Slate and Cedar Shake Roofing in Middle Tennessee
Do you install slate or cedar shake roofs in Middle Tennessee? Yes. Roof Troops Roofing installs, repairs and replaces natural slate and cedar shake roofs across our 9-county area, with our own crews and a lifetime workmanship warranty. Both are specialty roofs, so the first step is a free inspection to see what you have and whether it should be repaired or replaced.
Quick facts
- Who: Roof Troops Roofing LLC, veteran-owned, founded by Navy Combat Veteran Don Hane, based in Murfreesboro, TN
- Materials: natural slate, cedar shake, plus slate-look and shake-look shingles and metal as alternatives
- Work: new installs, replacements, repairs of individual slates or shakes, and flashing repairs
- Crews: our own, never subcontractors
- Warranty: lifetime workmanship warranty
- Hours: open 24 hours, every day
- Inspections: free, with drone photos (so we stay off fragile roofs where we can) and a written estimate
- Credentials: TN contractor license #84570, $2,000,000 insurance, A-rated with the BBB
- Phone: 615-258-9977
- Service area: Rutherford, Davidson, Williamson, Maury, Coffee, Bedford, Wilson, Sumner, and Warren counties
Protect the Home. Earn the Trust.
Slate roofing
Natural slate is the longest-lasting roof you can put on a house. A well-maintained slate roof can last 75 to 100 years. It’s also heavy, much heavier than shingles, so before a new slate install we check that the framing can carry it.
On older slate roofs, the stone often outlives everything around it. Rusted nails and worn-out flashing at chimneys, valleys and walls usually fail first. That means a lot of slate roofs need a repair, not a new roof. We replace cracked or missing slates one at a time and redo flashing in copper or another long-life metal, and we stay off the slate itself as much as possible, because walking on it breaks it.
Cedar shake roofing
Cedar shake gives a house a look nothing else quite matches. It also takes more care than asphalt or metal, especially in Middle Tennessee’s humidity. Shakes last longest with good airflow, sun, clean gutters and limbs trimmed back. On shaded roofs, moss and debris hold moisture and wear shakes out early.
We replace split, cupped or missing shakes, fix flashing, and do full tear-offs and new installs. Cedar is often installed over spaced boards instead of solid decking. If the boards or decking under an old shake roof need replacing, you see photos and approve a written change order before we do it. We’ll also tell you straight if cedar isn’t a good fit for your roof.
Slate-look and shake-look options
If you love the look but not the weight or the upkeep, there are other ways to get there. Designer architectural shingles come in slate-look and shake-look lines, and metal roofing is another long-life option. We’ll bring samples so you can compare them side by side in daylight. See all the materials we install on our roofing materials page.
Historic homes
Many slate and cedar roofs in Middle Tennessee are on older homes. If your house is in a local historic overlay, such as those overseen by the Metro Historic Zoning Commission in Nashville or the Historic Zoning Commission in Franklin, a change in roofing material may need approval before work starts. Check with them first, and we’ll give you the material details in writing to include with your application.
Storm damage on slate and cedar
Large hail can crack slate and split shakes, and high wind can lift shakes and break slates loose. We inspect from a drone first, photograph what we find, and give you a written report. If you file a claim, you can send our photos and report with it. The claim is between you and your insurance company, and we do the roof. See storm damage repair.
Slate and cedar questions
Do you install slate and cedar shake roofs?
Yes. We install, repair and replace natural slate and cedar shake roofs across Middle Tennessee with our own crews, backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
How long does a slate roof last?
A well-maintained natural slate roof can last 75 to 100 years. The nails and flashing usually wear out before the slate does, so many older slate roofs can be repaired instead of replaced.
Can you repair a few broken slates without replacing the roof?
Usually, yes. We replace cracked or missing slates one at a time and fix the flashing around them. We'll tell you if the roof is past the point where repairs make sense.
Is cedar shake a good choice in Middle Tennessee?
It can be, on a roof with good airflow and sun and an owner willing to keep up with it. Shade, moss and clogged gutters shorten its life. If cedar isn't a good fit for your roof, we'll tell you and show you shake-look alternatives.
Can my house hold a slate roof?
Slate is much heavier than shingles, so before a new slate install we check the framing. If it needs reinforcing, we tell you before you decide.
Do you walk on slate roofs?
As little as possible. We start with a drone inspection and use roof ladders and hooks when we have to work on the slate, because walking on slate can crack it.
Call 615-258-9977 or use the form below for a free slate or cedar roof inspection. Roof Troops is veteran-owned, A-rated with the BBB, licensed in Tennessee (#84570), and our own crews do every job, backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty. Protect the Home. Earn the Trust.