TRAINING

Introduction to Installing Natural Quarried Roofing Slate

Latest News: We have constructed a year-round, heated, air-conditioned classroom facility and are now able to offer classes during the winter months. 

Only 4 persons per class. Call to schedule (814-786-9085), or select below.  If you book online, please indicate the students' names in the "Customer Notes" at checkout.

Duration: Approximately 9-10 hours, including break. LUNCH INCLUDED.

Location:  Western Pennsylvania, USA.  

Cost: $800 / student

This course is taught by Joe Jenkins, author of the Slate Roof Bible and Executive Director of the Slate Roofing Contractors Association. It runs from about 9 am until about 6 pm with a 1.5 hour break at the Family Tradition Restaurant in Harrisville, PA. 

Course Address: 143 Forest Ln. Grove City, PA 16127 (near Barkeyville, PA). 

GPS Joseph Jenkins Inc. (do not GPS the physical address)

This official Slate Roofing Contractors Association introductory course combines approximately 3 hours of classroom instruction with approximately 5 hours of hands-on training on a roof mockup, and covers the basic installation standards, information, and procedures for correctly and successfully installing natural slate on roofs. You will be cutting, punching, and trimming slates using a variety of tools specific to the trade. You will be nailing roofing slates to a wood deck with roofing nails and integrating the slates with various flashings, including step flashings, valley flashings, apron flashings, and ridge copper.  

The course is limited to 4 students on 2 roof mockups. Students who successfully complete the course receive a "Certificate of Completion" from the SRCA.  

Tools: We supply tools for the course, but if you want to use your own, buy this basic tool set and pick it up when you arrive, or we will ship it to you (free shipping) beforehand.

Prerequisite Knowledge: Basic construction and roofing knowledge is beneficial, but not necessary.

See list of course graduates.    

Learning Objectives: Learn how to successfully install a natural quarried slate roof that will function for up to a century or two. Learn about common mistakes made by inexperienced installers and how to avoid them. Learn how to cut, punch, shape, and work with natural stone roofing using standard tools of the trade. Learn how basic flashing systems work with slate roofing and the various ways they can be installed. Learn about all the different types of slate that may be found on the North American market today. Learn about different installation styles, fasteners, substrates, underlayment, roof staging, headlap, starter courses, and many other details relating to slate roofing. 

Course Handouts: SRCA Slate Roof Installation Training Manual (161 pages),  Slate Roof Bible, 3rd Edition (374 pages), Slate Roofs 1926 (130 pages). If you register for both courses, you will be discounted $100 since you won't need a second copy of the Slate Roof Bible and Slate Roofs 1926.    

A supervisor, foreman, boss, etc., can sit in with the crew and audit the course at no extra charge. Persons auditing the course will not receive the course handouts, will not be able to conduct any hands-on training, nor will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion.

Introduction to Slate Roof Repair, Restoration, and Maintenance

Latest News: We have constructed a year-round, heated, air-conditioned classroom facility and are now able to offer classes during the winter months. 

Only 4 persons per class. Call to schedule (814-786-9085), or select below.  If you book online, please indicate the students' names in the "Customer Notes" at checkout.

Duration: Approximately 9-10 hours, including break. LUNCH INCLUDED.

Location: Western Pennsylvania, USA.  

Cost: $800 / student

This course is taught by Joe Jenkins, author of the Slate Roof Bible and Executive Director of the Slate Roofing Contractors Association. It runs from about 9 am until about 6 pm with a 1.5 hour break at the Family Tradition Restaurant in Harrisville, PA. 

Course Address: 143 Forest Ln. Grove City, PA 16127 (near Barkeyville, PA). 

GPS Joseph Jenkins Inc. (do not GPS the physical address)

About this 8-Hour Course: This official Slate Roofing Contractors Association introductory hands-on course includes approximately 3 hours of classroom time and 5 hours of work on a roof mockup. It covers the repair of slate roofs, restoration work on slate, and slate roof maintenance, including temporary and emergency repairs. An SRCA "Certificate of Completion" will be provided to students who complete the course.   

See list of course graduates.   

Tools: We supply tools for the course, but if you want to use your own, buy this basic tool set. We provide a slate hammer, slate ripper, slate cutter, aviation snips, sheet metal tongs, chalk line, and chalk. You should bring a tool belt, tape measure, a carpenter's pencil, and standard pliers.  

Course Handouts Included: SRCA Slate Roof Repair Training Manual (146 pages),  Slate Roof Bible, 3rd Edition (374 pages), Slate Roofs 1926 (130 pages).  

If you register for both courses, you will be discounted $100 since you won't need a second copy of the Slate Roof Bible or Slate Roofs 1926.

A supervisor, foreman, boss, etc., can sit in with the crew and audit the course at no extra charge. Persons auditing the course will not receive the course handouts, will not be able to conduct any hands-on training, nor will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion.

How to repair a slate roof.  

European Flashing Training Course - Now booking for February and/or March 2026

Dates are to be determined according to the schedules of the students and instructor. Sign up now. When we have 4 students registered, we will set the dates according to the availability of all 5 persons attending.

Only 4 persons per class. Call to schedule (814-786-9085), or select below.  If you book online, please indicate the students' names in the "Customer Notes" at checkout.

Cost: $1500 per student

Duration: Two days - 8am - 3pm, including break. Lunch is included. The course is limited to 4 students. Tools are provided.Basic construction and roofing knowledge is beneficial, but not necessary. Language: English 

Location: Grove City area, Western Pennsylvania, USA.  143 Forest Ln. Grove City, PA 16127. GPS Joseph Jenkins Inc. (If you GPS the physical address, it may send you to Grove City, PA. We are 9 miles away from Grove City near the Barkeyville exit #29 on Interstate 80.)

This course is taught by John Sheridan, creator and owner of Sheridan Metal Resources LLC. With 50 years of experience in the roofing industry, we will take an in-depth, hands-on dive into various double-fold flashing techniques. John has been training European details since 2003 with a focus on copper, zinc, and stainless steel (Roofinox). He is a North American certified trainer for VM Zinc, Aurubis Copper, and Roofinox Stainless Steel.  

Learn sweep-seam, double-locked flashing techniques. Trainings are a two day hands-on experience designed and structured to introduce craftsmen to the tools and knowledge. We teach everything required to gain a basic working knowledge of double-fold (double-lock standing seam) Euro-inspired techniques. You can expect an introduction to the specific tools and details we will be working with during the training. Students will take the basic knowledge learned and apply them to a hands-on mock-up. Topics covered will be: eave, rake, transition, change of direction, chimney, valley and pipe flashing details.

Course Handouts: Handout with common European flashing details.

COMBINED COURSE:

Introduction to Slate Roof Repair, Restoration, and Maintenance

AND

Introduction to Slate Roof Installation

Latest News: We have constructed a year-round, heated, air-conditioned classroom facility and are now able to offer classes during the winter months. 

Only 4 persons per class. 

$1500/Student for the 2 day course

Duration: Two days, approximately 9 hours each day, including break. Location: Western Pennsylvania, USA.   

These courses are taught by Joe Jenkins, author of the Slate Roof Bible and Executive Director of the Slate Roofing Contractors Association. It runs from about 9 am until about 6 pm with a 1-hour break between roughly 1 and 2 pm. Local restaurants and hotels are minutes away. Address: 143 Forest Ln. Grove City, PA 16127 (near Barkeyville, PA). GPS Joseph Jenkins Inc. 

About these 8-Hour Courses: This official Slate Roofing Contractors Association introductory hands-on course includes approximately 3 hours of classroom time and 5 hours of work on a roof mockup. It covers the installation and repair of slate roofs, restoration work on slate, and slate roof maintenance, including temporary and emergency repairs. Two SRCA "Certificates of Completion" will be provided to students who complete the courses.   

See list of course graduates.   

Tools: We supply tools for the course, but if you want to use your own, buy this basic tool set. We provide a slate hammer, slate ripper, slate cutter, aviation snips, sheet metal tongs, chalk line, and chalk. You should bring a tool belt, tape measure, a carpenter's pencil, and standard pliers.  

Course Handouts Included: SRCA Slate Roof Repair Training Manual (146 pages), Slate Roof Installation Training Manual (165 pages),  Slate Roof Bible, 3rd Edition (374 pages), Slate Roofs 1926 (130 pages).  

A supervisor, foreman, boss, etc., can sit in with the crew and audit the course at no extra charge. Persons auditing the course will not receive the course handouts, will not be able to conduct any hands-on training, nor will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion.

How to repair a slate roof.