The Slate Roof Bible: Understanding, Installing, and Restoring the World's Finest Roof

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Overview

Few roofing books are described by professional reviewers as "fascinating," "a delight," and "simply enjoyable." Perhaps the Slate Roof Bible has caught the eye of readers like no other because of Joseph Jenkins' personal knowledge and enthusiasm regarding slate roofs, not to mention his "down-home" writing style. Some say that America's renewing interest in "the world's finest roof" is now due, in part, to The Slate Roof Bible. As construction trends turn toward "greener" buildings, stone roofs will certainly ...
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Overview

Few roofing books are described by professional reviewers as "fascinating," "a delight," and "simply enjoyable." Perhaps the Slate Roof Bible has caught the eye of readers like no other because of Joseph Jenkins' personal knowledge and enthusiasm regarding slate roofs, not to mention his "down-home" writing style. Some say that America's renewing interest in "the world's finest roof" is now due, in part, to The Slate Roof Bible. As construction trends turn toward "greener" buildings, stone roofs will certainly only grow in popularity. Knowledge of the natural beauty and fantastic success of slate roofing systems is only a book away from thousands of readers. With 10,000 copies of the first edition of The Slate Roof Bible already in circulation on three continents, we at Jenkins Publishing are now proud to announce:

The Slate Roof Bible, 2nd Edition, Completely Revised, Expanded and Updated!
Understanding, Installing and Restoring the World's Finest Roof

<%SYNOPSIS%>What's new in the second edition? The original book was 287 pages; the second edition, despite serious space saving efforts, will total about 320 pages. The original 2 part book is now a 3 part book: Understanding Slate Roofs, Installing Slate Roofs, and Restoring Slate Roofs. The book will have 21 chapters instead of the original 15. New chapters include European Slating Methods, International Roof Slate, Roof Inscriptions and Designs, plus separate chapters for Flashing, for Recycling Slate Roofs, for Chimneys, and for Valleys, and an additional catch-all chapter for miscellaneous roofing systems often associated with slate roofs (such as soldered-seam copper roofs and ceramic tile roofs). You will now find illustrated sections on eyebrow dormers, rounded valleys, turrets, and other interesting roof details unique to slate roofs. You will also find approximately 361 photographs (195 in the 1st edition) and over 229 illustrations (175 in the 1st edition) adorning our new book, including a host of step-by-step installation, maintenance, repair and restoration drawings, as well as many photos showing the inimitable beauty that only a slate roof can display. And best of all, the entire book is printed in color. You can't do justice to slate roofs in black and white!

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Editorial Reviews

Boston Sundagy Globe
Jenkins tells his tale with pizazz and rollicking humor, offering anecdote after anecdote about what people do, and do not do, to their slate roofs.
Doylestown Intelligencer Record
Five years of meticulous research, thousands of miles traveled to slate quarries all over the world, particularly Wales, has produced The Slate Roof Bible - and a surprise. This book, potentially tedious reading, is instead a delight. Full of history, lore, and useful advice, Jenkins has written a fascinating book, spiced it with humor and warmed it with his own passion for the subject.
Fine Homebuilding
The Slate Roof Bible is a fine book, filled with fascinating information about slate: its history, the industry, and the way to work with it properly. I've been working with slate for a long time; still, I learned from this book some valuable hints and techniques that I've been able to put into practice.
Permaculture Magazine
The Slate Roof Bible gives a concise history of the slate industry on both sides of the Atlantic, and the types and colours of slates to be found. Although the author is American, he is descended from Welsh émigrés who left with the collapse of the Welsh slate industry around the turn of the century, and this is reflected in the early chapters. The later chapters cover in some depth the design, installation, and maintenance of slate roofs. Also covered are tools, safe working practices, and important details on chimneys, flashings and gutters. This is well done, with clear illustrations and photos - an excellent example of how to produce a practical guide. The first book to be written on the subject of slate roofs since 1926.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780964425811
  • Publisher: Jenkins Publishing PA
  • Publication date: 10/28/2003
  • Edition description: REV
  • Edition number: 2
  • Pages: 320
  • Sales rank: 630,662
  • Product dimensions: 8.54 (w) x 10.88 (h) x 0.65 (d)

Table of Contents

Part I: Understanding Slate Roofs
Foreward: Death and Rebirth of a Barn
Chapter 1 Understanding Slate Roofs
Chapter 2 From Rock to Roof: What is Slate?
Chapter 3 Identifying Roof Slate
Chapter 4 Wales
Chapter 5 Vermont/New York
Chapter 6 Pennsylvania Slate
Chapter 7 Peach Bottom Slate
Chapter 8 Virginia and Georgia
Chapter 9 Maine and Canada
Chapter 10 International Slate

Part II: Installing Slate Roofs
Foreword: What's It Like to Work on a Slate Roof?
Chapter 11 Safety First
Chapter 12 Basic Tools and Equipment
Chapter 13 Installing Slate Roofs
Chapter 14 Traditional European Slating Methods
Chapter 15 Roof Inscriptions and Designs
Chapter 16 Recycling Slate Roofs

Part III: Repairing and Restoring Slate Roofs
Chapter 17 Repairs and Restoration
Chapter 18 Flashings
Chapter 19 Chimneys
Chapter 20 Valleys
Chapter 21 Tile Roofs, Asbestos, Flat Lock Copper and Misc. Roofs and Accessories

References
Bibliography
Industry Resource Guide
Index

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 5, 2004

    Great Book on Slate Roofing

    This book is packed full of technical and historical information, all presented in an engaging way. I was surprised at how captivated I was throughout the entire book and by how much I learned! The photos are beautiful. The author's passion for preserving the art of slate roofing really comes through. Truly a delightful and enjoyable book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2004

    Detailed, comprehensive, well illustrated - a MUST HAVE!

    This book belongs in the library of every roofer, architect, builder, roof consultant and historical restoration professional. Not only is it thorough, profusely illustrated with color photos, full of tips, trade secrets, facts and everything you wanted to know about slate roofs, but it's also an interesting read. It would make a good coffee table book as well.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 3, 2004

    filled with fluff

    this book is strickly for the novice, lacks any detail

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 22, 2004

    The Best Book on Slate Roofs Bar None

    This book is in a class by itelf. I've never encountered a book that is so crammed full of the most detailed information, from an overview of the history and geology of slate, right down to profusely illustrated, step-by-step instructions on all aspects of slate roof installation and repair (inlcluding graduated roofs, eyebrow dormers, random width, tips on mixing colors, creating designs, you name it). Those areas alone would warrant the title 'Bible,' but the book delves even further, including detailed illustrations on fabricating lead sewer vent pipe flashings, building fancy chimney tops, installing soldered seam copper roofs, and a whole lot more. This is a cornucopia of technical information for the expert and novice alike. But perhaps the most surprising aspect of the book is that it's such a darn good read. I found it very difficult to put down, which is relatively rare for a non-fiction book, but just about unheard of in a technical manual. And to top it off, the lavish color photographs of slate roofs from all over the world (especially the intricate slatework of the European masters) are truly magnificent. I thought the 1st Edition was great. It's hard to imagine a better book than The Slate Roof Bible, 2nd Edition.

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