Leaky Slate Roof

You might find holes left over from a satellite dish or antenna mounting brackets or just about anything.

Leaky slate roof.

If you don t have an attic or just can t find the source of the leak you can check several places for problems with moisture or damage. A roof valley is very prone to leaks especially if you have an older roof. At that point it s necessary to replace the slate that s giving problems. The solution is not to glob on tar or other sealers but to replace your flashing.

Fasteners are also important in extending the life of a slate roof. Tiny holes in shingles are sneaky because they can cause rot a leaky roof and other damage for years before you notice the obvious signs of a leak. If a client cannot afford to replace a slate roof a wiser course may be to do nothing in the short run other than to trap small leaks in an attic or to tar leaky areas. Ice dams at roof eaves can be a serious leak source on slate as most other roof systems.

It s important for any penetration through the roof to be sealed properly to prevent leaks. Some slate suppliers recommend this heavier felt for all underlayment not just at the eaves. The upper part of the ladder will lie flat against the roof and distribute your weight among many shingles. Step 5 use a caulking gun to apply caulk to seal any holes that appear in the roof.

Often the damage is hidden under overlapping slate courses and becomes apparent only when the roof starts to leak. And if your flashing leaks your roof will also leak. Roof leaks are also very common in the winter when all the snow accumulating on a roof creates a potential for a roof leak to develop especially if a roof valley on your property is not properly flashed. The reason why the roof valley is such a sensitive area has to do with all the rainwater and or melting snow that accumulates and flows through the valley on its way into the gutters.

Boots the rubber seals that are around the electric service and plumbing vent pipes air vents and exhaust fan. Cut steel nails copper wire nails and galvanized steel nails are the most common fasteners used with slate roofing. The best access for most homeowners comes in positioning a long extension ladder from the ground to the roof at the same pitch as the roof. Traditionally 30 felt was used at eaves as insurance against this problem.

Use enough of the roof patch to liberally cover the leaky area. Inspect the gaskets around vent pipes for cracks or gaps and check for missing nails. Ridge cap flashing gaskets around pipes. Also slate is slippery when wet.

Although these steps are not preferred they are often better than abandoning what may be a valuable roof of predominantly durable slates.