Roofs Are Cool. Here’s Proof.

Location: Charlotte, NC
Builder: Thompson Building Group

Designing a slate roof for someone who builds homes for a living? That’s a different kind of challenge, but one that’s right up our alley.

Ted Thompson, owner of Thompson Building Group and one of Charlotte, NC’s premier homebuilders, asked Worth to create something special for his new home. Not just high-end. Something original. Something personal. Where no two pieces are quite the same.

Like we said, right up our alley.

We started by sourcing a mix of new, aged, and reclaimed slate, including Vermont colors, imported Spanish slate, and classic Buckingham. We chipped some edges by hand to make each piece distinct. Then, we built multiple sample patterns. Ted built an actual sample board to gain a real-life perspective of each one.

Emails were exchanged. Patterns evolved. Back and forth until it looked and felt right—every color, every texture, and every purposeful imperfection in the right place.

It was a process that Ted could relate to and appreciate:

“If I had to build the same houses every day, I’d be bored out of my mind,” Ted said. “I think Rob (Miller) is the same way. He relishes the artistry of what he does, and I was happy to give him plenty of runway to create something unique.”

And that’s exactly what we did. We gave a seasoned building professional, someone who’s seen and done it all, something he’d never seen before.

Location: Greenville, SC
Builder: The Croft Company

The Rhett Street Condominiums is a 7-story, 36-unit building in the heart of Greenville, SC’s revitalized West End district. The building offers a fantastic view of the city and is definitely the only structure in town (and probably the entire state) with reclaimed, close-shingle English dull green tile from Norman, Oklahoma, on its roof.

At Worth, we go where each project takes us. This time, it was Norman. Next time, it could be anywhere else. Whatever it takes to get the materials that get the roof done right.

Location: Sedalia, CO
Builder: Formula Roofing & Remodeling

We were brought in to help restore the “Castle” portion of Cherokee Ranch & Castle outside Denver, CO. We used reclaimed Vermont slate from a Tennessee church to match the size, thickness, and weathered patina needed to create the appropriate look and feel of a castle roof.

Formula Roofing & Remodeling was named Contractor of the Year in Colorado based on the results of this restoration project.

Location: Charlotte, NC
Builder: Grandfather Homes

Axios 2023 Charlotte Home of the Year

We procured 20,000 square feet of fireflash clay tiles from the historic Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina, which we repurposed for various jobs around the country. One such job was right in our own backyard in Charlotte.

This home was set to be demolished before being deemed a historical landmark. Restoration efforts were initiated, and we were asked to help preserve the architectural beauty of this circa 1938 residence. After exploring multiple options with the builder, Matt Ewers, we decided to use Montreat’s (100-year-old) reclaimed material. That’s what it would take to do this house justice.

After a 3-year renovation, Matt and his family decided to move into the newly-refurbished home, which was named Axios’ 2023 Charlotte Home Of The Year.  

Location: Orlando, FL
Builder: Whiting Turner

Anytime you can do something for Disney, it’s pretty darn cool. We were asked to create a slate roof that adhered to a specific color palette and featured zero hard edges. To satisfy these parameters, we curated slate from multiple quarries in the U.S. and Canada and custom hand-cut each piece in North Carolina. We then sent everything to Epcot for a true fairytale ending.

Location: Charlotte, NC

The Cherokee Plantation in Yemassee, SC (named for the Cherokee rose) has a storied history dating back to 1710 when it was built from a grant given by King William III of England. One of the previous property owners was Robert Evans, the President of American Motors, who named the Jeep Cherokee after his beloved weekend retreat.

What’s this got to do with the clay shingle tiles we acquired from The Cherokee after a structural update? Not a lot. Except the rich backstory gives you an idea of just how rare and special these multi-directional, heavy-wire score shingles are.

They now sit atop this lucky house in Charlotte, NC. The homeowners wanted something special, and these shingles are exactly that. With historical ties to King William and a Southern plantation, they now reside in an equally regal setting in the Queen City.

Location: Southern Pines, NC

This project isn’t the biggest. It’s not the priciest. But it will always be one of our favorites. The owners wanted to return this classic Southern bungalow to its former glory. Before the ink dried on their last college tuition check, we set out to find the right roof to honor their vision and their home. We located a fireflash load from the St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. The Spanish tile was a perfect fit, and this grand little house was reborn.