| Author | Message | ||
     Jim |
Recently I purchased a 2 1/2 story French Chateux style home with a very steep mansard slate roof (from 1905). Until I purchased it, the home had been turned into a rooming house and had not been taken care of. I have explored this site and am sad to admit - Neanderthals have visited quite frequently in the past. Anyway, Im on a 4 year track to return this substantial home into a single family with a new slate roof. There are no leaks in the current roof (just heavily stained from burning of coal) - so my architect suggested I wait until the inside work is complete. I have had several slaters (or so they said) visit my house and have received estimates between $80,000 to $150,000 to replace the old slate with unfading green with all copper. I have called a few companies that sell slate and the price was appr. $20,000. I am seriously considering doing this work myself. I plan on replacing an asphalt roof on my garage with slate this summer for practice. Do you know of a dealer that sells copper - and the proper tools to shape and install it? The current cap on my home has a distinct profile I would like to replicate. I also have all the specs as to what exactly I would need in slate and copper - complete with diagrams and dimensions of my roof. Also, the gutters are appr. 1 foot wide and also lined with something that looks like aluminum. I would like to cover this with copper as well - but Im not sure how to attach it. The side corners of the roof have no copper - just a very nice clean join with no cap at all. Is the technique necessary to replicate that in the book? The top edges of the roof appear to be capped with metal (ridge cap?) - Im not sure exactly what metal - but it is in a very fragile state. This cap meets a flat roof (slight slope) that is brand new (it leaked). I believe that the current flat roof should be removed and a new one installed when the copper cap has been installed. Is that correct? Also, can you recommend a "Copper Installation Bible" - if there is such a thing? I just ordered the Slate Roof Bible, and can't wait to read it. Please forgive my lack of slate roofing vocabulary - Im self - educating in this area. Thanks for all your advice and help! | ||
| Walter Musson |
Jim, There are many sources for your copper needs,but I'd suggest having a good sheet metal shop in your area make the pieces you need.The equiptment needed to fabricate 8' lengths of 16 or 20 oz. copper would be cost prohibitive for just one job.Joe can furnish you with slate tools,and copper installation tools are basically hand tools,but metal breaks and rolls would best be not purchased-ask for assistance from a reputable shop.When covering the gutters with copper you will need to install a right angle strip of copper 3/4" by 3/4", or larger depending on your gutters profile, to the outside edge of the gutter;flush with the plane of the adjacent surface.You will need to rivett and solder all lapped seams,or just flat seam and solder them. | ||
| admin |
We will have more information about this in the next edition of the Slate Roof Bible. In the meantime, there is a some information about relining gutters in the current edition, showing what the drip edge looks like, for example (the right angle strip Walter is talking about), and providing sources of soldering equipment as well as sources of copper flashing (Copper Sales, for example). Stainless steel flashing is also a good way to go with built-in gutters (Follansbee Steel). | ||
| Peter Mittnacht |
I have a house built in the 20's with a slate roof and built in gutters which run the length of the house about 60 feet on both sides. I just got an estimate to replace the current gutters which leaks with copper for $10,000. Does this seem excessive? | ||
| Anonymous |
where are you located, in the new york area we charge $75 to$100 per foot,depending on accessibility,slate condition,etc. | ||
| jchan |
It seems about right depending on access, type of slate and etc. |
