Putting weather performance front and center

By Jesse Sanchez. 

With hurricane-force wind testing and impact resistance, this lightweight slate roofing system aims to create future-proof homes. 

As climate events grow more extreme, roofing manufacturers are under pressure to deliver products that can stand up to punishing weather conditions. In this episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, Morgan Cathey, sales director at Vermont Slate Company, explained how the reengineered READYSLATE® product isn't just lighter; it’s built to exceed the current standards of storm resilience. 

“We were at a Class 4 impact rating. As far as our wind rating, we've done all the testing. The max testing was 110 miles an hour for a fixed product. We modified that test and went up to 160 miles an hour with the product,” Morgan said. That level of testing goes well beyond common code requirements, including Florida and Miami-Dade certifications. 

The product was originally created to address the weight and labor constraints of traditional slate roofing. But now, READYSLATE’s standout value is its hybrid of real-slate aesthetics with thoroughly modern performance capabilities, including improvements driven by contractor feedback. 

From the headlap to the panel gasket, nearly every component has been tweaked for better durability and moisture protection. “We redesigned the product and we want to make it bulletproof. We want to make it easy to install and for the contractor to have confidence in it,” Morgan said. “We’ve increased the headlap and then also the lap side to side as well.” 

These modifications make the system especially appealing in storm-prone regions where contractors are fielding more questions from homeowners about wind-driven rain, hail and fire exposure. READYSLATE’s use of HDPE backer, an asphalt-free material, adds to its long-term reliability while helping to simplify installation in adverse conditions. 

While the company’s traditional slate business remains strong, Morgan noted that READYSLATE fills a critical niche. “Let’s improve the standard,” Morgan said. “Let’s go past the standard and see if we can’t improve the product to be able to pass stuff that hasn’t even come out yet.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about READYSLATE’s high-performance engineering and how it’s being deployed in both high-end and everyday roofing projects!