Welcome, Hampton Roads Property Owner
Whether you manage a commercial building, an institutional facility, or own a residential home, knowing your roof's maintenance history is critical to preserving its value. Whether we’ve serviced your roof in the past or you're looking for a qualified team to evaluate it for the first time, we are here to protect your investment.
⚠️ The Hidden Danger: Common Mistakes by Non-Specialist Roofers
Slate roofing is an old-world trade, not standard asphalt shingling or commercial single-ply roofing. Out of hundreds of roofing contractors in Hampton Roads, fewer than a handful truly understand slate. When unqualified roofers attempt slate repairs on residential or commercial structures, they often cause costly, permanent damage.
Here are the most common mistakes we fix:
Inappropriate Sealants and Caulking: Non-specialists often use tar or silicone sealant to "patch" a leak. Tar traps moisture, accelerates tile decay, and creates massive repair bills down the line.
Exposed "Face-Nailing" & Missing Bib Flashing: Driving nails directly through the exposed face of a slate—or failing to slide proper bib flashing over hidden repair nails—creates a direct highway for water. These un-flashed nail slots quietly leak behind the scenes, rotting your wood decking while appearing fine from the ground.
Improper Flashing: When slate meets sidewalls, step flashing and kick-out flashing must be custom-crafted from heavy metals like copper. Standard roofers often use cheap materials or omit kick-out flashing entirely, directing water inside wall cavities and causing hidden structural rot.
Unattractive & Weak "Strap" Hacks: Amateurs often attempt to hold replacement slates in place using makeshift metal straps bent over the bottom edge. Not only are these visually unappealing, but they easily buckle and bend open under the weight of sliding snow, ice, or high winds.
Failing Plumbing Vent Collars: Standard asphalt shingle neoprene or rubber pipe boots break down in as little as 7–10 years under the sun. On a slate roof designed to last over a century, using cheap collars causes silent leaks around plumbing vents. We custom-fabricate soldered copper sleeves built to match the lifespan of your slate.
Unprotected Critter Entries: Gaps caused by missing slates, rotting fascia, or improperly detailed eaves create open doors for squirrels, raccoons, bats, and rodents. Unqualified contractors often patch these with mesh or foam; we restore the underlying slate and custom trim to keep pests out permanently.
Nailing Slates Too Tightly (or Over-Nighting): Slate tiles must "hang" on their nails. Driving nails in too hard shatters the tile during normal expansion and contraction. Leaving nail heads sitting too high causes them to grind and punch holes right through the overlying slate layer above them.Using the Wrong Fasteners: Standard roofing nails corrode quickly. True slate restoration requires heavy-gauge copper or fasteners to match the multi-decade lifespan of the stone.
Walking Directly on the Slate: Unfitted roofers walk on slate like standard roofing materials, crushing brittle tiles underfoot and creating dozens of new leaks while trying to fix one.
Why Trust The Roofing Company, Inc.?
Over 25 Years of Local Excellence: Serving Hampton Roads residential and commercial property owners continuously since 1998.
Specialized Craftsmanship: Our technicians are specifically trained in traditional slate repair, slate harvesting, custom sheet metal fabrication, and historical preservation.
Uncompromising Safety & Zero Shortcuts: Slate roofs are steep, high-risk systems. We enforce rigorous safety standards and protocols on every project—never taking shortcuts on craftsmanship, materials, or crew protection.
Long-Term Asset Protection: We focus on permanent, architectural-grade repairs—never quick patches that fail in a few months.
Prefer to speak with a slate expert right now? Call our office directly at 757-867-6600.
Property Facts Report & Inspection Offer Terms
- Eligibility: Free Slate Roof Inspections and Property Facts Reports are available exclusively to property owners (residential, commercial, or institutional) with natural slate roofing systems located within our primary service area in Hampton Roads, VA.
- Property Ownership: Requesters must be the legal property owner or an authorized representative (such as the homeowner, a facility manager or property administrator).
- Property Facts Report Availability: Repair histories are generated using available internal service records on file with The Roofing Company, Inc. and may include past job summaries and photo documentation when available. If no prior service history exists for the property, we are happy to provide a FREE, comprehensive slate roof inspection to establish a baseline for your roof's condition.
- Scope of Free Inspection: The complimentary inspection includes a visual assessment of the slate roof surface, flashings, vent collars, and immediate problem areas. It does not include emergency leak troubleshooting, structural engineering assessments, or immediate physical repairs.
- Scheduling: Free inspections are scheduled based on technician availability and weather conditions.
- Limitation: Offer is non-transferable, has no cash value, and cannot be combined with other promotional offers or active contract discounts. Limit one free inspection per property.
- Right to Refuse: The Roofing Company, Inc. reserves the right to decline free inspections for properties outside our standard service area or structures determined to be unsafe for access.
