November, 191 
33 
SLATE AS A ROOFING MATERIAL 
The Color, Texture and Charming Irregularities 
that Can Be Produced in a Slate Roof Well Laid 
ROMER S H A W H A N 
Sketches by Frank J. Forster 
T HE possibilities of slate as a roofing ma¬ 
terial, susceptible of unusual texture 
effects and at the same time characterized by 
great durability, have long been appreciated. 
It is absorbing more and more the attention of 
architects in their desire to produce a roofing 
surface that will add interest and artistic merit 
to their work. 
Much progress has been made in the develop - 
ment of beautiful effects in slate roofing. The 
secret of a successful house lies, of course, in 
the harmony of the ensemble; and as harmony 
means a combination of interesting details 
happily disposed, it is quite natural that the 
roof, one of the most important units, should 
play a dominant part. 
Unfortunately, the desire for a pleasing and 
unusual effect sometimes results in a roof that 
On broad roof sur¬ 
faces, such as that be¬ 
low, varied slate roof¬ 
ing is necessary to 
add interest and 
sparkle to the ensemble 
is bizarre and wholly out of keeping and scale 
with the rest of the building. “Slate slabs” 
would perhaps be the appropriate term to apply 
to some of the shingles used, for it is not an 
unusual thing to see pieces of slate laid 16”, 
18" or even 20" to the weather. In many 
cases the effect of the shingles is massive and 
heavier than that of the stone walls which 
support them. Needless to say, such over¬ 
balancing is anything but pleasing, and seri¬ 
ously injures the composition as a whole. 
The main fault in such examples rests in an 
exaggerated exposure of the slate to the weather. 
The slates themselves may be 2" or more in 
thickness at the eaves, and as wide as 42" any¬ 
where on the roof proper, and still produce a 
pleasing appearance, granting that the slate is 
not laid so wide to the weather that the roof is 
thrown out of scale with the building it is pro¬ 
tecting. In other words, a sense of proportion 
is what is needed, rather than a desire to pro¬ 
duce an effect that “will make them sit up and 
take notice.” 
Aside from the present inclination to use 
slate laid too wide to the weather, a question 
only of effect and good taste, there are not many 
objections that one may make to a well laid 
(Continued on page 76) 
The pleasing combination of stone and 
stucco has been enhanced by the use 
of well selected slate for the roof of 
the residence of W. M. Campbell, Esq., 
at Hartsdale, N. Y. Caretto & Forster, 
architects 
.4 beautiful example of 
well selected slate laid 
in contrast to adjoining 
masonry and detail of 
dormer 
The forecourt of the 
home of H. W. Craw, 
Esq., Gedney Farms, 
N. Y., showing colorful 
use of slate 
