Generally speaking, slate repairs are normally visible from the ground. Quite often you can see a slate missing or a slate has fallen off the roof to the floor. A missing slate is obvious. However, a cracked slate may still be visible from the ground but harder to spot. A slate with a large corner missing may be visible from the floor. Slipped slates and vertical cracks in the slates, can be almost impossible to see without a close-up inspection from a ladder.

Safe access to the roof.

The best way to assess and check for less obvious damage is to us a ladder. Mounted on the roof, a Cat Ladder* will allow you to look the roof over to look for slippage, cracks and nail failure of surrounding slates. It is very common that the one slipped slate we’ve been asked to look at is actually three or four.

We usually ask the same few questions of a customer to try and understand what is causing the problem. Above all, roof leaks are always inconvenient but they are not always signs of a larger issue.

When a roof starts to leak.

A very common type of leak is caused by wind driven rain. However, we often have customers wondering why they are getting leaks after a storm when it rained a few days ago and it didn’t leak? Wind driven rain is rain propelled by wind and it often blows horizontally. Therefore, water ingress that would otherwise be impossible with regular rainfall is still likely to blow into the crevices of your roof.

Storm damage.

Your roof is designed to shed water downward, not from the side. A wind driven rain at the perfect angle can create leaks your roofing system isn’t designed to prevent. It’s most likely you have a leak caused by wind driven rain if your roof does not leak in every downpour. If you have no felt liner under the slates you’re more prone to roof leaks. A true problem requiring flashing or slate repairs, would leak every time and it would most likely leak in the same spot.

Don’t worry.

Wind driven rain is rare and not an indicator of slate repairs required. If you are not sure, you can always contact us via the contact page on our website. We are happy to give you reassuring advice or even come out and take a look.

*A roof ladder also known as a cat ladder is for when you need to work on your roof safely. Simply put, a roof ladder a ladder with two hooks attached on the end. The hooks allow it to attach over the ridge tiles of a roof securing the ladder. Above all, it makes it  safe to move arond the roof while giving a base to balance and complete work from.

An extension ladder is needed to climb on to the roof as a roof/cat ladder is not a standalone ladder. Using roof ladder link clamps and TETRA safety kits to make them more secure and less likely to slide apart when transferring from one to the other.

To get the cat ladder in place it has wheels to allow you to push it up the sloping roof . Without dislodging or damaging roof tiles or slates you simply turn the ladder over. The hooks securely lodge on the ridge of the roof.

How can we help?

After reading our post, you feel like you have any questions or are in need of a reassuring chat. If you don’t feel confident, or don’t hve the tools, ladders or courage to tackle slate repairs yourself. Please feel free to give is a call on 07920001980 or an email  and we will do our best to help.