Slate, copper, and tile roofs on DMV-area homes were installed to last a century or more — and most can, with proper maintenance. The most common failures are in the flashing and underlayment, not the slate itself. Specialists below understand historic roofing materials and know when repair is the right answer.
Ask any candidate to specify what type of flashing material they use (copper is correct for historic slate) and whether they can source matching slate for repairs.
Many contractors recommend full slate roof replacement when only flashing or underlayment has failed. A legitimate slate specialist will isolate the failure point — most historic slate itself is not failing and can last another 50–100 years.
Read the full guide →30 yrs · 97/100 historic score · Washington, DC
DC Slate Roofing Experts is the premier slate roofing company in the nation's capital with 30 years of experience on Victorian, Edwardian, and Federal-style homes. Our team hand-selects matching slate from historic quarries.
24 yrs · 96/100 historic score · Baltimore, MD
Harbor Slate Roofing is Baltimore's most experienced slate roofing contractor, with a portfolio of hundreds of historic homes across the city. Our slate salvage program ensures period-correct materials for every repair.
21 yrs · 94/100 historic score · Alexandria, VA
Colonial Roof Masters specializes in the historic slate and standing-seam metal roofs of Old Town Alexandria. Our team is trained in colonial-era roofing techniques and approved by the Alexandria Historic District.
20 yrs · 93/100 historic score · Annapolis, MD
Annapolis Historic Roofing maintains the distinctive copper, slate, and wood shingle roofs found on Annapolis's historic Colonial and Victorian properties. We have worked on dozens of National Register properties.
22 yrs · 92/100 historic score · Bethesda, MD
Montgomery Historic Roofing serves Bethesda and Chevy Chase's collection of Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman homes with specialist slate and tile roofing services. Family-owned and operated since 2002.
19 yrs · 91/100 historic score · Fredericksburg, VA
Old Dominion Historic Roofing preserves the slate, tile, and standing seam metal roofs of Fredericksburg's antebellum homes and Civil War-era buildings. We use authentic materials approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
19 yrs · 90/100 historic score · Arlington, VA
Arlington Slate & Tile Roofing has been maintaining the historic roofscapes of Arlington County for two decades. We specialize in matching and replacing slate and clay tile on pre-war homes and bungalows.
18 yrs · 88/100 historic score · Washington, DC
Federal Roofing Company specializes in the flat roofs of DC's historic rowhouses and townhomes. We understand the unique challenges of modified bitumen and built-up roofing systems that must meet historic district guidelines.
16 yrs · 88/100 historic score · Silver Spring, MD
Takoma Historic Roofing is committed to preserving the historic character of Takoma Park's Victorian and Arts and Crafts homes. We are experienced with the city's strict historic preservation requirements.
18 yrs · 86/100 historic score · Rockville, MD
Upper Montgomery Roofing provides slate and historic roofing services to Rockville and the broader upper Montgomery County area. We maintain a large inventory of salvaged slate for matching repairs.
14 yrs · 86/100 historic score · Falls Church, VA
Falls Church Historic Roofing maintains the slate and asphalt shingle roofs of Falls Church's pre-war residential neighborhoods. We provide thorough roof assessments and extend the life of existing historic roofs whenever possible.
15 yrs · 85/100 historic score · Baltimore, MD
B'more Roofing Specialists serves the rowhouse neighborhoods of Baltimore with comprehensive roofing services. We are experienced with the flat and low-slope roofs that characterize Baltimore's iconic attached housing stock.
Showing 12 specialists in the DMV.
Why It Matters
General contractors are rarely trained in the materials and methods used in pre-1950 construction. Hiring a non-specialist for roofing work on a historic home can cause damage that is expensive — or impossible — to reverse.
Historic roofs use slate, copper, and tile that require specialist sourcing and installation knowledge unavailable to general roofers.
A specialist will isolate the actual failure point. Most historic slate is sound and can last decades longer with targeted repair.
Copper flashing is the correct choice for historic slate and tile roofs. Aluminum or galvanized flashing degrades faster and is often rejected by preservation reviewers.
20x
more expensive to fix a wrong repair than to hire right the first time
Historic roofing restoration and repair using traditional materials and methods.
The DMV area has a rich architectural heritage spanning colonial-era stone construction through early 20th century brick rowhouses. Each era presents unique challenges that require specialists who understand the original materials, methods, and the historic district requirements that govern exterior modifications.