Slate roofs are the most popular option when it comes to switching roofing material. Slate roofs look very fascinating and at the same time, can be aesthetically pleasing. Alongside, a slate roof can increase the potential value of your house. Apart from all the good parts, the most complicated part is to maintain a slate roof. Proper maintenance can make such roofs shine brighter both with the sunlight and the moonlight. Slate roofs are usually very durable and to maintain that you are required to undergo a few measures. Such roofs are the most hard-wearing materials that provide waterproofing features to a pitched roof. This means that slate roofs stay unaffected by freezing and frost damages.
Steps to Consider for Slating a Roof
The traditional method of slating a roof using hooks can be very time-consuming and complicated. Read below to know in detail about certain steps that can help you slate a roof properly.
Finding Out the Pitch of Your Roof. This step comes in the very beginning i.e., before installation. You are essentially required to find out the pitch of your roof. This is only because the pitch states how much overlap is needed with each slate. With the advent of technology, people may now find it easier to find out the pitch utilizing various apps that can be downloaded on their smartphones. This step mainly requires knowledge which needs to be obtained very well.
- Finding Out the Required Overlap
After finding out the pitch of your roof, you are now required to find out the required overlap using the specifications of a slate manufacturer. Specifications can tell you about the required overlap with which you will be able to form a secure and stable slate roof. If you are unable to find out the required overlap, your slate roof will not be taking place in the formation as it will lack one of the most important steps.
- Roll Out the Membrane of Your Roof
Before this process starts, you must ensure that your roof trusses are cleaned well by eliminating splinters or old nails that can result in membrane damages. Then you can start rolling the membrane of your roof along the trusses from one corner to another. You need to do this a repetitive number of times and work upwards to the rooftop. Once it is done, you need to ensure that the roofing membrane is hanging over the bottom of the roof and into the gutters to encourage water to get drained off into the gutters whenever water past the slates.
- Securing the Roof Membrane
You must use clout nails to secure one edge of the membrane once you are finished with rolling it out. Then simply pull the membrane at the other end and fix it into position. Do this by adding a few more new nails across the membrane. Securing is very important before installing a slate roof.
- Batten Placement
The very next step that you must focus on is to do the placement of battens. For doing this, an under-eaves slate and two full-sized slates are required. Then, place two battens onto the rooftop of the overlay. You should not fix them down but leave them as they are so that they can be moved around for making certain adjustments easily. Do the same with the second and third batten and leave them as they are for adjustments.
- Laying the Roof Slates
Once you are done with placing the battens at the right place maintaining the right distances, now you need to lay the slates. You need to start laying the under-eaves course first by creating a staggered pattern for stability. Laying is not a difficult step because all the complications are done before this. Doing this with proper care will be ideal.
The above-mentioned steps can surely help you install slate roofs to your pitched roofs. But it is always suggested that you let professionals do the needful because it can be dangerous for non-tradies to climb up to his/her roof for restoring or installing a roof. Collaboration with professionals like The Slate Roofing Company, who service Sydney, the South Coast and the Southern Highlands is the best approach to get a new roof or to restore a roof to its former glory. Contact us now for a no obligation quote.
