Slate & Tile Roofing Specialist – Historic Restoration
Belvidere, Illinois•Full-time
$25 - $35 hourly
$25 - $35 hourly
About the Job
There are very few people in America who truly know slate and tile. We want to work with them.
This is not a general roofing position. Renaissance Historic Exteriors exclusively restores historic buildings, and that means natural slate, clay tile, concrete tile, and the traditional copper flashings that go with them. We work on structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places — the kind of projects most roofers never see in a lifetime.
If you have hands-on slate and tile experience — real experience, not a passing familiarity — and you take genuine pride in your craft, we have steady, meaningful, well-compensated work for you.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Install, repair, and restore natural slate and clay/concrete tile roofing systems on historic landmark structures.
- Execute selective slate matching, careful tear-offs that preserve reusable historic material, and detailed repairs.
- Apply traditional layout, fastening, and waterproofing methods specific to historic systems.
- Work with architectural copper and specialty metal flashings — a valued skill that expands your scope.
- Maintain strict safety standards on steep-slope, high-profile job sites.
- Travel to landmark project sites throughout the Midwest.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
- Craftsmen with demonstrated, hands-on slate and/or clay tile experience — this is the non-negotiable requirement.
- Knowledge of historic roofing materials and the traditional installation methods that preserve them.
- Precision and attention to detail — a replaced slate should be indistinguishable from the 150-year-old originals beside it.
- A professional who takes pride in the work itself, not just the paycheck.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
- $25–$35/hr — top-of-market for slate and tile specialists in the Midwest.
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance after 90 days.
- Year-round work — our backlog does not have an off-season.
- Travel per diem for overnight project assignments.
- Advancement opportunities within specialized historic trades — Specialist → Lead → Foreman.
- A team that will respect your expertise and hold it to the highest standard.
About Renaissance Historic Exteriors
Renaissance is a nationally recognized commercial and residential historical restoration company, specializing in traditional exterior historical building systems. Our craftsman work on roofing systems, structural and finish carpentry, masonry, architectural sheet metal and other historical systems not commonly found in current construction methods. Our clients include State Capitols, Churches, Universities, Libraries, Private Estates and properties of all types on the National Register of Historical Places. We have been awarded numerous local and national awards for our efforts. We have an industry leading safety program to protect our team members.