A case study on slate roof repair - By: Groshan Fabiola

In 1997, the slate roof repair of the First Presbyterian Church, located in Baldwinsville allowed the institution to continue its activity and prolonged the life of the important historical monument. If you have ever admired the imposing structure, you would understand why the slate roof repair job was a necessity, even though the confused congregation avoided taking action.

Slate is metamorphic rock with fine grains that is easy to split in thin layers. The ability to absorb moisture, the high strength and resistance to fire make it an ideal material for roofing and has been used since the 17th century. But the resistance of the slate roof also depends on the quality of the other materials used in the installation, the installation process itself and environment conditions, so slate roof repair jobs have to be performed to prevent its decay.

As the leaking problems increased, the Church hired a slate roof repair company to perform the necessary maintenance activities. The roof did not need to be fully replaced, so the slate roof repair company reused the materials that could be salvaged and added valleys, ice and water shields and copper flashes to fix the bigger holes in the boards.

During the slate roof repair, some of the wooden decking proved to be unsafe and had to be replaced. Since the wooden decking is the foundation of the slates, there was no doubt that if it wasn’t solid enough the whole slate roof repair would have been in vain.

The slate roof repair company discovered a common mistake, and that is using copper flashing instead of aluminum. Even though it is cheaper, copper flashing and lead covered copper flashing is vulnerable to rust and corrosion. It is likely that leaking problems at the intersection of the roof planes will appear long before the slate starts to wear out.

Using tern covered stainless steel flashings is a long-term solution against corrosion and rust. The tern covering the steel may wear off in time, but the stainless steel is highly resistant and will last a great deal more, avoiding a slate roof repairs after a short while. However, copper flashes are needed for their flexibility in order to cover the difficult areas. The slate roof repair company pointed out that improper installation of the roof might also result in damage over time. If in a short while slates disappear mysteriously it is either because the nails weren’t properly inserted or they were of inferior quality and rusted off. It is advisable to use galvanized nails to avoid having to proceed with another slate roof repair.

Also, you may not need a slate roof repair if you can avoid people walking on the roof or debris and branches falling on it. Use ice and water shields to provide additional protection against ice damns forming in the winter and causing leaks when they melt later on, in the spring.

It is always easier to follow some simple guidelines in order to keep your slate roof safe, like keeping the gutters clean, preventing traffic on your roof and inspecting it on a regular basis than hiring a slate roof repair company to repair it later.

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