Blogs

A new makeover for The Cathedral of Saint Paul (St. Paul’s Cathedral) in Birmingham, Alabama ...

By Sheena Owen Feb 20th, 2015

The City of Birmingham, Alabama was founded in 1871. Twenty-two years later the St. Paul’s Cathedral was completed at an estimated cost of approximately $90,000. Designed by German born architect Adolphus Druiding, who immigrated to the United States in 1865, left his legacy designing over forty-one Roman Catholic churches throughout the Midwest. St.

Perth County Court House – 1 Huron Street, Stratford, Ontario, Canada

By Sheena Owen Feb 10th, 2015

On May 9, 1887 the doors opened to one of Ontario’s magnificent court houses. This was the second court house built as the original one (1853-1887) was also a jail and due to the poor ventilation, overcrowding, odour from the jail yard, eventually led to the court judges and personnel refusing to sit in the court room.

Things to look for when choosing slate

By Sheena Owen Jan 14th, 2015

1. RELIABLE slate suppler 2. CAPABLE roofer 3. Unfading or weathering slate 4. Oxidizable iron pyrite 5. Grading for thickness 6. Over / Under-nailing 7. Joint spacing 8. Headlap 9. Slates cut less than 5 inches wide 10.

Welcome to North Country Slate

By Sheena Owen Dec 31st, 2014

Welcome to North Country Slate. Please check back as we begin updating our blog.

Bogenschnitts, Wabens, Schuppens….the German way!

By Sheena Owen Dec 4th, 2014

The Germans know how to install a great looking and practical roof! The shapes of the German style slates are designed and installed to the direction of the prevailing winds so that the water runs along the curved lower edge and down the face of the slate. A bogenschnitt can be ordered “right” or “left”.

North Country Unfading Black roofing slate

By Sheena Owen Sep 10th, 2014

North Country Unfading Black meets or exceeds the requirements of an S-1 rated roofing slate under ASTM C-406. This fine material is available in smooth textured 3/16”, ¼” and 3/8” nominal thickness as well as medium textured ¼” nominal thickness.

The Fairmont Empress Hotel (“The Empress”) Victoria, British Columbia,...

By Sheena Owen Aug 25th, 2014

Build between 1904-1908, The Fairmont Express (“The Empress”) is Victoria, British Columbia’s most famous and oldest hotel, officially opening on January 20, 1908. Designed by architect, Francis Rattenbury, this chateau style hotel served as a terminus hotel for Canadian Pacific Steamship line.

Shannon Mews – 7101 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

By Sheena Owen Aug 15th, 2014

Shannon Mews is the second mansion built by Vancouver’s first millionaire, Benjamin Tingley Rogers. BT Rogers, an American sugar producer, came to Canada in 1889 with a vision of starting his own sugar business. In 1890 with the City of Vancouver’s blessing, Rogers opened the British Columbia Sugar Refining Company.

McTavish Pumping Station

By Sheena Owen Jul 29th, 2014

Located above McGill University’s campus on the south slope of Mount Royal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), the McTavish Pumping Station is the source of Montreal’s water distribution. Build between 1928-1932, it was designed by famous Montreal architect Jean-Omer Marchand and named after famous Montreal Businessman, Simon McTavish (1750-1804).