So, you have finally decided to give that roof a makeover and even looped in a slate roofer at an unbelievably affordable price.
Roofing
However, you need to understand that such cheap installers often make mistakes than can end up costing you a lot more. Here are some such mistakes.
Common roofing mistakes
- Lack of Experience
Slate roof repair contractors that are inexperienced or have hardly ever handled slate roofing also often ignore properly researching the material and its fitting process. They end up using the wrong tools causing damage which ultimately results in a lot of wastage of the product and adding to the cost.
- Not Understanding the Different Types
There are different types of slate available in the market with each one having different chemical properties. Having a slate roof installed is a huge investment and getting the wrong kind for your home can flush your hard earned money down the drain just like that. As a homeowner it is your responsibility to thoroughly research about their different types and their characteristics. This will help you make the right decision and keep your investment protected.
- Incomplete Contract
When hiring cheap slate roofers you often end up signing a contract with hazy details. This is often done by shady companies to juice out more money from homeowners. As a homeowner you need to make sure the service contract includes everything from the number of squares to be installed to gauge of nails and everything in between. If you are not sure how such a roofing contract is drawn, you can do a quick Google search for one and go through that to get an idea.
- Understanding the Headlap Properly
Something as little as a headlap detail can completely make or break the fitting of your slate roof. If the proper placement of headlap is ignored by your hired slate roof repair company, it could lead to disastrous results. The headlap is misplaced in 3 ways usually; namely inadequate headlap, negative headlap and no headlap at all. In any of these three instances the results can be dreadful and expensive. If your hired roofing company seems puzzled about the headlap or cannot give you satisfactory information about them, I would advise you to steer clear of such companies.
- Flashing
Just like headlap, flashing work is also very important when having slate roof installed. Flashing is what keeps the water from penetrating through the slates. Bad or wrong flashing work is especially troublesome for you if you live in an area that often sees rain and snow. To ensure flashings are fitted properly, make sure the metal used is of adequate gauge and quality. While it isn’t hard to do, it does require a certain level of expertise that comes with either training or experience.
- Not Consulting Professional
When making investments as big as this, it is important to get an expert’s opinion beforehand. While this practice should be a norm, it unfortunately isn’t. Professional advice is only valuable if it is taken in due time or in this case, before the installation. Reaching to slate roofing professionals for consultation once the roof has been wrongly installed will only result in heartbreak and financial losses.
- Walking on Slate
By far the worst thing that can happen during the roof installation process is that people unknowingly and unintentionally walk on slate. The word roof is in there for a reason that it is to be settled atop the house to provide protection as a roof. Slate is not for walking or else we would probably be discussing slate floors instead. You can say that it is, in a way, an industry secret that only experienced and professional slate roofers know and implement.
- Cheap Sheathing
Now, you probably know that slate roofs last for more than 75 years. However, this is only possible if the roof deck lasts just as long, if not more. A prevailing norm in the market suggests that a good roof deck needs to last at least two slate roofing cycles, i.e. more than 150 years. There are a number of materials that can deliver that amount of longevity. Nevertheless, if you ask an experienced slate roof repair company, they will suggest you to go with lumber boards with battens as they offer the most integrity and are commonly used as a deck for slate roofs.
