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Slate Color Comparisons

Pick a color, Any color

The decision to grace your project with a natural slate roof is one that you will be thankful for, many years into the future. It speaks volumes about your good taste, your design sense – and your common sense. North Country slates are available in a wide variety of colors. Slates of various color, size and thickness are frequently blended together to create truly unique multi-colored roofs. There’s a selection to match virtually any design aesthetic you could wish for. Take the time to review all of our color options available.

Select up to 3 slate colors for a side by side comparison of their natural color range.

North Country Unfading Black
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Black
North Country Semi-Weathering Vermont Black
<span>North Country</span> Semi-Weathering  Vermont Black
North Country Semi-Weathering Gray/Black (Strata Gray)
<span>North Country</span> Semi-Weathering  Gray/Black (Strata Gray)
North Country Semi-Weathering Gray
<span>North Country</span>  Semi-Weathering Gray
North Country Semi-Weathering Gray/Green (Sea Green)
<span>North Country</span> Semi-Weathering  Gray/Green (Sea Green)
North Country Unfading Green
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Green
North Country Unfading Gray
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Gray
North Country Unfading Mottled Purple & Green
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Mottled  Purple & Green
North Country Unfading Purple
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Purple
North Country Semi-Weathering Purple
<span>North Country</span>  Semi-Weathering Purple
North Country Unfading Red
<span>North Country</span> Unfading Red
North Country Multi-Colored/ Custom Blend Roof Slates
<span>North Country</span> Multi-Colored/ Custom Blend Roof Slates

FAQs

  • What are the main differences between a semi-weathering gray versus a semi-weathering gray/green?

    North Country Semi-Weathering Gray is a rich battleship gray color with some minor dark inclusions that will weather over time. North Country Semi-Weathering Gray/Green is a blend of gray/green or sea green tones. As a natural stone product, a pleasing variance in color from pallet to pallet is to be expected. Blending slate from all pallets is required to avoid any unsightly blotches on the roof. Chlorite minerals produce green slate and carbon the gray tones. Color weathering of buff, brown and tan is due to the presence of calcite and iron compounds and fine-grained iron pyrite in the form of limonite.

  • How would you compare the unfading black to the semi-weathering Vermont black?

    North Country Unfading Black is a rich blue/black slate. It might be described as a dark charcoal grey. It is offered in uniform thicknesses of 3/16”, 1/4” and 3/8”, and has a smooth texture cleft. This slate is produced in Canada.

    North Country Semi-Weathering Vermont Black is predominantly black, containing shades of medium and dark gray in subtle linear markings across the slate. A percentage of these slate will weather to tones of buff and brown over time when exposed to the elements. This slate is moderately more textured than the unfading black and splits best in standard thickness of 1/4”-3/8”.

     

  • What colors are available in roofing slate?

    The most common colors are green, gray, purple, and black. As a metamorphic stone you can expect to see a natural range in color from piece to piece. Purple slates can be semi-weathering, and a percentage will weather to tones of brown or buff over time. While the unfading purple slates will have a full range of deep purple tones with the occasional green inclusions. One of the more interesting colors is our unfading mottled purple and green, which varies with an array of light to dark tones.

  • My slate roof is old, how can I tell what the original color was?

    If you can remove an existing piece of slate, look at the underside as this will help depict the original color. Our technical sales representatives can help provide the closest (new slate) color match by simply looking at a few photographs or sample piece.
  • Does the slate color fade?

    There are two types of weathering characteristics that are common in natural slate roofing material: semi-weathering and unfading (non-weathering). This is predicated on the slate’s mineral and chemical makeup. When exposed to the atmosphere, a percentage of slates can eventually change to buff and brown hues. A few weeks, months, or years may pass before weathering occurs. It is crucial to remember that the weathering process does not degrade slate in any way, it is just a aesthetic feature. An unfading or non-weathering slate is least likely to change color over time.
  • How to select a slate color for your roof?

    North American produced roofing slates are available in a wide variety of colors. With several color options in unfading and semi-weathering. When choosing a color it may come down to the architectural style of your home, complimentary exterior brick color, or a single uniform color throughout the roof vs. a unique, custom multi-colored slate roof.
  • How can I tell what the original color on my slate roof was?

    Natural roofing slates are available in several colors such as black, gray/black, gray, green, gray/green, purple, mottled purple & green and red. Some slates can be unfading, and others are semi-weathering. Perhaps you have “attic stock” available that a roofer may have left for future repairs.  Looking at the back side of the slate will provide a much better indicator as to what the original color may have looked like as it will have not been exposed to the elements over time.

  • Can I order multiple colors of slate for my roof?

    Absolutely!  You can customize your roof with several colors to provide a one-of-a-kind roof. Sometimes a combination of unfading and semi-weathering slates is combined to soften the transition from color to color on the roof.

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