How To Repair An Old Slate Roof

This leads to rapid roof failure once the nails are no longer holding the slates in place.

How to repair an old slate roof.

Usually simple friction will hold this aluminum or copper repair plate in place for decades. If your slate roof is nearing the end of its life you may be considering a replacement. Even a slate roof that has been meticulously maintained will need to be replaced during someone s ownership. If you are inspecting the roof from a ladder choose a few solid looking slate tiles from different areas of the roof and push hard on them with your hand.

Normally friction alone is enough to hold the lead bib in place. In some cases the existing sarking boards may be in sufficiently good condition to allow the new slates to be fastened onto the existing boards. Calculate the number of damaged and missing slates. Slate repair with aluminum on a slate roof with a coating of lichens a simple piece of flat aluminum flashing was pushed up under the slates to cover a hole3 observed by the roof inspector repairman.

On a soft slate or a deteriorating roof however moisture absorbed by the slates can penetrate to the nails. Roof repairs are generally best left to a professional roofer who understands old buildings and has the appropriate access equipment. On properly installed well maintained hard slate roofs nail type fasteners can match the life of the roof. Consider the age and condition of the roof versus its expected serviceable life given the type of slate employed.

Is the number less than about 20. Dealing with roof problems. Lead bib slate repair if the roof hasn t got too many mistakes a good method of repair is the lead bib it s simply a section of code 3 or 4 flashing lead cut large enough to sit under the faulty slate or bad overlap to make it waterproof and the repair invisible. If the tiles crack the roof is too old.

Replacing a few tiles or slates is a relatively simple job but it is also important to work out why a problem has occurred and whether it is indicative of a larger failure. A square is a standard 10 x 10 unit used by roofers. Synthetic slate roof cost. Assessing whether a slate roof needs repair or complete replacement has to be made based on the amount of repair the condition of the slates and other plans for the building.

The following guideline is provided to assist in the repair replace decision making process.