Stevens Roofing Corp.

10/27/2026

Historical roof restoration isn't the same as a replacement. The goal is to keep as much of the original roof as possible while making it sound for decades to come. 🔨

Here's what the process typically looks like:

1. Assessment and documentation: Identifying the original materials, installation methods, and which parts are failing versus those that are still sound.
2. Careful removal and salvage: Reusable slate, tile, or copper is removed by hand, sorted, and set aside instead of being thrown in a dumpster.
3. Repairing what's underneath: Damaged decking, failing underlayment, and worn flashing are replaced, since these are often the real source of leaks.
4. Sourcing matching materials: Missing pieces are filled with reclaimed or closely matched materials so the roof looks consistent.
5. Reinstalling with period-appropriate techniques. Copper nails for slate, traditional seaming for metal, and flashing details that respect the original design.

After three generations and more than 75 years of roofing, we've learned that older roofs often hold techniques you won't find in modern manuals. Preserving them is part of the work.

10/27/2026

Mature trees and steep slate roofs look beautiful together in the fall, right up until the leaves start piling into the gutters. Clogged gutters can send water over the side, soaking the fascia, running down the siding, and pooling near the foundation.

Clearing them before heavy rain arrives keeps that water moving away from the house. Our team designs gutter systems around each property, including copper, half-round, Ogee/K-style, and built-in gutters, so water drains where it should.

See how Stevens Roofing Corp approaches gutters at stevensroofingcorp.com/roofing-services/gutters.

10/20/2026

Richmond's historic neighborhoods each have their own roofing story. 🏛️

Monument Avenue: Grand homes from the early 1900s, many topped with slate, copper accents, and detailed dormers. These roofs were built to impress, and the details are part of the architecture.

Church Hill: One of Richmond's oldest neighborhoods, with Greek Revival and Italianate homes. Many have low-slope roofs where standing seam metal was the traditional choice.

Jackson Ward: Known for its ornamental ironwork and rowhouses, with many low-slope and flat roofs hidden behind decorative cornices. Drainage and flashing at parapet walls deserve close attention here.

One thing homeowners in these areas should know: many properties sit within Richmond's City Old and Historic Districts, where exterior changes, like switching roofing materials, may need review by the Commission of Architectural Review. Repairing in kind with matching materials is often the simplest path.

Before planning work on a historic Richmond home, find out what was originally on the roof and whether district guidelines apply.

10/20/2026

Plenty of roofing problems can be handled with a repair, which is why our team looks at what’s fixable before anything else. The right call depends on the roof’s material, age, condition, and how far the damage has spread.

Localized problems on an otherwise solid slate or copper roof usually call for careful repair, while widespread wear may point toward a larger restoration or replacement plan. Our estimators don’t work on commission, so the recommendation is based on what your roof needs.

Call our Norfolk office at 757-489-8791 or our Richmond office at 804-676-6111 before making a big roofing decision.

10/14/2026

Cooler fall weather is a good time to check the roof over your head, before winter’s wind and rain arrive. Seasonal changes tend to expose small issues around flashing, gutters, roof penetrations, and loose materials.

An inspection can catch a small flashing gap or a cracked slate before water ever reaches the inside of your home. Our crew works on nearly every roofing system, and after three generations in the business, slate and copper are what we know best.

Learn more about roof inspections from Stevens Roofing Corp at stevensroofingcorp.com/roofing-services/roof-inspection.

10/13/2026

Slate roof repair is a different craft than repairing a shingle roof, and the wrong approach can cause more damage than the original problem. 🪨
Here's what sets slate work apart:

Walking on slate breaks slate. Experienced slate roofers use ladders, hooks, and roof brackets to avoid putting weight on the tiles.

The nails often fail first. On older roofs, steel nails can rust away while the slate itself is still in great shape. Slipped tiles are sometimes a fastener problem, not a stone problem.

Roof cement is a short-term patch. Tar smeared over cracked slate or flashing tends to trap moisture and makes proper repair harder later.

Matching matters. Slate varies in color, thickness, and size by quarry. A good repair uses salvaged or matching slate so the patch blends in and weathers the same way.

Knowing whether the issue is a tile, the flashing, or the nails changes the entire repair plan. Here's how to tell the difference on a Virginia slate roof: https://www.stevensroofingcorp.com/blog/slate-roof-repair-in-virginia-how-to-know-when-tiles-flashing-or-nails-are-the-problem/

Learn how to identify whether your slate roof issue is a tile, flashing, or nail problem. Stevens Roofing has served Virginia homeowners since 1946.

10/11/2026

Four historic roofing materials you'll still find on Virginia's older homes, and what makes each one worth preserving:

🪨 Slate: Quality slate can outlast the house it sits on, often 75 to 150 years. Virginia even has its own source: Buckingham slate, quarried in central Virginia and known for its durability. On many old slate roofs, the stone is still sound when the nails and flashing have worn out.

🟫 Ornamental Copper: Found on bay windows, cupolas, dormers, and porch roofs. That green patina is a protective layer that forms over years of exposure, and it develops faster near the coast. Flat seam and standing seam copper are two traditional methods, each suited to different roof slopes.

🧱 Clay Tile: Clay tile itself can last a century, but the underlayment beneath it usually gives out much sooner. That means an older tile roof can often be lifted, re-underlaid, and reset with the original tiles.

🌲 Wood Shake: Hand-split shakes have a rougher, more textured look than sawn shingles. On historic homes, matching that texture matters for keeping the home's original character.

The material on your roof says a lot about when and how your home was built. Knowing what you have is the first step to caring for it properly.

Providing excellence in roofing since 1946. 🏡

09/29/2026

Fall is here, and it's the perfect time to book your slate roof maintenance visit before winter settles in. Slate is one of the most durable roofing materials out there, sometimes lasting a century or more, but a little seasonal care goes a long way toward protecting that investment.

Our team at Stevens Roofing has been working with slate since 1946, and we know exactly what to look for: loose or slipped tiles, worn flashing, and small issues that are easy to fix now but costly to ignore later. A quick inspection this fall can save you a headache come spring.

If you're in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or anywhere across Hampton Roads, now's the time to get on our schedule. Give us a call or send us a message to book your slate roof maintenance appointment today. Your roof has kept your family safe for years. Let's help it keep doing that for many more.

09/22/2026

Slate roofs are built to last a century or more, but only when they're cared for the right way. At Stevens Roofing, we don't treat slate maintenance as a quick fix. We treat it as protecting a piece of craftsmanship that's been part of a home's story for generations.

Since 1946, our family has worked on roofs across Norfolk and the surrounding communities, and slate holds a special place in that history. These roofs were built with materials and techniques that aren't common anymore, so caring for them requires real knowledge, not guesswork.

Our approach to residential roof maintenance starts with understanding the roof in front of us: its age, materials, and the small signs that indicate what it needs before a problem grows. A loose slate tile or worn flashing might look minor, but catching it early is what keeps a roof performing for decades, not years.

This is the same philosophy Karl Stevens brought to the business back in 1946, and it's the one we still carry today: take care of the roof, and it takes care of the family beneath it.
Have questions about your slate roof? We're happy to talk through what long-term care looks like for your home. 🏠

09/15/2026

Fall is nearly here, and soon those beautiful old trees will be dropping leaves faster than you can rake them! While that's a normal part of the season, it can spell trouble for slate roofs if valleys and gutters get clogged.

Here's why it matters: Slate roofs rely on clear valleys to properly channel water off the roof. When leaves and debris pile up, water can back up under the slate tiles instead of flowing where it should. That's often how small leaks start, and slate roof leak repairs tend to be much more involved (and costly) than catching the problem early.

A few things worth doing before the season gets deeper into fall:
🍂 Clear valleys and gutters of leaves, twigs, and debris
🍂 Check for any slate tiles that look cracked, slipped, or missing
🍂 Look for water stains on ceilings or attic spaces, an early sign of a leak
🍂 If your roof is older or hasn't been inspected recently, have a professional take a look

Since 1946, we've worked on slate roofs across Hampton Roads and know how to spot trouble before it becomes a bigger (and pricier) problem. If you're noticing signs of a leak or just want peace of mind heading into the wetter months, give us a call. We're happy to help keep your roof watertight all season long.

Norfolk: 575-231-9688
Richmond: 804-676-6111