The roof on the house, especially a slate roof, is something that rarely gets attention. You can back out every morning and not look up; it is not until a spot on the ceiling is noticed that homeowners take action. At what stage do you repair or replace the roof? The best authority is a highly skilled, qualified Dublin roofer.
The common roofing materials used in Ireland are slate, tile, and torch on the membrane. Although they are all good choices, the slate is considered to be the Rolls-Royce of roofing material for the long life and dignified appearance associated with it. Although the life expectancy of a slate roof is 100 years and more, that fact does not mean it can be installed and then forgotten. Even the highest quality roof requires proper maintenance and periodic repair, or at worst, replacing.
Types of Repairs
Slate tiles, although they last for a very long time, are delicate. There are some potential problems that professional roofers deal with, the most common of which are replacing individual slates and replacing the lead flashing.
Replacing Individual Slates
The most common repair for a slate roof is replacing individual slates that have cracked or have broken. The construction of a slate roof is such that in many cases, a roof will not leak if only one or two tiles are faulty. However, even these issues should be repaired as soon as possible; otherwise, they can lead to more complex and expensive repairs.
Repair and Replace Flashing
Regardless of the roof material, flashings are always the “weak link.” Even though the flashing material is lead, the flashing does not last as long as the slates. During the lifetime of a typical slate roof, the flashing may have to be replaced several times.
Replacing a Slate Roof
Nothing lasts forever. A Dublin roofer will usually suggest complete roof replacement when 25 to 30 percent of the slates have deteriorated to the point they can no longer be effectively and economically repaired.
