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Cincinnati Roofing

Proudly serving Cincinnati, nearby regions, and beyond

The Durable Slate Company is a nationally available historic roofing contractor. We specialize in slate, clay-tile, and copper roofing, as well as copper gutters.

This branch serves the entire Cincinnati region, as well as nearby Indiana and Kentucky.

close up of steeple square copper welding work with blue sky in the backgroundclose up of steeple square copper welding work with blue sky in the background
Muhlhauser Barn, West Chester, OH

Historic Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio is a city located in the southwestern region of the state, along the Ohio River. It was founded in 1788 and was named after the Roman statesman Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus. The city has a rich history, and its architecture reflects its growth and development over time.

In the early years of its history, Cincinnati was a frontier town and its architecture reflected this rugged and adventurous spirit. The first buildings in the city were simple log cabins, but as the town grew, more sophisticated buildings were constructed, such as the Cincinnati City Hall, which was built in 1853 and is an example of Greek Revival architecture.

As the city continued to grow and develop, it became an important industrial center, and its architecture reflected this shift. The Cincinnati Union Terminal, built in 1933, is a prime example of Art Deco architecture, and the Carew Tower, built in 1930, is an example of Art Deco and Gothic Revival styles.

Another notable aspect of Cincinnati's architecture is its use of slate roofing. Many of the city's historic buildings, such as the Cincinnati City Hall and the Cincinnati Union Terminal, feature slate roofs. This type of roofing is known for its durability and aesthetic appeal, making it a popular choice for many of the city's historic buildings.

Overall, the architecture of Cincinnati reflects the city's rich history and its growth and development over time. From its early days as a frontier town to its present-day status as a major industrial center, Cincinnati's buildings showcase a range of architectural styles and demonstrate the city's commitment to preserving its historic heritage.

grey slate tile from cynthiana kentucky inscribed with VMF Oct. 10. 1916

Choose Durable Slate

Our artisans are trained extensively, using historically traditional methods hardly seen in today’s roofing industry. The Durable Slate Company has always been committed to keeping their products as historically accurate and aesthetic as possible. Alongside these traditional roofing techniques, we also specialize in the installation, restoration, and repair of copper gutters of all types, including custom styles.

The Durable Slate Company: Cincinnati branch serves the entire tri-state area, as well as Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
From Cincinnati to Indianapolis to Louisville to Nashville, we’re available for all your slate roof repair or copper gutter needs.

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Cincinnati slate roof surrounded by trees on a spring day

Featured Roofing Projects

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Jake Horn, Office Manager
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Nathan Weir, Materials Manager
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Gabi Criado, Public Relations
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Justin Flegm, Estimator
The Durable Slate Cincinnati office serves most of southwest Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and West Virginia. We offer free estimates on slate, clay tile, and copper roofing as well as copper gutters and box gutters. Our office can be found on Novner Drive, off of Springfield Pike in Woodlawn.

For these areas, as well as the broader United States, we gladly provide free estimates* for slate, clay tile, and copper roofing as well as copper gutters, box gutters, and ornamental metal work.
170 Novner Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45215
United States (US)
Phone: 5136213455

Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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Sometimes we dispatch community interviews, maintenance recommendations, and historical information we hope you'll enjoy.

Work We Love

From Copper Dormers to Slate Steeples, We Love Natural Roofing

  • Residential and commercial slate roofing installation, maintenance and repairs
  • Copper roofs, repair and installation
  • Clay tile repairs and installations
  • Copper gutter repair and installations
  • We are full service roofing contractors who have delivered specialty slate for high end home projects across the United States. We also install and repair spires, steeples and other types of ornamental roofing.

We also offer commercial services, including the following structures:

  • Schools, universities and other educational facilities
  • Churches, temples, synagogues and mosques
  • Hospitals
  • Federal, state and local government facilities and governmental service agencies
copper gutter and downspout, with a stone wall and red clay tile roof

Cincinnati's Copper Heritage

Copper is a beautiful roofing material, whether it is used exclusively or alongside their durable counterparts, slate and clay-tile. The russet shine of new copper is warm and inviting, while the well-aged patina green and brown copper roof resembles our nation's most cherished buildings and statues.

When designed and installed by capable craftsmen, copper roofs provide Cincinnati with a long-term roofing option that requires low maintenance and no painting, unlike other metal roofing options.

As a flexible metal, copper can be adapted to almost any roofing application, but two installation types are common throughout Cincinnati.
private residence with standing seam copper roof

Standing Seam Copper Roofs

Especially common to this area and Northern Kentucky are copper standing seam roofs, often called "tin" roofs. Standing seam roofs include a visible seam that crimps uniform copper panels together in a water tight seal. When performed by an experienced craftsman, these seams add dimension and texture to your copper roof, drawing the eye up to the top-most edge of your historic roof.

A custom standing seam copper roof installed by our professionally trained craftsmen can last for 75 years, possibly in excess of a century.
cincinnati copper standing seam roof with fall foliage and chimney in the background

Flat-Lock Copper Roofs

A flat-lock copper roof is often installed on smaller, shallow pitched roofs or curved structures such as domes and barrel vaults.

For roofs with a shallow pitch, a tight seal is necessary to prevent leaking in case water pools. For this, we seal each seam with an industry leading, lead-free solder to ensure a water tight seal.

As with all copper roofs, flat-lock copper roofs are durable, lasting 75 years or longer, and age gracefully with an accumulating patina.
a copper flat lock roof with terra cotta clay-tile roof

Copper Dormers

Copper dormers extend outward from the sloping surface of the roof, usually encapsulating a vent, window, or other roofing structure. Window dormers add usable space to the roofing interior, protect the window inside, providing light and air-flow to the interior. In general, dormers helps to normalize the room's interior. The building's exterior can resemble a quaint cottage or grandiose church, depending on the dormers size, type, and placement.

As you can imagine, copper dormers come in a variety of types and styles. Gable (or Dog-house) dormers have two sloping roof segments that meet in the middle, resembling a dog house. Eyebrow dormers, in which the roofing material carries over the top of the dormer, making up its roof, and resembles a half-closed or sleepy eye. And the beautiful bonnet dormer, with a rounded roofing shape that looks arched when viewed from the front.

While dormers can be made out of wood and other materials, copper dormers enjoy the same incredible longevity as any other copper product and will develop the same antique patina for a wonderfully aged look.
custom copper dormer window
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More than a roof. A legacy.