North Country Slate custom three color blend graduated slate roof for the new addition of Wheeler Hall at Loyola Blakefield college preparatory school.

In 2011, North Country Slate was asked to replicate the multi-colored graduated slate roof  for the new addition of Wheeler Hall to match the original section which was built in 1933. Wheeler Hall was the first academic building on the campus.  Located on 60 acres of land in Towson, Maryland, the school enrols over nine hundred students from grades six through to twelve.

The slate supplied for this job was a three color custom blend of North Country Semi-Weathering Grey/Green (75%), North Country Semi-Weathering Purple (20%) and North Country Unfading Green (5%). A custom combination of lengths (22”, 20”, 18”, 16” and 14”), random widths and thicknesses (3/8”-1/2”, ½”-3/4” and ¾”-1”) was also supplied. On a graduated slate roof the longer, wider and thicker slates are installed along the eaves, with diminishing sizes and thicknesses employed progressively up the roof slope towards the ridge.

Some tips to estimate the amount of slate required:

1. One square of slate will cover 100 square feet of roof area.
2. Slate is punched or drilled allowing for a 3” headlap.
3. In addition to measuring the area for the field slates, the slater will also include hip and ridge slates and starter slates which are measured in linear feet.
4. A 5% allowance is also given for breakage which may occur during the transportation of the slate from quarry to jobsite.
5. A graduated slate roof is a bit more complicated and requires the roof areas to be calculated in increments from eave to ridge.

A blend of semi-weathering and unfading slates in a multicolored slate roof eases the transition between colors. It’s important to carefully blend and sort the slate shingles before installation, this will take approximately one hour per square.

A custom blend of several North Country Slate colors will create a truly unique roof.  Call us today for a free quote at Toll Free 1-800-975-2835.