsh storms, a flat roof could gain too much weight and could collapse.

Lifespan: The average lifespan of a flat roof is much shorter then other pitched roofing options. The abuse that flat roofs take, without any natural drainage leads to a shorter lifespan.

For more information on flat roofs, flat roof installation, or maintenance work please feel free to reach out. Rhode Island Slate Roofing can be contacted over the phone at 401-255-2003 or through our online contact form.