| Author | Message | ||
     Old_mortar (Old_mortar) New member Username: Old_mortar Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2011 |
Tried some Restoration Cleaner to no effect. No sure which way we'll go next. Thanks!! | ||
| Old_school (Old_school) Senior Member Username: Old_school Post Number: 627 Registered: 01-2009 |
Like you say, it appears to be coming from the solder joint in the copper flashing. Have you tried a bit of muratic acid? Dilute it and do a little section to see the results. | ||
| Old_mortar (Old_mortar) New member Username: Old_mortar Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2011 |
Any suggestions on how I might get these white stains of of my roof? They look like lead.   | ||
| Old_school (Old_school) Senior Member Username: Old_school Post Number: 603 Registered: 01-2009 |
Sound to me like the gutters were about shot and the bleach finished the job. It shouldn't have done it that quickly. Neutralize it with water. The rain should have done that already. | ||
| Admin (Admin) New member Username: Admin Post Number: 5 Registered: 07-2006 |
This came via email today: I had my Vermont slate roof cleaned two weeks ago. The fellow used chlorine to kill mold on the slate. This AM I woke up and saw water dripping from my gutters. There were about 200 little holes in my gutters. I found out later this AM that chlorine and copper don’t mix and that chlorine will in fact corrode copper in no time. I will need to replace all my copper gutters, but I am more worried about my copper flashing, my copper snowbirds, and my flat copper roofs. All above were hit with the chlorine. I called a corrosion engineer and he reccomended I wash off everything with lots of water. But in looking online I’ve seen that hydrogen peroxide will neutralize chlorine...Should I mix a little hydrogen peroxide in the water and wash my copper to hopefully keep it from corroding like the gutters? Will the chlorine or hydrogen peroxide hurt the slate? And what should the roof cleaner have used instead of chlorine to clean the roof? Joseph Jenkins, Inc. | ||
| AF Junior Member Username: Tonyeriepa Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2007 |
Interesting bottom-most two rows. A few have what look to be exposed nail holes and a few look curved/cupped ... are they by any chance synthetic (they don't have a moss problem either)? | ||
| Slate Affair Inc. Senior Member Username: Slate_man Post Number: 130 Registered: 01-2007 |
I would use the power washer on a low setting. If you don't feel that is the way to go. Start with the blech with a brush. I would suggest not to use a chemical solution. There are natural cleaning solution out there that may be the way to go. I think that I would fix the side wall with all the tar on it before I would cleam the moss. It should be flashed with 16 to 20oz copper and counter flashed with lead. The slate looks OK in that picture not to flaky. Is there a better picture of the slate from may be a window on the other side. | ||
| Elizabeth Heghinian New member Username: Bbclarinet Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2006 |
What is the best way to clean a slate roof with moss on it, an acid soil and shady environment? Powerwashing? Chemical application? If the latter, which manufacturer's solution works the best? Or, is a 1 part bleach to 3 parts water solution best to use? Thanks in advance for the advice and the why behind taking the direction you suggest. My thoughts are to alter the pH chemically, but I could be wrong. The moss is more in the crevices than on the slate itself, but there is also some on the slate, albeit thinner.  | ||
| Steve Lewis New member Username: Steve Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2007 |
Here is another photo. Any thoughts on the type of slate?  | ||
| Steve Lewis New member Username: Steve Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2007 |
By the way I am very encouraged by your initial feedback. I am going to check with durableslate from Columbus Ohio for repair estimates and buy the Slate Roof Bible (assuming we close on the house). I want to restore and maintain this historic roof. Not many left - and I can't let this one go!!! It is a better day for taking pictures today - If the ones I provided are not good enough, I can go out with my zoom lens and get a couple of better ones. - I'm about 20 minutes from the house. By the way, I believe the house is east facing with a huge tree overhanging the front porch. | ||
| Steve Lewis New member Username: Steve Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2007 |
The main roof looks MUCH better. Here is a photo. Does the lower roof need to be replaced? At least the front porch portion is not too big - the back is somewhat bigger. I guess cleaning doesn't seem to be an option  Thanks for your help! | ||
| Joe Jenkins Senior Member Username: Joe Post Number: 73 Registered: 07-2006 |
It's hard to say for sure what type of slate it is from the photo. It looks like a north-facing porch, probably with tree overhang, hence the discoloration. Porches like this are notorious for being in poor condition due to foot traffic from painters, window cleaners, etc., etc. We often just reslate porches, although this one can still be repaired. The condition of the porch roof, in other words, is not a good indicator for the condition of the main roof. If you can send a shot of the main roof, we can probably identify the slate. | ||
| Steve Lewis New member Username: Steve Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2007 |
Here is a picture of a part of the roof. I have others if needed. If anyone can identify the type of slate and provide any insight on the condition, again I would appreciate it. I have a few days to have the house inspected but as long as the roof is not currently leaking we will probably go forward with the purchase and deal with this situation as best we can. I would really like to clean these pieces if possible. Again - thanks in advance for your help!  | ||
| Steve Lewis New member Username: Steve Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2007 |
Hi everyone! My son just went into contract on a slate roof house in Ohio. We are very excited about the slate roof and want to restore and preserve it - but we don't have a lot of money. The roof doesn't look healthy to me although the current owner says it was inspected and repaired last year. I'll post some pictures tomorrow but besides there being several tiles that look cracked, slipped out of place, and possibly glued, there is a heavy layer of what looks like moss or some other dirt on most of the roof. Even if the slates are structurally sound (I doubt it) they look terrible. I am willing to work hard and carefully to clean them myself - if that is possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! |
