When laying a new slate roof on the roof, it sometimes seems that she will not care at all, and she will remain so for many years. However, in practice, after 10-15 years, the roof becomes no longer so fresh, chips and cracks form on it, and here, of course, the slate needs to be repaired, or, well, replaced.
Let's try to describe in more detail the methods of restoring the normal functional state of the roof to extend its service life for another time.
Reasons for the formation of cracks in slate
Of course, often it is the "old age" of the roof that is the cause of the appearance of cracks. However, in some cases they occur long before the warranty period expires.
Possible reasons for this phenomenon are as follows:
- In the production of slate, the material manufacturing technology was not observed.
- Less than the required amount of cement was added to the mortar.
- Short asbestos fibers were used.
- The final revision of the slate sheets was of poor quality.
Some unscrupulous manufacturers underestimate the hardening period of such material from the 28 days declared by technology to a shorter period of time, and this leads to an increase in the fragility of slate sheets.
In addition, the wrong choice of the slope of the roof slopes can lead to the formation of cracks and chips.
Premature sealing of holes in the slate may also be required if the slate is installed incorrectly, which may involve the creation of excessive stress on the material.
If, when fastening slate sheets, nails were used without special rubber bands under the hats, this is also fraught with early cracks in the slate sheets.
Slate restoration methods
There are many ways in which you can restore the integrity of roofing slate sheets.
This can be a simple putty with some kind of sealing material, a patch overlay, or such a drastic measure as replacing sheets that have lost their integrity.
Consider the most common and effective ways to close a crack in slate:
- The crack formed in the slate sheet, as a rule, is repaired with a self-prepared solution from a mixture of fluffed asbestos, cement, water and PVA glue.The proportions of cement to asbestos are approximately 1:3, after which this mixture is diluted with a mixture of water and PVA glue, prepared in a ratio of 1:1, until a creamy consistency is obtained. Before sealing cracks with the resulting solution, they are caulked and only after that they are processed with the resulting mixture. Such repairs will allow the roof to last another 5-10 years.
- In addition, ordinary aluminum foil can be useful to eliminate cracks. At the same time, universal glue is applied to its back side, which is capable of holding the patch tightly when gluing. Before closing a crack in the slate, the old fasteners are necessarily removed from the sheet, and upon completion of the foil lining, the sheet is reattached with a self-tapping screw (or nail), having made a hole for it in a new place. Before laying the patch, it is recommended to round the corners of the foil. When roofing is made of colored slate, the patch is painted to match the color of the roof at the end of installation.
- When splitting the slate sheet into parts along the entire length, the wavy joints are fastened with epoxy glue. To begin with, the parts of the split sheet are connected from below with adhesive tape, and then the gap between the parts of the slate sheet is filled with “epoxy”.
Advice! Before sticking the slate, in order to more easily fill the gap with glue, it is preheated.
- Often the defect can be repaired directly on the roof, without the need to remove the damaged slate sheets. For example, with the help of silicone paste applied to a cleaned and dried surface, this will not be difficult to achieve. First, the sheet to be repaired is cleaned with a wire brush, after which the surface of the sheet is degreased with acetone or a similar paint thinner.Slate chips are poured into the crack and then the gap is evenly filled with silicone.
- A patch such as special butyl rubber tape can also be used. Its upper part is made of non-woven material, thanks to which it can be dyed in any shade. Before sealing a hole in the slate with such a tape, the area of \u200b\u200bthe slate sheet to be repaired is degreased with gasoline, a special protective strip is removed from the tape and simply glued to the damaged area.
Another proven method of termination slate is the processing of damage in several layers. At the same time, as before, the surface is cleaned and the crack is “blown out” with mounting foam.
After it dries, a layer of sealant is applied on top, and when it dries, the problem area is treated with a layer of bituminous resin. Such a cake is able to provide the roof with reliable protection against leaks.
In addition to the methods described above, there are many more different solutions to the problem of how to patch a hole in slate.
For example, for this purpose, craftsmen use a number of alternative compounds based on various kinds of resins, silicone sealant, with which patches from different materials (even from plastic bottles) can be glued, liquid foam, on top of which a piece of roofing material is laid, and more many other ways.
The right approach to slate repair
If the chip or crack is wide enough, then the only sure way out of the situation will be to replace the entire sheet, since in this case there is a risk of future decay of the elements of the truss system due to abundant leaks.
Advice! If you do not have the necessary skills to carry out repairs or simply do not have the desire to do them, then the best solution is to hire a qualified worker who can do all the work quickly and in the best possible way.
As previously mentioned, before filling a hole in the slate, careful preparation of the repaired surface is required.
At first slate roof sweep with a broom, as a result of which dirt and debris are removed, which adversely affect the reliability of the connection of the applied patches (solutions) with the surface.
Next, the crack is thoroughly washed with water and degreased with gasoline (or other solvent).
In order to ensure better adhesion, the crack can be treated with a primer based on PVA glue.
In this case, a cement or other insulating mixture is applied to the repaired area and allowed to dry. And then proceed to further manipulations according to the repair plan.
During slate roof repair a clear understanding and observance of all safety rules is necessary, since ignoring them can lead to sad consequences.
The question of how to repair slate will not become a serious test for you if you approach it with skill. Fortunately, our advice and a large selection of roof repair products can be your best assistants in this, at first glance, difficult task.
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