| Author | Message | ||
     Paul Mitsis |
I recently moved into a home whose slate roof was "fixed" by sealing almost every joint between the slates with roofing tar. I have a proposal from a slate contractor to refurbish the roof by removing the slates, cleaning them and re-installing them, thus saving the cost of new slates. Is this something that can be safely done without ruining the slates. Thanks | ||
| joe jenkins |
It's really hard to get old tar off slates. How does the contractor propose to do this? | ||
| Paul Mitsis |
I had been told that this was next to impossible which is why I posted the question. The contractor specializes in recovering old slates among other things (Alluvium, off of the list on this site). Perhaps he has a "process". I'll find out and let you know. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Walter Musson |
Don't just let him use them upside down,making the champhered edge backwards and the nail holes not countersunk,as Joe and Dino have been discussing over the last weeks.Some thinners will remove some of it ,but the labor will add up quickly and you'll still have used slate. | ||
| joe jenkins |
Actually, when we run into an area of roof that has been tarred, we just replace the slates with slates that match. It's fast and it looks good. I've never had any luck getting tar off roofs when it's spread over an area. We *have* chiseled tar off or pryed it off with a wonder bar or ripper, which we do all the time in *small* areas just to clean up the roof. It's a damn shame that people tar slate roofs. In 50 years or so it will wear off in a wet climate like the northeast. It might be worth trying to carefully chip or scrape the tar off the slates in place, at least in areas of high visibility where you want the roof to look good. Try it in a hidden area first. Of all the things a man can be doing in this world, scraping tar off a roof that some nitwit has put there has to be one of the least satisfying. Believe me, I've done a lot of it. That's why I can't stand incompetent roofing contractors. | ||
| Paul Mitsis |
Just to follow up. My contractor called me back after I sent him photos of my roof. Apparrently he thought the tar was on only a few slates, because after seeing every joint on the roof had a bead of tar on it (giving a stained glass look), he said he would have to replace them all (as I orgianlly thought). I'm still looking for alternative slaters in the Trenton, NJ area to get more opinions and bids on what I need done. Thanks for all the help. | ||
| Tim Dittmar |
What, if any, problems are you experiencing other than a loss of esthetics? Can enough of the "stuff" be removed w/o relaying to make a satisfactory improvement to the "ground" view? That's all many people would think necessary. Joe Jenkins would be the first to tell you that the hasty removal of classic/artistic slate roofing might be the worst of primary considerations- few people understand that the excessive cost of slating(labor) is not a windfall for roofers- if the work is done properly- that's what it takes to compensate the time involved. Regardless of how you feel about the looks, it may be the best slate roof you'll ever have. If removed, you might as well put new/other back on as you'll experience removal/culling/grading losses at every step of the process- not likely you'll be able to find salvage that matches "well"- maybe the cleaning "process" should be nailed down in acceptable terms before you jump off the edge. If the roof otherwise is doing the job- continue to contemplate what reasonable/affordable/not stricken with variables(trading of one problem for another) options are in front of you. Do you go on the roof? Try a heatgun to see how easy it may make an in situ removal process- start off cheap and simple- don't enter from the "deep end"- some varieties of slate don't scrape well if soft and the marks may be visible from ground- continually sharpen the tools as you go- I like carpenter's chisels(3/4 to 1 "). The specifics of how to advise you are scarce- the roof should be viewed at first hand to gauge advisability of the usual "general" remedies- the "odds" are against removal- believe us! Scrape it- time and weather will help- spot treat the largest "stains" if they don't improve on their own- give it time! PS: the heatgun is less hot than a torch(don't even consider one- prob. illegal anyhow)- keep a fire extinguisher/hose/attic access handy none the less. Be careful and good luck! | ||
| joe |
To add to Tim's comments, a torch is not advised to be used on a roof because it can easily catch the roof felt on fire. Then you have a nightmare. | ||
| Walter Musson |
I use soldering irons for roof metal soldering instead of a plumbers torch for just that same reason.Heat from the iron is less apt to ignite felt than a no. 2 tip on a torch. | ||
| Flinty |
I am a slate cleaner from england, and it is completely possible to restore old tarred slate, using a vapour bath, a "secret" chemical, and a pressure washer. |
