I would prefer to keep the slate for sure. worried there is just too much disrepair. calling a roofing company this week to take a look. FYI this is a house we are buying. do not currently own

How old is the slate? At 100 years it reaches the point where the material is too degraded. Putting on a new slate roof is incredible expensive, the 'faux' slate roofs cost only slightly less.

We had a beautiful slate roof on the house I grew up in and my father had to replace it too, my condolences because they are beautiful. We are in the process of building a farmhouse and chose a color similar to the slate, a tad more black. It is called Virginia Slate by Tamco.

The house is almost 100 years old. Not totally sure if the roof is original.

In that case, make the roof replacement a negotiating issue.