Our members are the backbone of the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance. We’re excited to continue
featuring their work and continued innovations throughout the year. TRI Member, The Durable Slate Company shares their latest project featuring St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Learn more about the
project below.

The St. Mary’s Catholic Church was built in 1927. Until recently, the original roof, nearly a
century old, still remained. In August of 2020, a derecho (narrow band of fast-moving storms)
caused severe damage to parts of Iowa, impacting the Church.

The original roof was a clay tile roof made by TRIA Member Ludowici, located in New Lexington,
Ohio. The clay roof featured English tile that was handmade in old bee hive kilns. Each roof tile
was unique due to being handmade. This Ludowici tile was later discontinued in the 1950s.
Luckily, the Durable Slate Company was able to salvage material post-storm to completely
repair the damaged roof.

Following the storms, the church hired a local roofing company who assisted in temporarily
drying in the roof. A yellow foam spray was used to hold together the broken tiles, ensuring there
was no hazard during repairs. The reclaimed tiles created a seamless look resulting in a
stunning repair of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Well done, Durable Slate Company!

photos courtesy of The Durable Slate Company