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Historic Slate Roof Restoration Russian Hill SF
Russian Hill, SF
12 Days
Historic Preservation
The Russian Hill mansion on Vallejo Street was built in 1915, and its original Vermont slate roof had weathered a century of San Francisco history, including the 1918 flu pandemic, the 1989 earthquake, countless storms, and even the occasional neighborhood cat convention. But time catches everything, and several slates had cracked, slipped, or disappeared entirely.
“We didn’t want just any roofer touching this roof,” Margaret Sullivan told us firmly. “This house is on the National Register. The slate is original. We needed craftsmen who understood that they weren’t just fixing a roof. They were preserving history.”
She had called three other roofing companies first. Two said they didn’t work with slate. The third offered to replace it with “slate-look” synthetic shingles. Margaret showed us their quote and shook her head. “That’s when I found you.”
Our master slate specialist, trained in traditional European techniques, personally oversaw every aspect. We sourced authentic Vermont slate that matched the original 1915 installation, from the same quarry, the same grade, and the same character. Each replacement slate was hand-shaped, hand-nailed with copper fasteners, and positioned with the precision of a watchmaker.
The work took twelve careful days. Our crew moved across that historic roof like choreographed dancers, respectful, deliberate, and completely focused. We didn’t just replace damaged slates. We restored the entire roof’s integrity, repointed the original copper valleys, and documented every step for the city’s historical records.
When we finished, Margaret stood in her front yard and wept. “It looks exactly like my grandmother described it,” she said. “You didn’t just repair our roof. You brought back a piece of our family’s history. This roof will outlive us all now, and that’s exactly what it should do.”
That’s the Royal Roofing CA promise. Some roofs deserve more than repair. They deserve reverence, and we’re honored to be the craftsmen who deliver it
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Don’t trust your Russian Hill landmark to just anyone. Our master craftsmen specialize in authentic slate restoration that honors San Francisco’s architectural heritage..
