I'm building a new Queen Anne victorian in the mountains of SW VA. Steep roofs of course, adding up to just about 100 squares.

Have any of y'all (I'm in the south, remember) had any experience with Tru Slate? It looks ok on the surface, but I downloaded the installation instructions and it looks like a nightmare to me. Any guesses as to what the complete install cost would be?

Any other recommendations?
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Chris

Tru slate sent me their install guide and some samples.Probably the biggest advantages are lower weight and more forgiving to bad installation than the real thing.Might want to check out some of the metal roofing like Edco, and also there is a clay tile that looks real close to slate and is under 6oo ibs per square.Look it up at US Tile.Good luck-Ray

Thanks, Ray, I wasn't yet familiar with those products. US Tile only offers slickware on their site, no real information, so that's a turn-off. I like the idea of the EDCO metal roof - I wish it looked more like the stamped-metal roofs that were put on some victorians. A friend of mine has that on her 100 year old Vic and it's still going strong. And at least the installation is straight-forward (unlike Tru-Slate and Nu-Lock).

I like the idea of the Tru-Slate as it is true slate. I think I can even get it in Buckingham slate, which is the best, and is almost local to me. What I don't like is it just being decoration to an EPDM roof, it's reliant on this hanger system (virtually invisible!), and it appears to have a screwy installation particularly at valleys (of which I have a lot!).

I've looked at a lot of the polymer fake-slate products, and some of them look pretty good (initially). I like the Lamarite product as I can get different profiles so that I can put in some classic patterns, and installation seems straight-forward. But will they hold up? Will any of these companies be around in even 10 years to support their 50 year warranties? At least I kind of know what I'm getting with GAF/ELK composites. But the architect twitches every time I mention composites.....

Spending a LOT of money for this roof, and am approaching analysis paralysis

HELP!
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Chris

check out here http://www.traditionalroofing.com/
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WHATS A HOUSE WITHOUT A ROOF!?!
Steeper The Better!!

I assume your talking about the GAF product. As a slater my opinion is that its garbage and will give real slate roofs a bad name. there is no headlap, it depends on a flimsy material flap that will eventially degrade. It also has unsightly slate hooks that you can see. I do not like it, and would never install it. If weight is a concern consider going with Davinci. Or just do a real slate roof installed by real slaters.
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WWW.jbennetteroofing.com

Thanks for that Kage - but this is just about *real* slate roofs. You must have missed that I have 100 squares to do . Also, about 1/3rd of it is on structural insulated panels over a timberframe, and it won't handle the load of *real* slate.

Such a shame - about 30 years ago I put myself through college by tearing down beautiful, but condemned, houses in Roanoke, VA. One had a slate roof of Buckingham, that was still in good shape. We were just pitching them onto the ground from 30 feet up when we heard a feller holler that he would pay a buck a piece for them. We spent the next week carefully lowering them all to the ground - musta been about 40 squares. The feller came by a few days later and bought 10 (slates, not squares)of them. To paint cute "country" scenes on them. My partner stored them for years - I don't know what's happened to them since....
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Chris

Thanks a lot for your opinion, J - your criticism of TruSlate is right along the lines of my concerns. I have looked at Davinci's web site, but they don't have a lot of information on it. Can I ask why you recommend it?
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Chris

I would go with Davinci then
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WHATS A HOUSE WITHOUT A ROOF!?!
Steeper The Better!!

I cant say what they'll look like in 50yrs but there are a couple around here about 10yrs old still look new,there easy to install if you can do cedar you can do davinci and there light and i've heard nothing bad about them.
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WHATS A HOUSE WITHOUT A ROOF!?!
Steeper The Better!!

I have been installing traditional slate roofs for some years now so my response is going to be biased. However, let me point out that all these "slates" aren't really nailed to the roof, they are just hooked in, which would worry when it comes to wind shear (I'm in ohio and we caught the tail end of the big hurricane that hit galveston last year). Also, if your home has a good amount of gable ends, then you have the problem of expansion contraction and that UV blocker stuff poking out of the sides, not to mention it could possibly bind underneath the slates and push them up and just look plain stupid. I'm sorry, but this stuff just seems more like a new-fangled nightmare then a good product. You at least know what you are getting with traditional slate roofing and if you can get your hands on some Buckingham slate, all the better! As far as price goes, you may be ending up paying around the same as traditional slate considering how much more effort goes into prep and installation. In spite of all this, If you choose to go with Tru-Slate, be sure the contractor/subcontractor has at least some history with slate roofing methods because there will be stylistic issues as well as method issues that your crew will face. These would include the cutting of slates for gable ends and valleys (please don't let them cut your slates with a grinder!!!). Well, that was long winded but I hope your end result is perfect and durable whichever way you choose to go. Oh yea, where at in VA?

didn't see the post about weight being an issue

Out of all the synthetics davinci is bar far the best and best looking one. I was a skeptic at first until we installed some. The GAF slate thing will not be on the market long "mark my words".No headlap equals a diaster waiting to happen.
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WWW.jbennetteroofing.com

Maybe standing seam copper for the areas that can't hold the weight?
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Dennis M. Crookshanks Const. Slate Copper Tile - Restoration and Repair
Up to date roof ventilation information

I am planning on doing standing seam copper on the porches. Is the price of copper still through the roof? (sorry . Should I plan on melting down my penny collection? Just my initial estimates for the copper flashing is giving me heart palpitations.

I've sent you a pm...there is a lot of custom metal-work on the house.
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Chris