Removing A Slate Roof

You may be replacing an entire slate roof or simply repairing damaged shingles.

Removing a slate roof.

Once turned into roofing material slate absorbs water and can naturally de laminate during the freeze and thaw cycles of winter. Removing tar from a roof. Slate roofs are a critical design feature of many historic buildings that cannot be duplicated using substitute materials. Remove moss and lichen from your roof with vinegar.

Besides being tripping hazards they can work through and damage the new shingles. The bad news is that removing your slate roof will cost more than removing most other types of roofing. Clean the roof with a push broom and remove or pound in any remaining fasteners. Less easy but of far greater importance is the next step of removing the dead moss from the roof.

This quality is what distinguishes slate as a suitable roofing material. Moss itself is a plant while lichen conisist of a fungus and a photosyntheizing plant living together. Exactly how much it will cost will vary from region to region and from season to season. Slate is a sedimentary rock with miniscule layers that easily cleave.

Removing slate shingles is usually done for one of two reasons. After you have killed the moss on your roof you must remove the dead moss manually or it will act like a sponge and soak up water further promoting decay. Removing slate nails diagonally this is particularly handy near gable ends and verges or when working near a valley where laths will be cut and may be unsupported of course nail chopping can also be done in the same manner. The good news about changing your slate roof is that you get a new roof which can mean a giving your house a different look or repairing leaks.

By far the easiest method of cutting slates is to use a good hand held slate cutter not only will it cut most natural slate but also artificial man. Lengths remove the backing and adhere the sticky side to the roof sheathing along eave edges. In either case it s a job you can do yourself with a little planning and know how. When leaves and other material collect on your roof a perfect bed is formed for moss and lichens to grow.

See my website link below for more roofing help http www fixmyroof co uk videos and guides pitched roof repair a slate roof this video shows not only how. How to cut a slate. Slate roofs can and should be maintained and repaired to effectively extend their serviceable lives. When replacement is necessary details contributing to the appearance of the roof should be retained.

Both tasks work hand in hand to ensure the longest possible lifespan for your roof.