Polish Roofing and Carpentry Festival

 

Our own Gary Howes, Chairman of the Board for the Slate Roofing Contractors Association, was invited to Poland to meet with other contractors who have a passion for roofing and carpentry.

To check out all of the pictures from this event visit:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Durable-Restoration-Company/466161863427438#!/pages/The-Durable-Restoration-Company/466161863427438?hc_location=timeline

 

 

National Slate Association's Board and Membership Meeting

 

 

Durable Slate's John Chan, President of the National Slate Association, was one of the many members who attended the board and membership meeting in Charleston, SC on May 2-4.

 

 

 

 

To learn more about the NSA visit http://slateassociation.org/



Common Goal of Education brings Preservation to the Forefront

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Charleston, South Carolina
 

April 15, 2014

 

Common Goal of Education brings Preservation to the Forefront

 

The Durable Slate Company, Clemson/College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation and the Historic Charleston Foundation are teaming up on May 1^st, 2014 to educate Graduate students, preservation professionals and historic property owners alike on slate roofing in Charleston.

This event will feature John Chan, owner of The Durable Slate Company, speaking about slate roof basics and different types of slate. There will also be an on-site visual inspection workshop by touring the beautiful slate roofs of Charleston. Carter Hudgins, Director for Clemson/College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, says, “John Chan comes to Charleston with highest recommendations as one of the nation's leading experts in the restoration of historic slate roofs.  Anyone who owns or maintains a slate roof will want to hear his advice on slate roofing before we enter another hurricane season."

Clemson/College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, Historic Charleston Foundation and The Durable Slate Company share a common belief in the importance of education and a common goal of preserving historic structures throughout Charleston and elsewhere. To take part in this educational seminar join them on May 1^st, 2014 at College of Charleston, 292 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401.

 

About Clemson/College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation:

http://www.clemson.edu/caah/pdp/historic-preservation/

The Graduate Program in Historic Preservation is a collaborative effort between Clemson University and the College of Charleston. The program, which is based full time in Charleston, South Carolina, offers the Master of Science in Historic Preservation and the Certificate in Historic Preservation.

 

About The Durable Slate Company:

 

http://www.durableslate.com/

 

The Durable Slate Company provides slate, copper, and clay tile roofing services throughout the Eastern United States. For larger projects, our craftsmen will travel to anywhere in the world. For projects extending beyond the roof, our sister company, The Durable Restoration Company is an award winning restoration contractor employing craftsmen specializing in more than a dozen traditional trades covering the interior as well as the exterior envelope.

 

About Historic Charleston Foundation:

Established in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation is dedicated to preserving and protecting the architectural, historical and cultural character of Charleston and its Lowcountry environs, and to educating the public about Charleston’s history and the benefits that are derived from preservation.

 

 

To learn more about this seminar please contact:

 

Carter L. Hudgins, Director

Clemson/College of Charleston Graduate Program
in Historic Preservation
Department of Planning, Development and Preservation
292 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC  29401
843.937.9567
540.604.0180 (cell)
chudgin@clemson.edu

 

###

An Overview of Different Types of Roofing Materials: An Interview with John Chan of The Durable Slate Company

Owner of The Durable Slate Company, John Chan, had the privilage of writing a very informative article on the differences of slate, tile and metal roofs for Florida State Homes.

Check it out below!

An Overview of Different Types of Roofing Materials: An Interview with John Chan of The Durable Slate Company


To check out more about Florida State Homes visit: http://www.floridastatehomes.com

When are you really paying more?

 

 

 

     “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

 

-          Red Adair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is slate able to be recycled?

Take a look at this excerpt from Gordon Bock's article, "From Prosaic to Precious" in Period Homes magazine.



Slate Roofing Another recycled building material at home on period houses — and in the same league as tile — is slate. Whether new or used, the life expectancy of roofing slate is determined by the source from which it was quarried. According to Jack Jenkins at the Durable Slate Co., based in Rockville, MD, "Most of the slate we see is from the slate belts in Vermont and New York State, which last about 125 years." He explains that slates from Buckingham, VA, have a life of around 175 years, and Pennsylvania HardVein and Peach Bottom slates (which are no longer quarried) stand up for 100 and 200 years respectively.
"When we reclaim slate from a building, we research the slate type, as well as when it was quarried and installed," he says, "so we have a good idea of the kind of life that can be expected from a new installation." As an example, he says they usually do not even reclaim Pennsylvania blue-black SoftVein slate because its life of 60 years or more is comparatively short. "In fact, some of the high-end slates are hard to find because, having such extraordinary lifespans and durability, they do not come onto the recycled market."
According to Jenkins, the majority of the recycled slate market is for additions to existing slate roofs and major repairs, especially when a match in appearance and longevity is desired. "Slate is a rock, a very long-lived rock," he says and, echoing tile, "what typically fails on a roof is not the rock but the underlayment." However, he says that they also regularly sell recycled slate for entire new roofs." What drives the choice of recycled slate over and above aesthetics? The opportunity to keep the roofing out of a landfill is a factor for some clients but the bigger appeal is usually the bottom line. Installation labor is the lion's share of the cost of any slate roof, old or new, but Jenkins notes that using recycled slate can contribute a significant savings on materials — as much as 30% over new slate.
For all of the above reasons, Jenkins says, "There is a pretty strong market for recycled slate," with his company keeping an inventory of some 800,000 to a million pieces in stock. Also, he says they are tapped into a national network that makes it possible to source pretty much any slate desired, from graduated slate to green, purple and mottled slates and the always hard-to-find red.
In another bit of roofing déjá-vu, Jenkins adds that the recycling process is actually an advantage. "Because recycled slate is being handled quite a bit during the course of recovery, sorting and shipping, you are getting a pretty solid material by the time it arrives at a new installation site." As with any building material, when ordering new slate you have to factor in some overage for waste. "It's the same for recycled slate," he adds, "but maybe only by a couple of percentage points more."
When it comes to installations, Jenkins says that in the hands of an experienced roofer, there are no significant differences between installing recycled slate versus new slate. "However, we have been encouraging people to consider the hook system rather than using nails." As he explains, hooks have been used for generations in Ireland and Wales. "Typically, under-nailing or over-nailing is one of the major sources of problems in slate roofs," he says, either causing breakage of under-slates or punch-through on over-slates, "and the hook system eliminates that possibility."


For more information about this article please visit:
 http://www.period-homes.com/3-salvaged-NOVEMBER2013.html

Knowledge is Power!

 

 

Many slate roof owners have a lot of questions and concerns regarding their roofs. With this comes many misconceptions, but it's not your fault! Informing yourself is the best way to know what is true and is the only way to ensure your roof lasts as long as possible.

 

 

Check out the article below by William Kibbel III for some great info!

 

 

 

 

For more on this and other information regarding your home please visit:

 

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/

What makes a business successful?

There are many ways this question could be answered; hard work, a great vision, experience. The list could go on and on.

One answer that has resonated here at Durable Slate and has proven to hold true is taking the time to thoroughly train our employees. We believe that the more tools and opportunities we give our staff to succeed the better the chances are that they will.

Our apprenticeship program ranges anywhere from slate and tile work, flashings, gutters, brick work, stone work, pointing and plaster.  Check out the link to our Facebook page below of Brydie Wines-Godsil working on her metal work training.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Durable-Restoration-Company/466161863427438#!/photo.php?fbid=384247911675523&set=a.310853332348315.59667.302625496504432&type=1&theater

Our employees taking the time to go thru this training has made many happy customers. Check out the link to our Facebook page of our most recent testimonial proving just that. Great job Bob Lynch and Jason Murphy!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Durable-Restoration-Company/466161863427438#!/photo.php?fbid=419405948159719&set=a.310853332348315.59667.302625496504432&type=1&theater

Shane Day leading the way in our training room!
 

New Website

Trinity UMC in Upper Arlington, OH is seen on our homepage in "Featured Projects".

Today marks the first official day of the launch of our new website. We made changes from the old site to help you navigate easier and become more aware of all of the great work we do all over the nation. We will be updating the site frequently to make sure that everyone of you are up-to-date on our latest projects and everything else that is going on within The Durable Slate Company.

Click the link below to check it out!
http://www.durableslate.com/

Slate Repair

We specialize in repairs on slate and tile roofs. We have done many big jobs that involve repair, along with smaller repair jobs in all of our markets. Durable Slate works with the best materials possible; with the most knowledgeable and efficient craftsman.

One of those guys here at Durable Slate is Raymond Jeffries who is an expert in the field of slate and tile repair. Don't take my word for it, check out the picture below! This is Ray installing beautiful French tile onto a roof in St. Paris, Ohio.

Roofing for Historic Buildings

We try to provide useful and timely information here on The Durable Slate Company blog. However, there are times when you might need more detailed and thorough information about your historic roof. We encourage our readers to visit the National Park Service Preservation Briefs for such information.

We follow the Secretary of Interior’s standards on all of our projects and we encourage our clients to become more knowledgeable about their roofs, no matter which contractor they hire.

Visit this link for Preservation Brief #4: Roofing for Historic Buildings:

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief04.htm

Hauck Mansion gets another chance

The Hauck Mansion has lived many different lives since its construction in 1904. At first it was used as a residence and farm for Louis Hauck of the John Hauck Brewing Co. There, draft horses could catch some rest and recover before being sent back downtown to pull wagons for the Dayton Street Brewery. Most recently it was used as a music school. But more than one hundred years later, it has fallen into disrepair and found itself up for sale in a Sheriff’s auction last summer. That’s when Andy Thul stepped in.

Mr. Thul, who spent the majority of his career in residential building, purchased the house at last summer’s auction and is restoring it back to its former beauty. "I couldn’t stand the thought of tearing it down," he said. "You just can’t rebuild that kind of craftsmanship."

And so the work begins. Mr. Thul started with the most important element of any house, the roof. After the chimney repairs were completed, he called The Durable Slate Company to repair the red flat slab shingle tile. The Durable Slate Company was recommended to Mr. Thul by a consultant from his local preservation society because of its commitment to historic preservation and reputation of excellent craftsmanship.

While the roofers from The Durable Slate Company are busy making their meticulous repairs on the red flat slab shingle roof, Mr. Thul is already thinking about the next thing on the repair list. Masonry and other external elements of the structure will be tackled before anything else.

Once the mansion is returned to its former state of beauty and usefulness, Mr. Thul envisions it being used for commercial purposes. Possibilities include another music hall, banquet facility or offices among others. Mr. Thul is even considering putting an addition on the back of the house if necessary. Paperwork is also underway to designate the property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Updated pictures of the house will follow as work progresses. What do you hope to see it used for?

Slate Roofing Contractors Assocation 2009 Conference

Last week we attended the 2009 Slate Roofing Contractors Assocation Conference in Frankfort, Kentucky. This year it was held in conjunction with the Preservation Trades Network and the Timberframer's Guild. As always, the event was educational, inspiring and fun.

(Image courtesy of Joe Jenkins)

Our very own John Chan gave a presentation on Wednesday featuring some of our latest and greatest slate roofing jobs. Surrounding ourselves with peers at events like this is a great, interactive way to keep up with the industry. We look forward to next year's conference already.

The clock is ticking

Homeowners only have so long to take advantage of the current energy-efficient tax credits. The folks over at Old House Web Blog have put together a really informative post to help owners of old homes navigate through the process.

Check it out here: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/blog/take-advantage-of-energy-efficient-tax-credits-now/

Side note: We have been busy with a lot of amazing projects lately. We will update soon with pictures and descriptions of all the exciting things happening at Durable.

Why you should feel good about your roof

Homeowners with slate and tile roofs are doing something good for the environment, without even knowing it.

You don’t think about it much. It’s just there, protecting your home, family and valuable possessions. But did you know that having a slate or tile roof makes your home more environmentally friendly than one covered with asphalt or other synthetic roofing materials? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. manufactures and disposes approximately 11 million tons of asphalt shingles each year.

By choosing to maintain a sustainable roofing material with a lifespan lasting decades, you’re making the greenest choice possible. In fact, if you double the lifespan of a building [or material], you cut its environmental impacts in half.*

So feel good about the roof over your head and keep it at its best by calling the slate and tile experts at The Durable Slate Company for all your maintenance needs.

*Source: Wilson, Alex (November 1, 2005) “Durability: A key Component of Green Building”. Environmental Building News, Vol. 14, No. 11, BuildingGreen, Inc.

Is your roof leaking around the chimney?

This guest post comes to you from Mark Sherby, Director of Quality Control at The Durable Slate Company:

Chimney leaks are some of the most difficult leaks to diagnose. There are many reasons for chimney leaks, and it is not always possible to identify the specific reason for the leak. Even when an estimator sees an obvious reason for a leak, there can also be factors that contribute to the leak which are not obvious.

Therefore, it may take several different remedies to completely repair the leak. The following are the most common reasons for leaks around chimneys.

• Flaws in the roofing material above or adjacent to the chimney
  There may be a broken slate or tile nearby that is causing a leak. For tile roofs, the underlayment, which keeps water out, may be deteriorated.
  
  
• Flashing problems
  The metal flashings around chimneys deteriorate and cause leaks. The old metal must be removed and replaced with hand-soldered flashings.
  


• Poor joint between the masonry and counterflashing (the part of the flashing that is cut into the masonry joint)
  
  


• Condensation from a modern furnace
  Newer, energy-efficient furnaces may cause problems with the chimneys in old houses. The warm exhaust air cools quickly as it enters the wide chimney flue and some of it condenses into water and corrosive acid. Even though a chimney looks intact from the outside, it’s possible the water may cause leaks, and the acid will erode the mortar joints inside the chimney letting additional moisture in.
  
  
• Missing mortar
  Cracks in the crown, voids in the mortar joints and spalling (or crumbing) bricks can all contribute to a chimney leak. Masonry restoration with appropriate lime mortars will handle this problem.
  


• Faults in the crown of the chimney
  
  
• Gaps between the flue liner and the chimney
  
  
• Very porous bricks
  Chimneys in some newer homes are built with bricks which are so porous rainwater seeps through very quickly, causing leaks. Through-wall flashings should be installed to line the inside of the chimney and direct water out onto the roof.
  
  
• Problems with an adjacent gutter
  If a section of gutter near the chimney is not draining properly, the water may find its way inside and can appear to be a chimney leak. Unclogging the gutters and downspouts, relining box gutters or adjusting hanging gutters is required to fix this problem.
  


• Ice damming (click here to read our article about ice damming.)
  
  
• Capillary action (the tendency of a liquid to adhere to a solid surface)

It takes an experienced professional to correctly identify each faulty component that causes a chimney leak. Whether the problem is roof repair, flashing replacement or chimney repointing, The Durable Slate Company has you covered. That’s just one benefit of working with a contractor with such a diverse group of in-house tradesmen.

Another Opinion on 'This Old Wasteful House'

This op-ed piece in Monday’s New York Times has people all over the historic preservation community talking. So, I figured I’d chime in.

In said piece, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, stresses the importance of energy efficiency to historic homeowners. While most were quick to agree with him (at least those I monitor), others had a different opinion.

Those over at Preservation in Mississippi voiced their disappointment with Moe’s slightly one-sided point-of-view pointing out what they considered an inappropriate use of the word ‘wasteful.’

“Twice with the word “wasteful”! Seriously, is this the best way for a preservationist to frame the issue of how preservation and environmentalism intersect? Why are we all buying into the notion that being an environmentalist or Green, whichever you prefer, pretty much exclusively means that your house is ‘energy efficient’?”

I have to agree with them on this point. It’s not all about energy efficiency. Getting an energy audit and insulating your house isn’t the ‘be all, end all’ to owning a green home. They then go on to talk about the importance of sustainable building products, which is where I get passionate about the subject. While I don’t think Moe was advocating the demolition of old buildings to replace with new, ‘energy efficient’ ones, I do think he missed an opportunity to point out that the materials these old houses were built with have a proven track record, unlike many of the newest energy efficient materials.

The fact is, historic buildings are sustainable buildings. It takes more energy to tear down an older building and erect a new one on top of it than it does to upgrade that existing building to today’s energy efficient standards.

On the flip side, the folks over at the Thin House blog agreed with Moe’s opinion about the importance of energy efficiency.

“We agree with the author, Richard Moe, when he points to what he thinks is the most important first step in greening an older home. It is not screwing in CFLs or putting a stake through the hearts of energy vampires, or tossing bricks in your toilet tanks or even wrapping your water heater. It is easier than any of those, and cheaper.

In fact it’s usually free. The answer is . . . (drum roll, please): Get a home energy audit from your local utility company. This is not a sexy, techy, go-out-and-buy-a-new-gadget solution, but it is a solid and necessary first step. A good audit will uncover issues you didn’t know you had, pinpoint effective solutions, and inform you about programs in your area that might help cut the cost of putting those solutions in place, from tax breaks on solar to incentives for energy-efficient appliances. It will put you in touch with people who are on your side, give you a sense of perspective about your projects, and will, we hope, inspire you.”

I must say I stand somewhere in the middle and identify with both opinions on the subject matter at hand. I say, let’s make the conversation a little more well-rounded and discuss the incredible sustainability of our historic buildings over time AND tell people how to make older homes more energy efficient while we’re at it.

I think this discussion should continue as everyone sees these issues in a different light. What do you think of Moe’s piece? What would you like to see added to the conversation?

Restoring Grandeur

Have to point out that Durable Slate's work at the Zion Lutheran Church in Akron was profiled in this month's issue of Professional Roofing. Visit the link below to check it out.

http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?id=1456

Spring is in the air

Every year it seems as though it will never come for us Ohioans. But with a high today of 58 degrees, it seems we have hope that spring is finally on its way. This time of year is popular for spring cleaning and de-cluttering the house. But what about making sure those things on your home maintenance to do list are taken care of? Your roof is one thing that should not be overlooked. You know what they say, "April showers bring May roof leaks." Ok, that's not really how the saying goes. But that may be what you're thinking if you don't bother to inspect your roof before the spring showers come pouring in.

We've created a spring roof check-up list to help make sure your roof is in tip-top condition before the rainy season swings into full effect.

1. Grab your binoculars an head outside - This can give you an up-close view of your slates, tiles, chimneys, flashings and gutters without climbing up on a ladder.


2. Take a lap - Walking around the perimeter of your property can help you locate any fallen or broken slates you might not have noticed were missing with your binoculars.


3. Respond quickly - If a serious problem, like a leak, does occur, time is of the essence. The sooner you call in to make an inspection appointment with your roofing contractor, the sooner they'll be able to provide you with an estimate and schedule the work to be done. If the leak is an emergency, crews can be sent to your home to perform an emergency dry-in. This will keep the interior of your home safe and dry, without damanging any of the roofing components, until crews are able to fix the problem completely.

Important note: Proper maintenance is essential to getting the full service life out of your slate or tile roof. With the current state of the economy, you can't afford to not invest in your home. By performing necessary maintenance today, you will avoid unexpected emergency repairs down the road.

Any tips you'd like to see added to the list?

Dear Mr. President

Remember my Obama on Preservation post back in December? Well, it turns out those of you who responded shared some pretty inspirational stories.

Read the follow-up post by Judy Hayward, publisher of Traditional Building, here:

http://www.traditional-building.com/Previous-Issues-09/FebruaryForum09.html

Judy suggests that President Obama make the following list of projects and programs a priority:

• Reinvest in neighborhood schools


• Reinvest in infrastructure, public transit and pedestrian ammenities for communities


• Support education for traditional building craftsmanship


• Make the tax credits for historic preservation stronger and support states in their efforts to do so


• Reinvest in our national parks and government buildings

What do you think of Judy's list? Would you like to see any projects added?