Blogs

Sheena Owen

Sheena Owen began working for North Country Slate on October 12, 1999. Started as the Sales Coordinator and transitioned to a Sales Representative. Daily duties include providing customer service, new business development, inside sales, handling all cross-border customs issues/documentation, arranging shipments, health and safety representation and social media marketing. Sheena graduated from the University of Guelph in 1992 with a BA in English and Drama and in 1995 graduated with a Diploma in Radio and Television Broadcasting from Centennial College. Sheena’s first job was the Executive Producer’s Assistant for TV shows including Robocop, F/X The Series and Nikita. She went on to becoming an Assistant Manager at Eddie Bauer. In her spare time, Sheena enjoys traveling, gardening and hikes with family and friends.

Slate roof survives F3 Tornado – Goderich Town Hall – 57 West Street, Goderich, Ontario

By Sheena Owen May 10th, 2018

A natural slate roof has many benefits when installed with non-corroding nails. In 2015, the National Slate Association tested slate for high winds. It passed the ASTM D3161-15 Class (highest) Wind Resistance Rating. Perhaps this is why the slate roof on the Goderich Town Hall survived the 2011 F3 tornado.

Lake Forest Train Station with North Country Unfading Black natural slate...

By Sheena Owen May 1st, 2018

The Lake Forest Train Station in Illinois was built between 1899-1900 and was the fourth station on the site. The larger English Tudor style train station opened in 1901, to accommodate the large city crowds who enjoyed Lake Forest’s weekend events like golf, horse shows and polo matches.

Slate Roof Pattern Designs

By Sheena Owen Apr 26th, 2018

The color of a natural slate is derived from its mineral and chemical composition. Each individual piece is unique with a subtle variation in shade and color. Some slates will weather over time, while others will retain their color.

Canadian Unfading Black roof slates (North Country Unfading Black)

By Sheena Owen Apr 23rd, 2018

Our Canadian Unfading Black roof slates are produced from a single source in St Marc Du Lac Long, Quebec, Canada near the Maine/New Brunswick border. This blue-black slate supplied 80 percent of the Canadian market during the 1880’s and the 1890s.

How to match an old 100 year slate roof

By Sheena Owen Apr 18th, 2018

Trying to match a 100 year old slate roof with new slate is never easy. When requested, we send a full range of colors exhibiting weathering characteristics to show roofing contractors, architects and building owners what they can expect to see with these natural slate colors.

Slate roof replacement for City of Kawartha Lakes City Hall with new North...

By Sheena Owen Apr 16th, 2018

In March 2016, the City of Kawartha Lakes Council approved the restoration of the City Hall. In September and October 2016, we supplied 86 squares of our North Country Unfading Black slate roof tiles (24” x 12” x ¼”) for this slate roof replacement project.

Canadian Unfading Black roof slates supplied for the restoration of the James...

By Sheena Owen Apr 12th, 2018

You can hear the ringmaster’s voice saying “Step right up, step right up. This way to the fabulous Circus of Life. Come one, come all, and see the most amazing sights in the universe. And the most amazing thing of all is that entrance is free. That's right folks, you don't pay a cent to get in.

North Country Semi-Weathering Gray Green new slate roof for Moffat Library in...

By Sheena Owen Apr 9th, 2018

North Country Semi-Weathering (Sea) Green is a premium quality roofing slate. A percentage of these slates will weather to tones of brown and buff over time. In 2017, we supplied 115 squares of 16” x random widths x ¼” for the Moffat Library re-roof which was part of the library’s major restoration project.

North Country Unfading Black slate project – Richardson Olmstead Complex...

By Sheena Owen Apr 4th, 2018

At the time of construction 1872-1880, the Buffalo State Asylum in New York was a state of the art building. The name changed in 1890 to Buffalo State Hospital and in 1972 was named Buffalo Psychiatric Center.