For solar contractors
Stop turning down slate roofs.
Slate has been the job you quote high or quietly decline — slow, fragile, and easy to lose money on. The patented SlatePlate™ was built by an installer, for installers, to make slate a repeatable, higher-margin line: panels mount without removing slate, with the array’s weight designed to carry to the roof structure, not the tiles. We make the mounting system, train your crews, and supply the product — you run the solar.
Tell us your monthly volume and whether you’re after product, training, or both — we’ll scope what fits your business.
Patented slate-roof mounting system (U.S. & E.U.) · made in the USA · developed by an installer, for installers
Made in U.S.A.
manufactured in Hudson, MA
Slate has meant slow, fragile, low-margin work. A method built for slate — with training and product behind it — changes that math.
A niche worth owning
The lead you keep handing back
Slate-roof homeowners want solar and keep hearing “not on slate.” A method purpose-built for slate lets you keep the lead instead of losing it.
A niche competitors decline
Slate and cedar roofs sit on a meaningful slice of the housing stock — the company cites a figure near 5% of American homes. They’re often older, higher-value homes whose owners want solar — and most crews still have to turn them away. You don’t have to.
Built to be repeatable
Engineered around the realities of a job site: no measuring and no guesswork on drill-hole location — the step where slate jobs usually go wrong. The company reports experienced crews getting productive on the method in about one to two hours.
Higher-margin work
Solar on slate carries a premium because the scope is real: specialized labor, more prep, and a clientele that expects specialty work. That combination supports a stronger margin than a commodity asphalt install — not a discount fight.
A defensible specialty
The SlatePlate is patented in the U.S. and Europe, made in the USA, and “priced for small business” (company-stated). Entering now means building a specialty line — and a referral reputation with roofers and homeowners — before the contractor down the road does.
On the roof
The method, on real slate
No measuring, no tear-off, a slate roofer in the room — and a clean, low-profile array at the end.
See it on real roofs
Installation videos
Real installs and product walkthroughs — play inline, no pop-ups.
Why build with SlatePlate
A specialty line backed by real engineering.
2017
installer-built, in the field since
U.S. & E.U.
patented mounting system
0
slate removed to mount
Engineer-founded · made in the USA (Hudson, MA) · patented in the U.S. & Europe · trains installers in person, over Zoom, and on demand · supplies installers directly and through distributors.
From inquiry to install
How adding slate to your services works
A clear division of labor: you run the solar, a slate roofer owns the slate craft, and Solar Slate Solutions supplies the product and the training.
1
You request pricing & training
Tell us your company, role, monthly volume, and whether you’re after product, training, or both. The SlatePlate team follows up to scope what fits your business.
2
You get trained on the method
Training is available in person, virtually over Zoom, and as on-demand video, so you can bring crews up to speed without pulling them off the schedule. Your crew learns the no-measure mounting process and slate-safe handling.
3
You qualify the roof
You assess slate condition, structure, orientation, shading, and racking fit, and confirm what your local AHJ requires. Not every slate roof is a candidate — the assessment is what tells you.
4
You source the product
SlatePlate is supplied directly to installers and through distributors, so you can order through the channel that works for your volume. Not sure where to start? We’ll point you to a distributor.
5
Slate prep — with a roofer in the room
Compromised slates in the array footprint get replaced, and related work — ridge and valley, chimney flashing, skylights — can be handled during the same project. A slate roofer is your partner for the slate craft, not an obstacle and not someone to work around.
6
You install with the SlatePlate
Mounts are set without removing slate; rails, panels, and electrical follow your standard process. The SlatePlate is the slate-roof interface beneath standard racking — the array’s load is designed to carry to the structure, with weather protection built in at each penetration.
7
Inspection, permitting & activation
You manage permits, inspection, and the utility interconnection as you would on any job. The homeowner starts generating power.
8
You build the reputation — we keep supporting it
Manufacturer warranties back the components, and training, documentation, and product supply stay available as you take on more slate work. You grow the line; the SlatePlate team backs the product and the method.
Your concerns, answered
What contractors ask before taking on slate
The objections we hear most — answered straight.
“Slate jobs are slow and lose money.”
That’s a fair read of the old way. The SlatePlate is designed to change the math: no measuring, no guesswork on hole placement, and a mount that sets quickly. It’s built to make slate predictable and profitable, with actual time depending on the roof.
“My crew will break slate.”
The right thing to worry about — and the exact problem SlatePlate was built around. Its patented spacer is designed to carry the load to the structure rather than compress the tile, with a barrier between the lag and the slate. The method is paired with training on slate-safe handling.
“Roof callbacks are expensive.”
A leak callback on slate can erase a job’s profit. Each mount uses layered protection — flashing, an approved sealant, and the mounting brackets. Ask for the exact flashing detail and warranty language for your proposals.
“We’re not slate experts.”
You don’t have to be a slate mason, and you shouldn’t cut the roofer out. You handle the solar, a slate roofer handles the slate craft, and the SlatePlate lets both happen without tearing off the roof. It protects the building, your reputation, and often makes the sale easier.
“Training takes time I don’t have.”
That’s why training comes in three formats — in person, virtual/Zoom, and on-demand video — so you choose what fits your schedule. The company reports experienced crews getting productive in roughly one to two hours. Confirm current options when you request pricing.
“Can I get the product reliably?”
Yes. Solar Slate Solutions manufactures the SlatePlate in the USA and supplies it both directly to installers and through distributors, so you can source it through the channel that fits your volume. Not sure where to order? We’ll point you to a source.
“What about warranties and liability?”
You’ll want clear lines of coverage: manufacturer limited warranties on components including the SlatePlate, alongside standard workmanship and roof warranties through the install, with weather events handled via property insurance. Confirm the exact, current terms in writing before you quote them.
“Will it work with my racking and panels?”
The SlatePlate is the slate-roof interface — used beneath standard rails and panels rather than replacing your racking. Compatibility depends on the specific system, so confirm your rail and module setup with a product specialist before your first job.
“How is this different from flashing a standard mount?”
The difference is the patented spacer. The company describes the SlatePlate as the first system to combine no slate removal with no load transferred to the slate — the company says standard mounts typically do one or neither. That’s what’s meant to keep tiles intact and the penetration sealed.
“Is slate volume worth setting up for?”
That’s a business call only you can make — it depends on how many slate leads you turn away and your local mix of older, higher-value homes. The Pricing & Training conversation is meant to help you size it honestly, not oversell it.
Already turning away slate leads? Let’s scope what a slate line would look like for your business.
Common questions
Installer FAQ
How do you put solar on a slate roof without removing tiles?
With SlatePlate’s patented SlateSpacer. It attaches directly to the rafter under the slate, so there’s no need to remove any tiles, and the weight rests on the frame, not the slate. Whether solar works on a given project depends on its condition and structure.
What makes SlatePlate different from a normal mount on slate?
The company says it’s the first system that both leaves the slate in place and keeps the weight off it, using a patented spacer and built-in flashing (the metal that seals each bolt hole). It’s made so you don’t have to measure or guess where to drill — which regular mounts can’t do on slate.
How long does a slate install take with this system?
Real job time depends on the roof’s size, steepness, and condition — treat the speed claim as the company’s until you’ve run your own jobs. Most SolarSlate-certified installers take about 4 minutes per flashing, and it won’t take long to get you up to speed.
Do you offer training, and how?
Yes — a SolarSlate pro will train your team in person. It usually takes an experienced racking crew about 4 hours to be certified and able to work without supervision. SolarOnSlate is currently working on a Zoom training. Confirm the current options when you ask for pricing.
Is there a certification for installers?
We can explain how to get trained, certified, and recognized — just confirm the state the work will be performed in, and we’ll work out a program that fits.
Where do I buy SlatePlate?
There are 2 versions. The SlatePlate is made in the USA; to purchase it, Solar Slate Solutions ships direct — in most cases we cover the shipping. The SlateFlash is made in Europe, and our distribution partner DEKS has exclusive manufacturing and distribution rights there. We can connect you with a DEKS representative.
How does it stay weathertight?
Everywhere a bolt goes through the roof, we seal it with several layers — the SlatePlate, which is the flashing; a waterproof sealant; and mounting brackets with rubber grommets. Ask us to spell out the exact waterproofing and warranty details in your quote.
What warranties back the product?
The company says there are makers’ warranties on the parts (including SlatePlate), plus normal workmanship and roof warranties from the install; weather damage usually goes through home insurance. Get exact terms in writing.
Does it work with my rails and panels?
Yes. The SlatePlate is the flashing that makes SolarOnSlate possible, and it’s universal with many racking systems and panels. A SolarSlate consultant can help you decide which system is best for you.
Do I need a slate roofer on the job?
In most cases, an experienced roofer or racking team can be easily trained to install the SlatePlate and to replace a broken slate. However, a slate roofer handles the detail work (broken tiles, ridges, valleys, chimney seals, skylights) — another service the solar company can provide. Teaming up protects the roof and your reputation.
Who handles permits and inspection?
You do, like on any job — permits, inspection, and connecting to the utility, following your local rules. (The “AHJ” just means the local authority that approves the work.) SlatePlate is the mounting method, not a replacement for meeting code.
Why does solar on slate cost more, and can I charge for it?
Slate needs special skills, special tools, and more prep than asphalt, and the customers tend to be higher-income (company’s claim). That extra work supports a higher price — not a discount fight.
What’s the first step to adding slate to my services?
Fill out the form and let’s get you certified. We’ll match the product, training, and support to how many jobs you do and your local market.
Does it cost anything to become certified?
Nope! A one-day training is free in New England and the Tri-State area. For other areas that require travel and accommodations, fees are usually waived with orders over 300 parts.
Make slate your most profitable line — not the one you turn down.
A patented, USA-made method — with training and product behind it.
Tell us your monthly volume and whether you want product, training, or both, and we’ll scope what fits your business. Slate roofs are already on your leads list — this is how you keep them, with a slate roofer in your corner. No pressure, no obligation — we’ll size it to your business honestly, not oversell it.