A slate roof could have many benefits if you installed it in your home such as an attractive appearance, mold, and fire resistance, and overall durability.
This type of roofing material can last for up to 125 years when installed correctly and may only require little maintenance. However, they can still become vulnerable to several problems and may cause larger issues down the line.
If you don’t want your home and finances to suffer greatly just because of some problems with a slate roof, then you need to follow some simple maintenance routine to ensure its durability. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Get an Annual Inspection
If you have a slate roof, by far the most important thing you can do to maintain it is to have an annual inspection by a local slate roofing pro. Though delicate, slate roofs can last a very long time—100 years or more—if taken care of properly.
The first step is to have your roof professionally inspected every spring. This is important for two reasons: it will let you know if any damage occurred throughout the winter, and it will keep you ahead of any major repairs.
Slate roof maintenance often includes gutter cleaning, inspection for damaged areas, and cleaning of the roof to remove debris, mold, mildew, and moss. Source: Angi
2. Look for Cracks and Missing Tiles
In between your annual inspections, we recommend keeping an eye on your roof to note any possible issues. Your roof will likely experience broken and slipped slate tiles from time to time, as tiles tend to crack with heavy impact from storms and snow. Thankfully, our team can repair individual slates quickly rather than needing to replace larger sections.
Again, you should never attempt to stand on your roof to inspect the tiles. Viewing your roof from the ground should give you a good enough vantage point to notice any damaged areas. Source: Gotcha Covered Contracting
3. Inspect the Flashings
You may be surprised to learn that the flashing and gutters are the most vulnerable parts of a slate roof, so keeping them maintained is imperative to keeping your slate roof in good shape.
Flashing is a thin, weatherproof material such as copper or galvanized steel that is used around windows, doors, gutters, chimneys or any exterior joint. The purpose of flashing is to keep water from getting under your tiles.
Although copper flashings are initially more expensive than galvanized, they also typically last about 70 years compared to galvanized flashings that usually last fifteen to twenty years and require regular painting. Plus, many people like the patina copper develops over time. Source: Leeland’s Slate Roofing
If ever you require some help on this one or you need a professional to handle the job, we’d be happy to be of service to you. Just give us a call!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
