Louisiana Slate Roofing

Louisiana is bordered by Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, Texas to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Due to its location on the Gulf Coast, Louisiana has regularly suffered the effects of tropical storms and damaging hurricanes. New Orleans possesses an abundance of historic architecture constructed over a period spanning almost three hundred years. The City is home to more than twenty National Register historic districts, fifteen local Historic Districts, and an extensive list of local and national Landmark buildings. The most prevalent historic building types in the city include;

• Creole Cottage (with hipped or side gabled roofs, frequently with tall, narrow gabled dormer windows).
• American or Creole Townhouse (featuring a side gabled or hipped roof).
• Raised Center-Hall Cottage (with side gabled roofs, often with dormer windows).
• Shotgun House (with a front gable or hipped roof),
• Double-Gallery House (exhibiting a side-gabled or hipped roof).

Architectural styles seen throughout the NOLA include; Creole, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Eastlake, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, Edwardian, Arts and Crafts and Eclectic/Exotic Revivals. The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré Historic District (“Old Square”), is the oldest section of the City of New Orleans. The Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) Architectural Committee states that, “All existing slate roofs must be replaced with slate of the same quality, color and size of the existing roof”. Prior to the French Quarter fires of 1788 and 1794, buildings were primarily roofed with wood shingles. After the fires, to meet new Spanish building requirements, new building roofs and replacement roofs were constructed with slate and terra cotta (clay) tiles.
Slate is natural stone, making it 100% fireproof meeting ASTM E108-10 Class A (highest) Fire Resistance Rating. High quality slate exhibits virtually no water absorption making it unaffected by freeze/thaw climate cycles. Roofing slate complies with the High Velocity Hurricane Zone of the Florida Building Code, sustaining wind speeds of 110 mph. North American produced 3/8” thick, S-1 rated roofing slate, met Class 4 requirements, surviving the impact of 2” ice balls travelling at 76 MPH. As well, 1/4″ thick, S-1 rated, produced in North American met Class 3 requirements, surviving the impact of 1 3/4″ ice balls travelling at 69 MPH. Popular roofing slate colors in Louisiana are; Semi-Weathering (Sea) Green, Semi-Weathering Gray/Green, Semi-Weathering Clear Gray, Semi-Weathering (Royal) Purple and Unfading Black. These roofs can be seen along Bourbon St. in the French Quarter, Metairie in Jefferson Parish, around Louis Armstrong Park and many historic American townhouse homes around Jackson Square. Located 60 miles southwest of Baton Rouge in Vermilion Parish, is the Vermilion Courthouse. The facade features a portico based on the typical Greek temple front with six columns. The rear facade is patterned after the Classic Revival Louisiana plantation home. It has an eight column veranda with an outside staircase. At the left side is a secondary entrance with an “old New Orleans” cast iron portico. The body of the building is brick and with a slate stone Semi-Weathering Gray/Green roof. The roof also features a decorative element, with the hips and ridges capped in terra cotta clay tile installed in an English-V profile with mortar between adjoining tiles. With all these geographical, building and architectural factors, it’s no wonder why roofing slate shingles are the ideal choice for Louisiana architects, roofing contractors, custom home builders and property owners. Please contact us at 1-416-724-4666 or info@ncslate.com Regions North Louisiana – Cities: Shreveport Central Louisiana – Cities: Alexandria Acadiana – Cities: Lafayette, Abbeville Florida Parishes – Cities: Baton Rouge Greater New Orleans – Cities: New Orleans