Commission approves asphalt shingle roof at 17 Garfield Street after owners cite slate deterioration and safety concerns

The Springfield Historic Commission approved an application from the owners of 17 Garfield Street to remove failing slate roofing, repair chimneys and flashing, replace skylights with boxed-flash units, and install asphalt shingles chosen to approximate the historic slate appearance. The four commissioners present voted in favor of the application.

Homeowner Jackson Montos told the commission his family moved into the house in late May and documented loose and falling slate, reporting that “pieces of slate already falls to the neighborhood.” He said the work is aimed at keeping the house and neighborhood safe and preserving the home’s historic look where possible. Contractor representatives described structural concerns under the slate (shakes and nailable substrate deterioration) and proposed full roof replacement to new plywood, ice-and-water barrier and GAF roofing materials with selections from GAF’s slate-like product lines (Camelot, Woodland, Royal Slate were discussed).

Commissioners questioned materials and installation—particularly style, color and installer experience—and asked the applicants to provide samples and final product choices before work proceeds. The commission concluded the application met hardship considerations for immediate safety and approved the work, with the understanding that future replacements or visible departures from the approved style would require review.

The motion to approve specified the approved scope: removal of existing slate where necessary, plywood replacement, flashing and cap work at chimneys, replacement skylights with boxed-flash flashing, and installation of asphalt shingles selected to approximate the historic appearance.