Advice on Slate Roof and total roof replacement

mdandy8

Buying a lake home w/ slate roof. Roof looks in good shape, but we will be adding a dormer (or two) and so will have to re-roof
is slate any more expensive to tear off? Has anyone had experience with this?

My other concern is the garage, an older block structure w/ wooden and shingled roof. I can tell from the outside that the entire roof will have to be replaced (rotted timbers, roof sags towards the center) Has anyone ever done this on a block structure? Am I better off building from scratch or leaving the shell/blocks and putting a new roof on?

any comments welcome

OldNBroken

More expensive than what?

Windows on Wash

Why will you have to re-roof if you have slate?

Take off the slate where you need to access the roof. Save the slate that you take off for your stitch in repairs around the dormers.

Apply new slate of decorative roof type to the dormers.

Please......Don't tear off good slate to replace with asphalt.

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mdandy8

Vs a shingle roof....I've never delt with slate before

OldNBroken

Much more expensive, but will last decades longer than you will care about it. It should be a federal crime to remove any slate roof and replace it with asphalt.

As far as the garage, Can't say much without seeing it. If the structure is sound then tear off the roof, repair any substrate/truss damage and re-roof.

tinner666

The shingles will be more expensive since you'll have to redo them every 10 years or so. Just pull the correct slates, and put them and flashing back on around the dormer and be done with it.

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Frank

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framer52

The slate should not be removed. Fix it and you will have a true lifetime roof.

As to your second question, if the roof has bowed out the sides of the block structure, it is better to tear down and start over.

As far as to your question as to putting new roof on existing block building, yes, I have done so in the past with good results.

jcjenkins

First off, you do not have to remove the entire slate roof to install dormers. Just remove where the dormers are to be installed and then reinstall the slates that were removed. Keep the extra slates for future repairs. Secondly, if the roof looks good, you would be crazy to lose it. A good slate roof will last your lifetime and maybe your kids as well. Read the Slate Roof Bible, 2nd edition, which can be downloaded at SPAM and peruse SPAM for more information and video clips.

OldNBroken

Is that Joe spamming the thread?

seeyou

Would that be the Slate New Testament? I'm anxiously awaiting the Slate Quaran and the Slate Book of Mormon.

oh'mike

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Duckweather

Slate is great but don't try walking on it when it's wet, unless you have 8 legs with suction cups. It is as slippery as a teflon banana peel

stuart45

I wouldn't walk on it when it's dry either as it can easily break unless you use a roof ladder. The only ones I've walked on are the really thick stone slates which are often pegged in with sheeps teeth.

OldNBroken

I just checked with MacArthur. They are fresh out of sheeps teeth so I guess I won't be walking on one anytime soon.