How is a slate roof repaired in case of a leak?

Question

Hello. We have a house roof lined with slate. But somewhere leaks or freezes, because in the fall and winter the ceiling gets wet. No visible damage. Maybe you need to insulate it? It is also not possible to completely shift the roof - the rainy season has begun. What can be done with this problem? (October 10, 2013, Anton)

Answer

Hello! It is definitely difficult to answer the question, because it’s not a loan, what is your design and what kind of roofing pie on your roof. But, in general, we can tell how to repair and insulate a roof from slate.

First of all, this, of course, is an external examination of all slate plates for the search for visible mechanical damage and leaks. If any were found, or there are suspicions that it is in these joints that water seeps, then the mono problem can be solved in the following way. No need to cover the roof in this place or change the slate, cracks can be covered. Prepare putty from chalk and drying oil. Coat the problem areas with this putty and coat the putty with bituminous mastic. When the mastic dries, it can be coated with any oil paint. So you can close up small cracks. If the damage is more significant, then fabric patches can help. Treat the damaged areas with drying oil. Take a thick cloth (for example, tarpaulin) and cut a patch according to the size of the damage (a little more, of course). The patch is glued onto a thick paint and it is also covered with a layer of paint on top, carefully smearing the edges of the patch (more than a centimeter patch by 3).

Also, damages in the slate can be repaired with an ordinary cement-sand mortar from a ratio of 1: 1. The solution is superimposed on the damage, evenly distributed, dried, sanded and primed.

If, however, patches and putties do not save the situation, try carefully removing the broken sheet of slate and carefully replacing it with another.

Now about the insulation of the roof from the inside. It is also very simple. Sheathe the inside of the roof with insulation. It is desirable that the insulation be at least 10 cm thick. Further on the insulation, it is necessary to fix the vapor barrier film. If you have a mansard type roof, then you need to insulate the crib and the walls and ceiling. Insulation is placed on the walls with a thickness of 20 cm, on the roof - with a thickness of 30 cm, and on the ceiling - 40 cm.It is most reasonable to insulate the ceiling not on the beams of the ceiling, but between them, and on top insulate it with either plywood or OSB boards.

So, in the shortest possible time and with a minimum of costs, you can repair and insulate the slate roof.