A roof for
the next
hundred years.
The first step is deciding between natural stone or modern synthetic. We install both across MD, DC & VA — and we’ll help you figure out which one belongs on your home.
Slate 101
Two roofs, both
called “slate.”
One is quarried from the earth. The other is engineered for performance. Both deliver the iconic look of the Capital’s finest homes — and we install both.
Natural Quarried
The gold standard for historic preservation. Authentic hand-split stone from the finest quarries. If your home has a 100-year horizon, this is the only material that satisfies it.
- Genuine metamorphic rock
- 100+ year lifespan
- Historic-district approved
Synthetic Composite
Advanced polymers by Brava & DaVinci. Molded from real slate to mimic every cleft and grain, but lightweight enough for any structure — usually with no framing upgrade.
- High-performance polymer
- 50-year limited warranty
- ~270 lbs/sq — no reinforcement
Which slate is
right for you?
The honest answer: it depends on your house, your budget, and how long you plan to stay. Here's the short version — and then the details below.
Match it with natural slate.
Authentic, historic-district safe, lasts another century. Best for long-term owners.
Go with Brava synthetic.
30–50% less, no framing upgrade, 50-year warranty, indistinguishable from the street.
Why homeowners
choose slate.
Natural slate routinely outlives the homes it covers. A truly generational investment.
Stone won't burn. Period. The highest possible fire resistance for residential roofing.
Holds up to hail and falling limbs. Modern synthetics offer unmatched durability.
No other roof reads as historic, intentional, or permanent. Unrivaled neighborhood prestige.
Measured.
Methodical.
Yours.
A slate roof is a generational investment. We treat it that way — from the first walk-through to the day we hand you the warranty.
- 01
In-home assessment
We inspect framing, decking, ventilation, and historical detailing to confirm slate is the right call for your home.
- 02
Material selection
Choose from natural quarried slate or premium synthetic. We bring samples to your kitchen table.
- 03
Crew & schedule
Our W-2 slate crew handles your project end to end — no day-labor subs ever.
- 04
Lifetime backing
Manufacturer-backed lifetime warranties plus our own workmanship guarantee.
Washington, DC · Historic District
Replicating a scalloped
slate turret, by hand.
A homeowner in a DC historic district needed the scalloped slate profile on their turret restored. The only way to faithfully replicate the original look is to hand-clip every corner of every tile before it goes on the roof — a tedious process that also required sign-off from DOB and the DC Historic Preservation Society.
01 — BeforeA century of weather
The original turret had lost its scalloped slate to decades of DC weather — the underlying coating was failing and the historic profile was gone.
02 — Color MatchMatching the quarry
We sourced and compared natural slate samples until the grain, thickness, and color line matched the surviving original tiles on the property.
03 — InstallHand-clipped, one at a time
Every single tile was hand-clipped on both corners to recreate the scalloped profile. There is no shortcut — it is the only way to do this correctly.
- 04 — After
Approved & permanent
Installed under DOB permit and approved by the DC Historic Preservation Society — a roof the neighborhood will see for the next hundred years.
Permitted under DOB · Approved by DC Historic Preservation Society
Start Your ProjectAn approved alternative to true slate.
The turrets above are Brava composite — not quarried stone. From the street, the chisel marks, color variation, and shadow lines are indistinguishable from natural slate. Brava is accepted by DC Historic Preservation on the right projects, weighs a fraction of real slate, and carries a 50-year manufacturer warranty.
Slate, plainly
explained.
The questions homeowners actually ask us — about natural slate, Brava, DaVinci, and everything in between.
01How do I know if I have natural slate or synthetic slate?+
From the ground, they look nearly identical. Natural slate is heavier, has subtle stone variation, and on older DC/MD/VA homes (pre-1940s) it's almost always real stone. Synthetic slate is uniform in thickness, lighter, and shows up on newer builds or restorations. The fastest way to know: send us a clear photo of your roof and we'll identify it for free within 24 hours.
02What is natural (quarried) slate?+
Natural slate is real stone — split by hand from quarries in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and overseas. Each tile is unique in color and texture. Properly installed, a natural slate roof routinely lasts 100 years or more, which is why so many historic DC rowhouses still have their original roofs.
03What is Brava composite slate?+
Brava is a premium synthetic roofing tile molded from real slate to capture the chisel marks, color variation, and irregular edges of natural stone. It's made from compressed recycled materials and advanced polymers, carries a Class A fire rating and Class 4 impact resistance, and weighs roughly a fifth of real slate.
04What's the difference between Brava, DaVinci, and CertainTeed synthetic slate?+
They're all composite/polymer slate brands that compete in the same premium category. Brava and DaVinci are the most slate-realistic in person; CertainTeed (Symphony) is more cost-driven. We install Brava as our default because we've found its color blends and shadow lines hold up best in DC light, but we'll spec whichever brand fits your home and budget.
05How does Brava compare to real slate on lifespan?+
Natural slate can last 100+ years. Brava carries a 50-year limited manufacturer warranty, which is on par with most premium asphalt and metal roofs. For homeowners planning to stay 20–40 years, that difference is often academic.
06Is synthetic slate really lighter than natural stone?+
Yes — dramatically. Natural slate weighs 800–1,500 lbs per square (a 10x10 ft area). Brava weighs about 270 lbs per square. That means most existing roof decks can handle synthetic slate without structural reinforcement, saving thousands in framing upgrades.
07Will a Brava roof look fake from the street?+
Not anymore. Modern composites use multi-tonal blending, varied tile thicknesses, and staggered profiles that mimic the irregular shadow lines of real slate. From the sidewalk, even slate professionals often can't tell the difference. We always bring physical samples to the consultation so you can judge for yourself.
08Can I use synthetic slate in a historic district?+
Often yes. DC Historic Preservation Society and most MD/VA boards now accept Brava and DaVinci on the right projects — especially when the original profile is faithfully matched. We've handled the approval paperwork on dozens of historic homes and we manage that process for you as part of the project.
09Is synthetic slate cheaper than natural slate?+
Yes, meaningfully. A full natural slate roof on a typical DC rowhouse runs $40,000–$80,000+ installed. The same profile in Brava composite typically lands 30–50% lower, mostly because of lighter weight (no framing upgrades), faster install, and no quarry sourcing.
10Can you repair my existing natural slate roof instead of replacing it?+
Almost always. A well-built slate roof rarely needs full replacement — most issues are flashing, ridge, or individual tile failures. We stock matching tiles from the major historic quarries and can do targeted repairs that extend a slate roof another 20–50 years.
11Do you install both natural and synthetic slate?+
Yes. We're certified installers for quarried slate, Brava, and DaVinci composite systems. We don't push one over the other — we assess your home's framing, your timeline, your budget, and your neighborhood's rules, then recommend the right material honestly.
Built right.
Backed for life.
Every slate roof we install is backed by lifetime manufacturer warranties and our own workmanship guarantee. Financing as low as $99/month — no payments until the project is complete.