Mount Pleasant DC Forum

Robin Kane · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

Does anyone have a recommendation for a company to replace an original slate roof? Ours has been repaired as much as it can be - it's time to replace, and I believe the MtP historic district requires slate (or perhaps one other alternative).

ClancyMac · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 212

I do not have any direct experience with contractors experienced in slate roofing, so unfortunately cannot provide any referrals. You may want to talk to a long-standing DC company like L&M Roofing, which should be familiar with DC historic district guidelines.

Attached is a link to the Historic Preservation Office's Design Guidelines for roofs. More information than you probably ever wanted to know---but look at pages 10, 15, 17-18 in particular---as those pages cover maintenance and repair---including lists of appropriate replacement materials.

http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/preservation/design_guides/dc_roof_guidelines_sw.pdf

And prevention is worth a pound of hassle. Once you've developed a plan with the roofing contractor, particularly if you're using a substitute material, e.g., synthetic slate, and have any questions about whether what you've chosen is compliant--- just email Tim Dennee---the HPO staff person who covers Mount Pleasant and ask if what you're doing works. Tim is very responsive and approachable. [email address removed - log in to view]

Robin Kane · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

Thanks for the information, including the mention of L&M - I'll research them on Angie's List. There hasn't been much roofing discussion on the Mt. P Forum archives, so I didn't have a good list of contractors to get competing bids.

Robin Kane · Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 14

We used L&M Contracting for the full replacement of our 100-year-old mansard slate roof. L&M is a small company that uses a team of subcontractors; I found them easy to work with, responsive and communicative. We had one brief mix-up about slate size, but L&M managed and solved it. The job was done on time and on budget and looks great.

[We also got a bid from Maggio, but it was 2/3 higher than L&M for the same specifications.]

chrissy · Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 1

We were very happy with Mac Inc. for our slate roof and other roofing needs. Good man and good price.
Claybert McCarthy
Mac Inc.
Phone: (240) 581-0478
E-Mail: [email address removed - log in to view]