Buckingham Slate Company
Buckingham Slate Company is a Virginia-based natural slate quarry and manufacturer, founded in 1867 and operating as a QUIKRETE subsidiary, producing genuine Buckingham roofing slate and L-Series decorative chippings sold through 250+ dealers across the eastern and central United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1867
- HeadquartersArvonia, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Buckingham Slate Company does
Buckingham Slate Company is a privately held natural slate quarry and manufacturer founded in 1867 and headquartered in Arvonia, Virginia, operating as a subsidiary of QUIKRETE. The company holds exclusive extraction rights to a single 500-acre slate deposit in Buckingham County, Virginia — the only source of genuine Buckingham Slate in the world, with the geological formation dating to Welsh settlers' discovery in the 1700s. Its product portfolio comprises two main categories: architectural slate products (roofing slate, dimensional flagstone, tread and wall caps) sold primarily to architects, builders, and institutions; and the L-Series decorative slate chippings (L-5, L-57, L-8, L-9, Slate Sand, and Trail Blend), which target landscape professionals and homeowners as a maintenance-free alternative to wood mulch. All products are characterized by unfading blue-black color, low water absorption, acid resistance, and a documented lifespan exceeding 150 years.
The company's go-to-market is built around a horizontal channel-partner model rather than direct sales. Distribution flows through an authorized network of over 250 dealers across the East Coast and Central United States, supplemented by rail logistics via a core partnership with Transflo on the CSX line and truck distribution through multiple regional carriers. Pricing is quote-based through dealers rather than publicly listed. The company reaches four primary end-segments: architects and design professionals specifying premium materials for universities, religious structures, and fine homes; landscape professionals and contractors for residential and commercial hardscaping; dealers and distributors who retail products to end consumers; and homeowners seeking premium natural stone. Notable enterprise users cited include Google, Samsung, Apple, and BASF for landscaping and hardscaping applications.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company operates with 51-100 employees. The business is structurally constrained by the single-deposit resource base but defended by 150+ years of brand equity, registered trademarks (Buckingham, Buckingham Slate, L-Series), industry awards (Tucker Design Award, Excellence in Residential, Excellence in Renovation and Restoration), and the physical impossibility of replicating the geological deposit. The current product clearance activity suggests ongoing inventory rationalization within the legacy architectural slate line, while the L-Series landscaping products represent the company's primary product extension for volume growth.
Buckingham Slate Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Buckingham Slate Company
- Legal name
- Buckingham Slate
- Website
- https://buckinghamslate.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1867
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Buckingham Slate Company is a Virginia-based natural slate quarry and manufacturer, founded in 1867 and operating as a QUIKRETE subsidiary, producing genuine Buckingham roofing slate and L-Series decorative chippings sold through 250+ dealers across the eastern and central United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Buckingham Slate Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Stone Products
- akta.pro primary industry
- Slate Roofing (IMADAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Marble Quarrying & Dimension Stone Fabrication (IMAKAHAE)
Keywords
Where Buckingham Slate Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arvonia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Buckingham Slate Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Slate Product Sales: Direct sales of slate products including roofing slate, decorative chippings, flagstone, tread/wall caps, and dimensional slate to dealers, distributors, and end customers. Products sold via dealer network with pricing based on product type and size.
- Dealer Network Sales: Sales through over 250 authorized dealers along the East Coast and Central United States who retail Buckingham Slate products to end consumers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-5 Slate Chippings (3/4" - 1 1/2") |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-57 Slate Chippings (1/2" - 1 1/4") |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-8 Slate Chippings (3/16" - 1/2") |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-9 Slate Chippings (1/8" - 3/8") |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-Series Slate Sand (1/8" and smaller) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | L-Series Trail Blend (1/2" - Dust) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Roofing Slate (various sizes) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tread & Wall Caps |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Buckingham Slate Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Buckingham Slate Company quarries and manufactures genuine Buckingham Slate from a single 500-acre deposit in Buckingham County, Virginia. The company produces roofing slate, decorative L-Series slate chippings in multiple size grades, dimensional flagstone, and tread/wall caps for roofing and landscaping applications. Products are characterized by unfading blue-black color, low absorption, and 150+ year lifespan.
Product overview
Buckingham Slate Company operates as a natural slate quarry and manufacturer based in Arvonia, Virginia, producing the only genuine Buckingham Slate from a single 500-acre deposit discovered in the 1700s. The company's product portfolio centers on two primary categories: L-Series Decorative Slate Chips (comprising L-5, L-57, L-8, L-9, Slate Sand, and Trail Blend grades ranging from dust to 1.5 inches) serving as maintenance-free landscaping ground cover alternatives to wood mulch; and architectural slate products including Roofing Slate, Dimensional Flagstone, and Tread & Wall Caps for construction and hardscaping applications. All products feature unfading blue-black coloring with mica sheen, acid resistance, low absorption rates, and a lifespan of 150+ years. The company distributes throughout the United States via truck and rail through an extensive network of over 250 dealers along the East Coast and Central United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Roofing Slate Authentic Buckingham unfading slate roofing tiles available in multiple dimensions (10" to 24" length) and thickness options (3/16" and 3/8"), with lifespan exceeding 150 years. Used for premium residential, commercial, university, and religious structure roofing projects.
- L-Series Decorative Slate Chippings
Quantifiable outcome
- 150+ year lifespan without fading or deterioration
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Buckingham Slate Company
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Buckingham Slate Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Buckingham Slate Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TransflocoreTransflo is a premier materials management, logistics, and transloading company that operates on the CSX rail line with more than 40 active terminals throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. Buckingham Slate partners with Transflo to provide efficient rail distribution options for large orders.
- Rocky WellsminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- Page TruckingminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- Hilltop MulchminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- Holston EnterprisesminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- Bones TransportationminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- US BulkminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
- US TransminorBulk load carrier providing transportation services for Buckingham Slate products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Buckingham Slate Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stone Forest: Designer and manufacturer of decorative natural stone products including sinks, basins, tiles, and architectural elements. Comparable to Buckingham in using natural stone as a design-driven premium material for architecture, though focused on interior versus exterior applications.
- Evergreen Slate Co. Pennsylvania-based slate producer and one of the largest US slate roofing manufacturers. Closely comparable in product (slate roofing shingles, flagstone), customer base (architects, builders, homeowners), and channel model (dealer network) to Buckingham Slate.
- Glendyne: Canadian slate producer operating one of North America's largest slate quarries, exporting unfading roofing slate globally. Comparable to Buckingham as a North American natural slate manufacturer focused on premium roofing applications, though it competes primarily on import versus domestic-origin positioning.
- Vermont Structural Slate Company: Long-standing US producer and supplier of roofing slate and architectural slate products, headquartered in Vermont. Directly comparable as a domestic slate manufacturer serving architects, builders, and high-end residential customers with similar unfading-slate value propositions.
- Penn Big Bed Slate Company: Pennsylvania slate quarry and manufacturer producing roofing slate, flagstone, and architectural slate products. Comparable to Buckingham as a domestic dimensional-slate producer with a similar mix of roofing and hardscape products sold through dealer channels.
Broad incumbents
- Polycor: Large North American natural stone producer and distributor covering granite, marble, limestone, and slate for architectural and hardscape applications. Broadly comparable to Buckingham in the dimension-stone and architectural-stone category, but operates at much greater scale across multiple stone types.
- Cosentino: Global producer of natural and engineered stone surfaces (marble, granite, quartz) for architectural and residential applications. Adjacent comparable to Buckingham within premium natural-stone surfacing for architecture and design, though focused on slabs rather than roofing or hardscape.
- CUPA Stone: International natural stone supplier with a strong portfolio of slate, quartzite, and other architectural stone products sold globally. Comparable to Buckingham in the slate roofing and architectural stone category, with broader international sourcing and distribution.
- M S International (MSI): Major US distributor of natural stone, quartz, and hardscape products serving dealers, contractors, and homeowners nationwide. Comparable to Buckingham as a channel for premium stone products, though MSI operates as a multi-product distributor rather than a single-quarry manufacturer.
- Cedral (formerly Cedral / Slate Solutions): International supplier of fiber cement and natural slate roofing products, offering both natural slate and manufactured alternatives. Comparable to Buckingham as a slate roofing supplier serving architectural and residential markets, but operates at global scale with a broader product mix.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Buckingham Slate Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Buckingham Slate Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Buckingham Slate Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Buckingham Slate Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Buckingham Slate Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Slate Company
What does Buckingham Slate Company do?
Buckingham Slate Company quarries and manufactures genuine Buckingham Slate from a single 500-acre deposit in Buckingham County, Virginia. The company produces roofing slate, decorative L-Series slate chippings in multiple size grades, dimensional flagstone, and tread/wall caps for roofing and landscaping applications. Products are characterized by unfading blue-black color, low absorption, and 150+ year lifespan.
Is Buckingham Slate Company a public or private company?
Buckingham Slate Company is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Buckingham Slate Company founded?
Buckingham Slate Company was founded in 1867. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Buckingham Slate Company based?
Buckingham Slate Company is headquartered in Arvonia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Buckingham Slate Company make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Slate Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are dealer Network Sales.
Who are Buckingham Slate Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stone Forest, Evergreen Slate Co., Glendyne, Vermont Structural Slate Company and Penn Big Bed Slate Company. Broad incumbents are Polycor, Cosentino, CUPA Stone, M S International (MSI) and Cedral (formerly Cedral / Slate Solutions).
Does Buckingham Slate Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Buckingham Slate Company.
What industry is Buckingham Slate Company in?
Buckingham Slate Company's product category is Natural Stone Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAFAD, Slate Roofing, with a secondary code of IMAKAHAE, Marble Quarrying & Dimension Stone Fabrication.