| Author | Message | ||
     John J. |
Hi everyone... I am overwhelmed with the information here. My wife and I are in the early planning stages with an architect for our new home in East Indiana. We really want a slate roof, but the architect is really encouraging us not to persue it. I am aware of some buildings that may be torn down in the next several years that have slate roofs, would these be worth investigating? How do i get the best value for our money in the roof? What is the rough additional cost for slate for a 4000 square foot house with a fairly straightforward Pennsylvania farmhouse design?? I have lots of questions... Thanks!!! John J. | ||
| admin |
You get what you pay for. The least expensive slate roof is one made of sound recycled slate that you recycle yourself and install yourself. You can have a 100 year roof for practically no cost except labor, nails and flashing material. | ||
| Walter Musson |
John, If you're able to remove the slate from a building scheduled for demolition by yourself it would certainly cost less than paying for labor to do it. The contractor who is doing the demo job might expect to receive money for the salvage rights to the slate,instead of just giving it to you. In addition in this day and age it's doubtful they would allow you or your designee to work on the roof without a certificate of insurance to indemnify them in case of some accident to property or persons. This still may provide you with good slate at less cost per square than just purchasing it from a dealer.Unless you're prepared to do the install yourself those costs of installation will still need to be borne by you,so your savings will only be the difference between what you would have spent to buy either new or recycled slate,and what it might cost to procure the necessary salvage slate. I guess I wonder why your architect is shying away from using it. | ||
| john j |
Thanks for the replies. I am not sure why, because he is encouraging us to use stone exterior rather than brick, which is certainly more expensive. I guess he thinks it will add $100,000 or so to the cost. I hope it doesn't, as the house shouldn't be much more than 3500 square foot, two story, three car garage, not really complex. The internet anonymous cost estimators place it at around $35,000, which is tolerable, but I think that is a really lowball estimate... The more I think about it, the more sure I am, if we can find the right people to consult and do the work. Sounds like the salvage is too much hassle to worry about. | ||
| Walter Musson |
You say the house is around 3500 sq.' but what would the roof area be?How many squares of roofing will be required for the house and garage? I doubt if the roof will cost 100,000,perhaps half that. Nothing compliments a stone facade like a slate roof. Sounds like you'll be contracting the labor on this project. Look here on Joe's site for slate contractors in your area. |
