Management at Bermuda's largest local insurance companies last night called for any stockpile of Bermuda slate or imported slate to quickly be made available.

Insurers at both BF&M and Argus claimed property owners were growing frustrated by a lack of roofing materials and manpower necessary for repairs, following widespread damage from Hurricane Fabian.

Although there are no real estimates yet on how many roofs were either damaged or completely destroyed in Friday's storm, a local architect and insurer put estimates on the number of damaged buildings as high as a couple of thousand.

BF&M president and CEO Glenn Titterton made a plea for sources of slate to be made available to the public, including any stockpiles possibly held by Government.

Mr. Titterton said that there were in years past, and could still be, built up stores of Bermuda slate as Government always knew there was the potential for this problem: "There needs to be action on the part of Government to release any slate or imported materials that are available. It is important that this happen quickly as those with holes in their roofs, their loss will be greatly magnified if not repaired quickly. This is a top priority if people are to prevent further damage and save valuables in their home."

"This is a question of people really needing help. Hundreds of people cannot fix their homes," Mr. Titterton said.

"As an insurance company we have been going flat out to inspect every bit of damage (reported after the storm). And we have given authorisation for customers to go ahead with (roof) repairs but there is frustration as it is almost impossible to find a contractor and to find slate."

He continued: "This is not the time to dilly dally - all Bermuda slate and alternative products need to be made available. People are becoming very frustrated. Their houses are open to the elements, and we (the insurers) have authorised repairs, but they can't find a contractor or the materials, " he concluded.

Argus vice-president property and casualty Larry Osborne said its customers had voiced similar concerns, and that eaves slate appeared to be in particularly short supply.

In addition, Mr. Osborne expressed concern over the cost of slate with possible price gouging after reports that some customers were being charged $5 per piece of slate, compared to $3 before the storm.

The Royal Gazette understands that Bermuda slate was already in short supply before last week's hurricane, with architects and builders saying late last year that a slate shortage had effectively pushed prices up from $1.25 to $3 per piece of slate.

Mr. Osborne said: "We think there may be a small supply of slate and we are working hard to try and find it." He added that an alternative to Bermuda slate was imported by SAL and that he understood a shipment could arrive on the Island this week.

Calls were made by The Royal Gazette to SAL throughout the day for further information on their product, DuraSlate, but phone calls were not answered. In addition, several contracting firms were contacted but had not returned calls by press time.

Local architect Sjur Linberg, a partner with Linberg & Simmons, said alternative roofing materials could prove a god-send in this situation, and said there was an alternative slate material (possibly DuraSlate) available that could successfully be used to patch holes in Bermuda slate roofs.

For those needing to completely replace their roof after Fabian, SKB also offers an alternative roofing material to traditional Bermuda slate. And Mr. Linberg noted that of the hurricane damage he had seen, SKB roofs had withstood the storm.