Historic & specialty roofs · San Antonio, TX
Natural slate and hand-formed copper for churches, landmarks and downtown buildings. Repairs that match a 100-year-old roof, restorations that keep the original slate, and new slate and copper roofs built to last another century.
Under a minute. A project manager calls you back within 2 business hours.
Something went wrong sending your request. Please call (210) 384-6843 or try again.
Request received
Prefer to talk? (210) 384-6843
Old roofs need people who repair first and replace last. That is how we approach every slate and copper job.
Broken and slipped slates replaced one by one with matched or salvaged stone and copper nails.
Original slate kept; worn flashings, nails and underlayment replaced section by section.
Vermont, Pennsylvania or Virginia slate on new work and full re-roofs.
Standing-seam and soldered flat-seam copper for domes, towers, bays and low-slope sections.
Box gutters, conductor heads, cupolas, finials and copper valleys, shop-formed and soldered.
Photos, specs and samples prepared for the city’s Certificate of Appropriateness.
Slate is graded by how long it lasts. Copper is chosen by weight and seam. Both are sized to the building, not to a catalog.
Slate grades · bar = expected life
ASTM C406 grade for 75+ years. Most Vermont and Virginia slate.
40 to 75 years. Some softer domestic and imported slate.
20 to 40 years. Cheaper imports; we rarely recommend it.
Molded look-alike for budget or weight limits. 30 to 50 years.
Copper work
16 or 20 oz cold-rolled copper. Standing seam on slopes, soldered flat seam on low pitches and domes.
Built-in and hanging copper gutters, soldered seams and expansion joints for our heat.
Most slate leaks start here. Copper outlasts the steel and lead it replaces.
We source S1 slate from established North American quarries, sheet copper from U.S. mills, and composite slate where the structure or budget calls for it.
What a preservation architect, engineer or review board will ask for.
| Slate standard | ASTM C406: S1 (75+ yrs), S2 (40–75), S3 (20–40) |
|---|---|
| Slate thickness | 3/16 to 1/4 in standard; 3/8 in and up for graduated roofs |
| Weight | About 800 to 1,500 lb per 100 sq ft depending on thickness |
| Minimum slope | 4:12 for slate; low slopes get flat-seam copper |
| Fasteners | Two copper or stainless nails per slate, 3 in typical headlap |
| Copper | 16 or 20 oz cold-rolled sheet (ASTM B370), soldered or seamed |
| Patina | Turns brown within months; green patina takes many years in our climate |
| Fire rating | Class A |
| Historic review | Exterior changes to city landmarks and historic districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness |
Slate type, size, color and exposure recorded, with photos of every slope and detail.
Specs and photos prepared for the Office of Historic Preservation when the building needs it.
Roof jacks, hooks and ladders so no one walks on slate; copper and stone protected.
Broken slates slid out with a slate ripper; on re-roofs, sound slate sorted for reuse.
Valleys, flashings, gutters and seams formed and soldered to match the building.
Finished roof photographed and a written record left for the building’s files.
Pros
Cons
Five quick questions. No email, no form.
Do the leaks show up at valleys, chimneys or gutters?
Are fewer than 1 in 10 slates broken or slipped?
Was the structure built to carry a heavy roof?
Is the roof natural slate today?
Is it a landmark or in a historic district?
Your answer
Answer the questions
We will tell you honestly if another system fits better.
Get a free assessmentBuildings in and around San Antonio where slate and copper belong.
Slopes under 4:12 cannot take slate; we use soldered flat-seam copper or a membrane there instead.
2026 installed prices. Repairs are per visit; roofs are per square foot including labor, underlayment and flashings.
Typical new natural slate roof
$25 – $40/ sq ft
A 6,000 sq ft church roof: about $150k – $240k
What moves the price
| Scenario | Price |
|---|---|
| Slate repair, one visitMatched or salvaged slate | $750 – $4,000 |
| Copper valley or flashingPer linear foot | $45 – $110 |
| Composite slate roofPer sq ft | $10 – $16 |
| Natural S1 slate roofPer sq ft | $25 – $40 |
| Copper standing seamPer sq ft | $25 – $35 |
| Flat-seam soldered copperPer sq ft | $30 – $45 |
Much of the city’s slate and copper sits in its oldest neighborhoods and downtown. We know the review process there.
Something else? Ask a project manager.
In 2026 a new natural S1 slate roof costs about $25 to $40 per square foot installed. Composite slate runs about $10 to $16. Repairs usually cost $750 to $4,000 per visit depending on access and how many slates are broken.
Usually yes. Good slate can outlast several sets of nails and flashings. If fewer than about 1 in 10 slates are broken and the stone is sound, repairing and re-flashing is almost always the better buy.
Properly installed 16 or 20-ounce copper commonly lasts 70 to 100 years or more. Soldered seams and correct expansion joints matter more than thickness in San Antonio’s heat.
For designated landmarks and buildings in historic districts, exterior changes such as a new roof material generally need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city’s Office of Historic Preservation. In-kind repairs are often simpler. We prepare the photos and specs.
At least 4:12. Lower slopes need a different material, usually soldered flat-seam copper, which is how many historic buildings handle porches, bays and low sections.
It turns brown within months. A green patina takes many years in our climate and depends on moisture and exposure, so some owners choose pre-patinated copper.
We inspect from lifts and roof hooks, never by walking on slate, and send a photo report with repair, restoration and replacement options.
Comparing sloped-roof options? These systems fit similar buildings.
