Many older houses in Hartford, West Hartford and New Britain were built with slate, and plenty still have it. When that roof reaches the end of its life, owners face a real choice. Here are the factors that usually decide it.
1. Is the slate actually finished?
Before choosing a replacement, make sure one is needed. Slate roofs often fail at the nails and flashing long before the slate itself wears out. Ask the roofer for close-up photos of the slates. Flaking, soft edges and slates that crumble when handled point to replacement; sound slates with rusted nails or failed copper may not.
2. Weight and framing
| Material | Weight compared with asphalt | Framing check needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Natural slate | Several times heavier | Yes, if the house does not have slate now |
| Synthetic slate | Similar to or a little heavier than asphalt | Rarely |
| Architectural asphalt | Baseline | No |
A house that already carries slate was framed for it. A house switching from asphalt to natural slate needs a structural check first.
3. Lifespan
Hard natural slate can last for generations; it is why some Hartford houses still have their original roofs. Synthetic slate and architectural asphalt shingles have far shorter expected lives, measured in decades rather than generations, varying by product. Think about how long you plan to own the house.
4. Looks
From the street, good synthetic slate is hard to tell from the real thing. Heavier "designer" asphalt shingles imitate slate less convincingly but read well at a distance. Look at installed examples, not just brochures, ideally on a house like yours.
5. The approval process
Inside a local historic district, replacing slate with anything else usually needs a certificate of appropriateness before the permit. Commissions often accept synthetic slate or slate-colored shingles when real slate is not practical, but that is their decision to make. See the permit answer.
6. Who can do the work
Natural slate needs a crew that installs slate regularly, with copper work to match. Fewer roofers in the area do it, so scheduling may take longer. Synthetic slate and asphalt are installed by most roofing contractors.
When you call, ask the roofer to walk through each option for your specific house. The slate roof replacement page covers installation details.
Weighing slate against shingles? Call to talk it through with a roofer who has replaced both.Mon–Fri 8:30 am–7 pm, Sat 9 am–4 pm (Eastern)
(844) 505-0987Related questions
- Will removing slate hurt my home's value?
- On a house where slate is part of the architecture, especially in a historic district, buyers may notice. On many houses, a well-chosen architectural shingle in a slate-like color looks right from the street. A roofer and, if relevant, the historic district commission can help you judge your house.
- Can I mix materials, slate on the front and shingles on the back?
- Some owners keep slate on the most visible slopes and use another material on rear slopes or porch roofs. The transitions need careful flashing, and in a historic district the commission may weigh in.