Easy Tips For Awesome Slate Tile Roof Repair Layton, UT
Beautiful, durable and weather-resistant, slate roofs are a popular roofing choice. Individually crafted tiles of sedimentary rock, available in a number of naturally occurring colors, allow for the designing of unique artistry that can last up to a century with proper maintenance. Diligence will serve you well, because if you don't attend to slate roof repair promptly the lifespan of your slate tile roof will shorten dramatically, up to the point of possibly needing a full slate roof replacement. You can avoid the fuss and expense of that by catching and dealing with damage as it happens.
There are a lot of factors that go into the proper care and repair of a slate tile roof. And when it is damaged, you may be tempted to try to handle the repair job yourself. Usually, this is fine if you are just looking to create a stop-gap to prevent further damage while you are searching for the right slate tile roof repair company or contractor, but if more extensive work needs to be done, you really should leave it to trained professionals, like those at Layton, UT Slate Tile Roof Repair. Slate roofs in particular are tricky to repair, and easy to damage while walking about on them if you are not careful; it is far better to pay an expert (who, by the way, is almost certainly insured against damages caused accidentally during repair work) than to do the job yourself and risk wasting time, money and materials only to find you have made your problem worse.
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Slate Roof Repair In Layton
The choice to take on your own slate tile roof repair will likely take you in one of two directions. One choice is to remove the old tile from over the leak and patch the hole. For this you will need a slate ripper, or some wire cutters if a slate ripper is unavailable, with which to remove the broken slate. You will also need roof tar to patch that pesky leak. Cheap, simple and speedy, this type of repair work is often weak and short lived. Your roof deserves a stronger more lasting slate tile repair to avoid further deterioration or recurrence of the leak. Attentive care will preserve the historic beauty of your slate tile roof as well as it's durability.
The alternative is to remove the original slate tile and properly attach one to replace it. This is not a simple job and it is best if this is done by a licensed slate tile roof repair contractor. It requires a lot of different equipment and materials and a strong education and practice with roofing. If you decide to tackle these permanent repairs by yourself, make sure you have all the tools and materials needed to repair a slate tile roof. Some of these tools include slate cutter, slate ripper or wire cutters, a flight pry bar, hammer, a chicken ladder, galvanized roofing nails, tin snips, and a caulking gun.
You can use the slate ripper/wire cutters to cut the nails that are holding the damaged tile in place. Once this is accomplished, you can pull out the broken pieces of slate roof tile. Once that it done, you can measure the gap, and then use the slate cutter to cut a new tile. Make sure that the size of the new tile is three inches greater than double the size of the gap; this ensures proper overlap for the new tile. After that, slide the new tile into place, and create a countersink by nailing it in from the back, using bobs to protect the tip of the nail so it doesn't damage other tiles.
When Should I Call the Pros?
Do not be surprised or ashamed if you find your slate roof repair job is just too much to take on yourself. This is actually normal and expected. For this reason there are well trained slate roof repair contractors like Layton, UT Slate Tile Roof Repair. Let them tackle this laborious task. Call for a quote and to schedule slate tile roof repair service if you see any of these signs indicating you'll want some professional help:
1. You Cannot Locate the Source of a Slate Roof Leak If your roof is leaking, and you cannot pinpoint it's source with accuracy, you need an expert. Slate tiles are expensive, and you can't just go ripping them off at random hoping to find where moisture is coming in. 2. You Do Not Have The Right Materials For the Job If you are lacking the supplies or tools needed to perform your own roof repair, its easier and more convenient, and sometimes even cheaper, to pay a qualified contractor to do the work on your roof rather than pursuing it yourself. 3. You Have Questions Regarding the Safety of the Work If you have any doubts at all about your ability to do the job safely, and without causing further costly damage to your roof, call in the cavalry; nothing is worth the risk of suffering permanent injury or making the problem worse when you have a well-trained, experienced group of professionals who can assume and mitigate those risks for you.
FAQs
How Much Should a Layton Slate Tile Roof Repair Cost?
The expense of a slate tile roof repair tends to be higher than other types of roofs. Quality installation of new slate tiles requires precise technical skills and quality materials, especially if you want to preserve the visual appeal and artistry of your slate tile roof. For these reasons, depending on the size of the slate roof tile repair service you need, you will likely spend between $700 and $2000 for work in which you can take confidence and pride.