How To Work On A Slate Roof

Screw a harness anchor onto the rafters and tie the rope to it.

How to work on a slate roof. It is to be kept in mind that repairing any kind of pitched roof is a dangerous task. If you don t have a chimney or sturdy object on your roof slide 2 3 tiles on your roof up so you can access the rafters underneath. Some roofs have been up for nearly a century and while the stone is still effective damage is possible. Added to this fact slate roofing structures tend to accumulate a bit of moisture or winter snow.

During the rainy season slate roofs become slippery and cause numerous problems for the roofers. If you have a real slate roof i would only recommend replacing any missing or broken slates with other natural properly matched slates. While you don t need a safety harness for a roof with a gentle slope you can still wear one if you want to reduce the risk of falling down. On some other fragile but not totally fragile roofs such as slate roofs cement tile cement asbestos fiber cement and hard fired ceramic clay tile roofs contractors suspend a ladder over the roof surface hanging it from the ridge as shown in our photo of slate roor replacement underway in duluth mn and cushioning it off of the roof surface using foam or insulation padding or contractors work from scaffolding.

You would probably need to find a slate roofing specialist in your area to do that. Fake slates are only an option if you are replacing either the entire roof or a section of the roof. The roofers should try to adhere to the below mentioned precautions while working on slate roofs. Precautions needed to work safely on slate roofs.

Set up another ladder next to the eave of the roof. Scaffolding or ladders working on a slate roof requires delicacy. This can be carried out cheaply and it s work you can comfortably undertake yourself. Secure the rags and towels into place as you work by fastening them with bungee cords or nylon zip ties.

Although a slate roof is initially quite costly it will often last for a lifetime and beyond.