| Author | Message | ||
     Confused |
We have a 100 year old PA slate roof with a few missing slates and a few leaks. I have now had three apparently competent slaters look at it (and one apparently incompetent one, but we won't talk about that) and I am more confused than when we started. My first step when I realized the roof had problems was to buy the Slate Bible. Reading there that PA slate often has a life span of 100 years, I was not surprised when one of the three quotes we received (from one of the apparently competent ones, listed on this web site) recommended a tear-off and replacement with asphalt shingles. However, the next two slaters (one also listed on this site) say the roof can be repaired. One wants to use slate hooks (like 13.8B) and the other wants to remove slates and nail in replacements (like Fig 13.8). Needless to say, the price differences between these three are pretty significant, with the tear-off and replacement with asphalt most expensive. Price certainly factors in, but I know that the price I pay today is not necessarily the price I pay in the long run. However, if I can keep my slate, I will be much happier. How can I tell whether our roof should be a tear-off or a repair? How can I choose between slate hooks and a nailed in replacement? Thanks for your advice. | ||
| Walter Musson |
The price difference between repairs done with hooks and those done with nailed and bibbed slates shouldn't be that great.Both methods involve getting there with replacement slates,accessing the roof safely,removing the old broken ones,then installing the new. Repairs done with hooks are a better job in my estimation,but the hook cost is minimal so the two quotes shouldn't vary too much. If the repair cost isn't too much and you can get another 10 or 15 years then maybe thats the way to go. | ||
| Anonymous |
you should leave your e-mail so contractors can communicate with you one on one. by listing hear and expressing veiws might upset one of the listed contractors and no contractor listed wants to do that. so if you would like true information and responses to what you've been told list your e-mail address. | ||
| admin |
Whether you replace or repair depends on the condition of the slate. If you have old PA slate that's shot, you should be thinking about replacing it. If the slate is still good, by all means repair it. No good slater, in my opinion, would give you a price to replace the roof with asphalt shingles. You should be replacing the roof with slate, even if you have to do it one section at a time for budget reasons. Having said that and being a slate roof consultant who travels around the country and looks at newly installed slate roofs with problems, it is very important that, IF you replace the roof with slate, you make sure the installer is educated about slate roof installation and you have all the specs for the job clearly spelled out in the contract, down to the smallest detail. We will be producing a standard manual for slate roof installation soon as well as instructional videos or DVDs. Once they are available, it should be stated in the contract documents that the contractor has studied these instructional materials, understands them, and will abide by them. There is a very basic blank contract available on this site at http://www.jenkinsslate.com/install_contract.htm Joe Jenkins | ||
| Confused |
Thank you for the comments. We are definitely NOT going to tear off and replace with asphalt. If nothing else we will go with the repair option to buy some time. Perhaps we can end up doing as you suggest and replace a section at a time, since we simply cannot afford to replace the whole roof any time soon. Wouldn't the end result be about the same if in repairing the roof new slate replaces the old slate that is crumbling? The hard part for me is determining what I am getting into. As I mentioned in my first post, two contractors, both members of the National Slate Association, have given conflicting recommendations - one to tear off and replace with asphalt and the other to repair with slate. One says the slate is in such poor condition that any repairs will cause so much damage as to make repairing the roof impractical. The other says that replacing the troublesome areas will take care of the problem. I will definitely either use your contract when the work is started or make sure the contract from the contractor is essentially the same. Thanks again for your advice. I really want to keep the slate. | ||
| Peter |
Hi Confused, As an independent party, that is not trading in the USA I think there are a couple of items to look at. I very often replace small areas even one or two slates with replacements, it can be due to the fact that using the old slates would not be a good repair. Personally I would prefer the Slate Hook over the bib but then I am in a different market also I have not examined your roof. Regarding the Member of the National Slate Association recommending asphalt shingles, I expect the Association would be interested in any details you could forward about that member. There will always be customers who can not meet the cost of a replacement slate roof who will request alternatives to be costed. If there is a member who is by passing your option to "Buy" the time you need by repairing your roof, I expect they are not deserving of a trade association membership. I hope the above is of help to you and not adding to your confusion. Kind Regards, Peter Crawley, M.I.o.R. www.crawleyroofing.com |
