How To Stop A Slate Roof Leaking

Go nuts with the vapor.

How to stop a slate roof leaking.

To do this use the slate ripper to rip off the nail that hooks the slate onto the slate roof. Once you ve found the problem slate you need to remove it. Isolate areas when you run the hose. Use enough water to mimic heavy rains.

Have your helper stay inside the house waiting for the drip to appear. Insulate the roof if you are going to finish the attic if not insulate the ceiling. Installing a bonding gutter this video shows a roof repair and the fitting of a bonding gutter between a slate and a tiled roof but it will also fit two slate roofs together as well. Details are at slate roof leaks temporary repair.

Apply more tar over blocking material especially on the edges. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. All roof leaks must be fixed from the outside. You could make a temporary patch using stick down materials or on some roofs i ve seen roof mastic used in that application.

Locate the source of the leak by examining the underside of the roof from within your attic or crawl space. With good wire cutters you might also be able to cut off the head of the nail which will help. Begin soaking low on the roof just above where the leak is visible inside the house. Beware of using asphalt roof mastic on copper flashings it fixes the leak in the short run but corrodes the copper in the long run.

Insulate the smallest space possible. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. Run water over the low side of the penetration for several minutes while the helper watches for any water droplets. You can use either a dry bonding gutter or the standard bonding gutter.

Apply tar to the area and press blocking material into the layer of tar to cover the leak.