Pennsylvania Slate Roofing

The production of roofing slate in Pennsylvania dates back to 1734, when Welsh settlers discovered the Peach Bottom slate deposit in York County, PA. In 1850, at the Crystal Palace Exposition in England it was deemed the best roofing slate in the world. The slate can be described as dark black with a slight sheen or crystalline texture. Recognized for its excellent durability, these slates were known to last 200 years on a rooftop. The slate quarries in Lehigh and Northampton county of Pennsylvania, have been mined since 1840, and were known as the largest producing region in the state. This area alone produced 40-50% of the USA total slate production from 1900-1940. Known as “Penn Black” this black / dark gray or “blue black” slate ranges in durability from S1 to S2. Slate quarries in Bangor, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Danielsville, Slatington, and Slatedale were known as the “soft vein” region, while the Belfast and Chapman areawas known as the “hard vein” slate belt. When trying to match any Peach Bottom, Chapman, Bangor or Pen Argyl Pennsylvania slate, North Country Unfading Black is your best choice! Slate roofing professionals and architects know with its rich “blue/black” color, North Country Unfading Black represents the closest match to any Pennsylvania slate, especially when a smooth textured 3/16” or 1/4” slate is required. When building an addition or a new slate roof replacement, it is important to contact a slate roofing contractor who can properly color match your existing slate roof to ensure your visual aesthetics are met. As Pennsylvania was once home to the largest producing region of roofing slate in the USA, supplying local homes, churches, universities, colleges and government buildings with their treasured Pennsylvania Black or Pennsylvania Gray, slate became the everyday steep slope roofing material of choice. To meet the volume and delivery requirements on some of America’s finest university and college campuses, Canadian Black from the Glendyne quarry is specified as the standard for excellence. When a 20,000 sq. ft. dormitory roof needs to be replaced over the summer months, roofing contractors depend on a strong, reliable source to deliver slate on schedule. As one of the world’s most reputable slate suppliers, we are able to meet your projects demanding schedule requirements. North Country’s natural roofing slates continue to be the campus standard on many higher education facilities including; University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Drexel University. Popular roofing slate colors in Pennsylvania include; North Country Unfading Black, North Country Semi-Weathering Gray/Black (Strata Gray), North Country Semi-Weathering Gray/Green and Semi-Weathering Vermont Black. You can find slate roofers installing our slate in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown, Lancaster and Reading on a regular basis. For more information on how we can service yourPennsylvania slate roofing needs contact us at 1-416-724-4666 or info@ncslate.com.