|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Find Local Roofers & Roofing Services In Your Area Now! -
|
Lack of product information
The contractors (as well as property owners) have not done their homework. The contractor proceeds with the project without making much effort to do appropriate research. A simple search on the internet can yield a wealth of information about slate roofs, sources of correct tools, materials, supplies and installation techniques.
The contractor should educate himself about types of
slates, producers and suppliers, available stock and delivery times, slate production methods and techniques, slate-working tools, fasteners, repair techniques, and of course, installation techniques.
All slate is not the same
You wouldn’t buy a car without looking at different models and checking their track record — and cars only last ten years and are cheaper than slate roofs! A slate roof is an investment in the future of your structure. It will reasonably last 150 years if designed and installed correctly. There are many different types of slate with differing
characteristics, colors, sizes, thicknesses, shapes, sources, mineral make-up, production styles and longevities. Why buy a foreign slate with no track record when you can buy a domestic slate with a century and a half of historical performance?
The contract documents are deficient
Every detail about the slate roof installation should be included in the contract documents — type, size and origin of the slate; type, length and gauge of the nails; type and installation style of underlayment; type and size of cant strip; amount of headlap; flashing specifications and details; number of squares of slates to be installed; slate installation style, and many other details such as clean-up information, permits, insurance information, warranty, payment schedule, what to do with salvaged materials, etc. All should be clearly spelled out in the contract documents. If not, both the client and the contractor are asking for problems.
Lack of headlap
Headlap is the amount of overlap each roof slate has with the slates two courses below. The generally accepted industry standard for slate headlap is 3” although this can vary somewhat and should be increased when the slope is decreased. This fundamental detail of any successful slate roof installation is hard to overlook, but it is ignored by some roofing contractors. Lack of adequate headlap spells disaster for a slate roof. I have seen new roofs with inadequate headlap (i.e. less than 2”), no headlap at all, and even negative headlap.
Bad flashing work
There are two things that keep water from penetrating a slate roof: the slates and the flashings. Not only must the flashing metal be of adequate type and gauge, but it must be installed correctly. This is not rocket science, but it does require some training and/or experience in order to be done correctly and to be leak proof. Properly installed flashing will not leak.
If a contractor relies heavily on peel and stick underlayment beneath his flashing, he is sending the message that he thinks the flashing is going to leak and the underlayment will hide the leak long enough for him to get away with shoddy work. Properly installed flashings are not dependent upon underlayment.
There are two basic methods for installing leak-proof flashings: 1) folding and overlapping and 2) soldering. Folded flashings can be used on positive slopes and they don’t require soldering. Soldered flashings are required when the slope is too low to allow for control of water flow direction by gravity so waterproof sealing (solder) is needed. Soldered flashings can also be used as a matter of style, but one must remember that when installing soldered flashings, unlike folded flashings, the soldered flashings must be installed with expansion and contraction in mind (i.e. with cleats and/or expansion joints) to prevent strain on the solder joints.
One of the most common flashing mistakes on slate roofs involves chimneys — the corners are not flashed correctly. Chimney corner flashings must be either folded correctly (i.e. to prevent water from entering the corner from the roof surface and from the chimney surface), or the corners must be soldered. Also, contractors will overlap flashings incorrectly with negative overlap, allowing water to run into the flashing. They will also use incompatible metals — mixing steel with copper, for example, such as when using copper rivets that have steel shanks.
roofing-services-supermarket.com
Find Local Roofers & Roofing Services Nationwide
Tel: 0871 5989 529
E-mail: support[@]roofing-services-supermarket.com
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
| Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Partner Links | Link To Us | Trade Register | Sitemap |
roofing-services-supermarket.com
QFJ Media Network © 2011
Slate Roof | Installation Mistakes | Slate Roofs - Learn the top five slate roof installation mistakes. Get prices from local roofers for roofing services.
Slate Roof | Installation Mistakes | Slate Roofs - Learn the top five slate roof installation mistakes. Get prices from local roofers for roofing services.
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
Customer Services 
Tel: 0871 5989 529
HELP & FAQ’S | About | Contact
roofing-services-supermarket.com
Search The Web:
