Removing A Slate Roof

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

Removing a slate roof.

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. Slate roofs can and should be maintained and repaired to effectively extend their serviceable lives. How to cut a slate. Remove moss and lichen from your roof with vinegar.

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. This quality is what distinguishes slate as a suitable roofing material. Removing slate shingles is usually done for one of two reasons. Less easy but of far greater importance is the next step of removing the dead moss from the roof.

Moss itself is a plant while lichen conisist of a fungus and a photosyntheizing plant living together. 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. Once turned into roofing material slate absorbs water and can naturally de laminate during the freeze and thaw cycles of winter. When replacement is necessary details contributing to the appearance of the roof should be retained.

In either case it s a job you can do yourself with a little planning and know how. Slate roofs are a critical design feature of many historic buildings that cannot be duplicated using substitute materials. 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. You may be replacing an entire slate roof or simply repairing damaged shingles.

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. Exactly how much it will cost will vary from region to region and from season to season. Removing lichen fully using this method is nearly impossible not to mention time consuming especially if you are dealing with a large surface like a roof. Slate is a sedimentary rock with miniscule layers that easily cleave.