How To Stop A Slate Roof Leaking

All roof leaks must be fixed from the outside.

How to stop a slate roof leaking.

Once you ve found the problem slate you need to remove it. Go nuts with the vapor. 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. You could make a temporary patch using stick down materials or on some roofs i ve seen roof mastic used in that application.

Run water over the low side of the penetration for several minutes while the helper watches for any water droplets. Locate the source of the leak by examining the underside of the roof from within your attic or crawl space. Insulate the roof if you are going to finish the attic if not insulate the ceiling. Insulate the smallest space possible.

How to repair a leaky roof from inside the house. Apply more tar over blocking material especially on the edges. You might find problems removing the nail with the slate ripper. Use enough water to mimic heavy rains.

Apply tar to the area and press blocking material into the layer of tar to cover the leak. Shine a flashlight along the underside of the roof and look for a hole in the roof as well as areas that are wet or have been. 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. Isolate areas when you run the hose.

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. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house.

Details are at slate roof leaks temporary repair.