Mansard Roofs

Derrick Architecture These are Grand Manor shingles- i believe the color was Black Pearl

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Cost: Most slate roofs are expensive, running between $15 and $30 per square foot installed. This figure is at least five times more than conventional roofing materials. However, a slate roof can last 150 years or more — at least five times longer than a conventional roof.

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It all depends on whether your slates are weathered to the point of no return or not. Usually on a slate roof, it's the flashing that gives out first and not the slates. You can replace the flashing and have a serviceable roof again. Here in the east coast, that's often done on period houses from the 1930s. If the roof is older than that though, you would need to replace the whole roof. This is expensive and there certainly isn't anything out there that is much cheaper but also looks like a slate roof. You can use a less expensive slate such as those imported from China versus a Vermont slate. Some of the colors are fairly durable but not all of them so you would have to research that. i don't like the simulated slate products out there though because the colors are too uniform. It just doesn't look convincing. If you do put back a slate roof again, the upside is that, with a durable flashing material like copper, the roof can last 60 years which is far longer than most other types.

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