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Issue
2, Spring 2002
Slate Roof Industry
Roundtable
An event recently occurred that may not have
taken place in living memory. On January 22, 2002, a Slate
roofing industry “roundtable
gathering” was held in Saratoga Springs, New York. It’s
intended purpose was to explore reunification the slate industry,
particularly the National Slate Association, an organization
not active since, perhaps, the 1930s.
The meeting was “an effort to address the challenges that
face the industry as a whole and establish itself as ‘the
source’ for dimension stone slates and slate roofing information” according
to Bill Marcum of Martech Associates, primary organizer of
the event. The gathering was conducted in an informal setting “in
an effort to collect thoughts and gather input into the formation
of a formal association that would represent the many needs
in the dimension stone slate and slate roofing industry in
the new millennium,” according to Marcum.
The one day event was attended by Bill Marcum; Nancy Turner
of US Quarried Slate, Fairhaven, VT; John Conlin of Hilltop
Slate, Granville, NY; Jim Gibbs, Pat Rudder, and Jim Constantine,
all of Cornell University; Doug Cochran of Durable Slate,
Columbus, Ohio; Dave Leeland of Leeland Slate Roofing, Lititz,
PA; John Meyer of Vermont Slate and Copper; John Hill of
Greenstone Slate, Poultney, VT; Steve Taran of Taran Bros.,
Inc., Vermont; Pete Tatko of Sheldon Slate Products; Norman
Farrell of Pennsylvania; Stuart Mathews of Northern Roof
Tile, Blasdell, NY; Matt Millen of Millen Roofing, Milwaukee;
Richard Boyle of Evergreen Slate, Granville, NY; Shawn and
Dave Camara of Camara Slate, Fairhaven, VT; Craig Markow
of Vermont Structural Slate, Fairhaven, VT; Chuck Smid and
Clay Heald of New England Slate, Sudbury, VT; Pete Papay
of Penn Big Bed Slate, Slatington, PA; Ken Lerch of Structural
Slate Co., Pen Argyl, PA; and myself, Joseph Jenkins of Jenkins
Slate Roofing Services, Grove City, PA.
The meeting consisted of a presentation by Marcum, punctuated
by questions and discussion among the group. Marcum asserted
a need for consistent information in the general slate industry — the
need for a singular authoritative source of information,
explaining that this meeting represented a “wide open
opportunity/ invitation” and the group was encouraged
to tell others about it. Marcum further asserted that he
believed a slate association was desperately needed for two
basic reasons:
1) To create “standardization” among the industry.
This would include, for example, standards regarding hole punching
in slate, as well as standardized industry terms to replace
or clarify ambiguous ones such as “weathering” and “fading.” An
association would further aid in the distribution of this
standardized information.
2) To establish installation or application methods for roof
slate that are universally accepted.
ASTM testing of slate was discussed at some length. Many
expressed frustration at the ASTM testing procedures, which
were said to be inconsistent and unreliable, or “inaccurate and
wrought with errors,” as Hill stated, adding that “you
can cut four pieces of slate from the same slate, send it
to four testing companies, and get four different results.” It
was suggested that perhaps only three testing labs that are
proven to be reliable could be used by all, and that the
testing procedures need to be advanced. Again, the assertion
was made that an association is needed to change the current
testing system. Or, as Marcum put it, “It’s time
for a change. Let’s do it!”
Estimated costs to get such an organization off the ground
ranged from a pay as you go approach suggested by Shawn Camara,
to $25,000.00 for the first year estimated by Marcum, to
$100,000 or more in annual operating costs suggested by Millen,
who is affiliated with the National Roofing Contractors Association
and aware of its multi-million dollar budget. Marcum also
suggested that the publication known as the “Slate Roof
Quarterly,” now edited by Dave Leeland, could easily
become the official magazine of the association.
Although no concrete decisions were made by meeting’s
end, and no conclusions were arrived at, it seemed to be
the general consensus of the group that the formation of
a slate industry association should be further considered.
No additional meeting dates were set, although several people
agreed to meet at a time of their own discretion, in one
of three groups, for further discussion. These groups were:
1) manufacturers (quarriers), 2) roofing contractors, and
3) owner/designers. Group one included John Conlin, John
Hill, and Shawn Camara. Group two included Doug Cochran,
Dave Leeland, Matt Millen, and Joe Jenkins. Group three included
Bill Marcum, Pat Rudder, and Jim Constantine.
Go to the National
Slate Association Website
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