05/13/2026
There is a church on Cameron Avenue in Tyrone, Pennsylvania that has been standing since 1886.
St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church has watched over Blair County for nearly 140 years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And this spring, our team had the privilege of restoring its Vermont Gray slate roof the right way.
We found what a previous contractor had left behind: silicone caulk smeared across cracked slate joints, and sections of the roof installed without proper head lap. The geometry that makes a slate roof watertight had simply been ignored.
Our Master Pro Certified Installer Dave Hoffer and his apprentice Cole Essel corrected every failure. Proper installation. Matched material. Copper snow guards. A custom copper ridge cap that will protect this roof for decades.
And when the work was done, Rob made a commitment that does not appear on any invoice. He will be back every April. He attended Easter Mass. He will evaluate the roof. He will make sure this building is looked after for as long as he is able.
A 140-year-old roof is not a project. It is a responsibility.
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GSM Roofing restored the 140-year-old Vermont Gray slate roof on a National Register church in Tyrone, PA. Copper snow guards, ridge cap, and annual stewardship included.