Slate is undoubtedly the most attractive, durable, and waterproof roofing material available in the market. Millennials prefer to go with slate roofs because of their various benefits. If these roofs are installed in a proper technique, they can easily last for one or two centuries. Some individuals may raise their eyebrows as slate is a very expensive material. Many roofers face difficulty while installing slate roofs in houses. These problems can be avoided if the homeowners and the roofers conform to some important aspects.
Factors to be Considered to Avoid Slate Roof Installation Problems
You must consider the following factors to combat slate roof installation problems:
- Research: You need to conduct rigorous research before initiating the slate roof installation process. The items like head and side laps, drip edges, cant strips, and straps on ridges are to be taken into consideration. Before buying the slate material from the market, you should remember that there are various kinds of slate. The quality, texture, and thickness of a slate material are not the same. Some slate materials have a shorter lifespan and cannot be repaired by any means. On the other hand, some slate materials are high in thickness and roofers find them difficult to cut. Henceforth, proper research is necessary under all circumstances.
- Type: Before selecting slate tiles, be sure to determine their type. You must take into account the aspects of size, quality, type, and thickness. It is recommended to choose a superior quality slate material. In this case, you can avail of the full benefits of slate roofing structures.
- Underlayment: Most roofers face slate roof installation problems relating to the underlayment. The underlayment makes the entire roofing system watertight. If the underlayment is not used properly, it will lead to water damages in the slate roofing structure. A proper underlayment makes a slate roof last for centuries.
- Head and side laps: It is always a better decision to anchor the head laps and side laps accurately while installing slate tiles. Roofers have to keep this fact in mind. If the measurements are not calculated precisely, it is bound to hurt the entire roofing structure.
- Material avoidance: You should take some precautionary measures while installing slate tiles in your house. Do not walk on the slate roofs during the installation process, which otherwise, can result in breaking of slate tiles. If the roofers have no other option apart from crossing the slate for performing their operations, roof jacks and planks can come in handy as they prevent cracking of slate tiles.
- Flashing: It is better to avoid cheap flashing material as it can cause long-lasting damage to your slate roof. It is recommended to choose a flashing material that is made of copper or stainless steel.
Installation problems are present in every roofing structure. In the case of slate roofs, you need to be extra conscious about the precautionary measures. Consider the above-mentioned points before installing slate tiles in your house. Of course we recommend getting in touch with experts like The Slate Roofing Company for the best advice for your home.
