Do you own a home or building with an older slate roof? The good news is that slate roofs are incredibly long-lived. Unless your roof is in a state of severe disrepair, there's a good chance you can have it restored, rather than fully replaced. The first step in this process is to find a roofing company that works with slate roofs. Most roofers who work with slate tend to have experience with historic homes since slate roofs were so common in years past. So, what other tips should you follow as you go about having a historic slate roof restored? Take a look.
Check with your city or county regarding regulations.
In some cities and counties, there are laws that you must abide by when having work done on historic homes. You may, for example, be required to use materials that are authentic to the era in which the building was built. Or, you may have to provide the city with documentation of any work you have done. Make sure you check with your local building department about such regulations before you have any roof work done.
Have your roofer look at the inside, too.
Your roofer will likely spend plenty of time analyzing the exterior of the roof to see where they most need to make repairs. But make sure you invite them to look at the interior, too. By examining the attic and the upper story of your home, the roofer can look for evidence of leaks, which can point them in the right direction in determining which parts of the roof are most in need of repairs.
Consider upgrading the insulation.
Your roofers should be able to restore the slate roof by replacing the damaged slate pieces. Slate roofing has not changed much at all over the years. But one more "modern" upgrade to consider is updating the insulation. Having more insulation added to your roof will help improve the energy efficiency of your home by reducing heat loss through the roof. It will also help protect your newly restored roof. The better insulated the roof is, the less heat will pass through it, and the less damage it will suffer in the long term. (Heat passing through the roof leads to premature deterioration of materials.)
Following the tips above will make your roof restoration process more effective. Talk to your roofers to learn more about these and other approaches to historic building roof restoration.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.