Eyota, Minnesota
Experienced Slate Roofing in Eyota, MN
About one house in nine in Eyota was built before 1940, which is where slate would be if it is anywhere. The median build year in town is 1980, so a tight eaved railroad era gable can stand one block from a shallow pitched ranch, and the right roof for one of them is the wrong roof for the other.
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Old gables and ranches, one block apart
The old houses here are simple: a straight gable, one chimney, almost no overhang at the eave. That simplicity is why slate works on them, since there is little to flash and nothing to complicate the courses. It is also the problem, because with no overhang the eave has nowhere to dump ice, and the low blocks by the south branch of the Whitewater hold snow that the upland plats toward I-90 lose to wind. So the details we care about are the eave, the rake and the sidewall, plus whether hundred year old board sheathing still grips a nail. On a 1970s ranch the whole calculation changes and slate usually loses. Either way, a certified roof assessment should come before anybody orders material.
Slate Roofing in Eyota
A simple roof with strict requirements
Ice handled at a tight eave
Railroad era gables end flush at the wall with no soffit to speak of. Under slate that eave needs a proper starter, metal at the edge and a way for melt to leave, or ice pushes water into the wall.
Snow guards over the doors
Slate sheds snow in sheets. On the low blocks near the Whitewater that hold snow all winter, guards go over entries, walks and the spot where you park, so the load comes down in pieces.
Ventilation on a roof with no soffit
You cannot vent a tight eaved house the usual way. Intake has to come from somewhere else, and getting that right keeps the deck under the slate dry through a Minnesota winter.
Few penetrations, fewer leaks
These gables have one chimney and no dormers, which is the easiest roof slate can sit on. Fewer holes means fewer flashings, and flashings are what fail long before the stone does.
Old boards tested before renailing
A roof from before 1940 is usually board sheathing, and boards that have been nailed through for a century may not hold another fastener. We check that before we plan on reusing the deck.
Nobody walks your slate
Slate breaks under boots, and a careless repair leaves more cracked pieces than it fixes. Work gets done off hook ladders and staging so the field of the roof is left alone.
What working with us looks like
We date the roof first
Knowing whether the slate is original to the house or went on later tells us what fasteners and what deck we are dealing with. That comes before any talk of material.
We show you the leak
Water on a tight eaved gable usually enters at one detail, not across the roof. We find that spot and show it to you rather than quoting a tear off by reflex.
Small jobs are still jobs
A dozen slipped slates and a bad chimney flashing is a real repair, and we will come do it. Not every call has to turn into a new roof.
Winter work waits for clear slate
On the low blocks that hold snow, we clear a roof before working it. Slate under a skim of ice is dangerous for the crew and hard on the slate.
Family run, and rated well
Orange Exteriors is a family run, faith based company rated 5.0 from 217 Google reviews. In a town this size that reputation travels faster than any advertisement.
What people near Eyota say
Orange Exteriors did an excellent job with my new roofing install. Very professional, on time and hard working crew. Completed the job in one day.
Dick JohnsonRoof installation We live in Eden Prairie. Orange did an excellent job on our siding replacement and provided great customer service all the way through.
Thomas DeSutterSiding replacement, Eden Prairie, MN Fantastic guys to work with, did an excellent job of fixing our siding. You can tell it’s a high integrity company. Definitely recommend.
Carolyn MillerSiding repair
Common questions in Eyota
What people in Eyota ask us about this work. If yours is not covered, call and ask.
Do any Eyota houses have original slate roofs?
A few might. Roughly one house in nine here predates 1940, and those tight eaved gables near the older blocks are the only candidates. Most of Eyota went up later, especially during the decade when the town grew from 639 residents in 1970 to 1,244 in 1980, and those houses were shingled from the start.
Is slate a good idea on a 1970s ranch in Eyota?
Usually not. Those roofs came out of the boom decade with shallow pitches and long simple planes, framed for shingles and not for stone. Slate on a low slope backs water up under the overlap and the weight is a separate problem. If you want the look, a synthetic slate is the sensible answer there.
Why does my old roof only leak on the north side in winter?
That is usually ice, not the roof. Snow sits on a shaded slope, melts a little against a warm deck, and refreezes at a cold eave with no overhang to carry it clear. Water then backs up under the courses. The fix is at the eave and in the attic, not in the middle of the slate.
Ask before the next hard winter
If you have an old gable in Eyota with slipped slates or a wet ceiling, we will come look, tell you whether it is a repair or a roof, and quote it free.
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Tell us what is going on with your roof, siding, windows, or gutters. We will take a look and give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you can wait.
- Phone(612) 600-8529
- Emailadmin@orange-exteriors.com
- Office6600 City West Pkwy Suite 375, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- HoursOpen 24 hours, Sunday to Saturday
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Rated 5.0 from 217 Google reviews