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Example: Replacing a Slate Roof

Replacement Slate Roof

The roof structure was renewed replaced and the exising slates refurbished.

• Renewal of slate roof system on redeveloped cottages in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

Existing Roof Damage

The leaky and damaged roof of these previously derelict cottages had significantly rotten structural timbers so the roof needed replacing and making sound.

New Roof Replacement

All roof slates and ridge tiles were carefully stripped and lowered to the ground.

Slates were stacked in relevant stacks according to their size.

Existing roof timbers were stripped away and disposed of.

Prefabricated roof trusses were lifted into place using a crane and aligned and fixed before being braced to create the new roof structure.

Rebuilding the Slate Roof

Breathable waterproof membrane was sized and placed in position over the new timbers.

Wooden battens were securely fixed at the correct gauges horizontally along the roof - based on the slate height - to take the largest slate course at the bottom and smaller slate courses to the top to give a diminishing random effect.

Alumiumium seamless gutters with matching aluminium down-pipes were supplied and installed.

All chimney stacks were 'ground-out' and then repointed with 3:1 sand/cement ratio.

All chimney pots were rebedded: lifted, cleaned, repositioned and bedded in cement atop the stacks.

Re-Slating

The existing slate tiles were loaded back onto scaffold and from the eve-line were fixed securely with 2 aluminium clout nails per slate.

Reclaimed Welsh blue slate was added to the slates to substiture for the damages slates and make up the area required.

Slate tails are kept in alignment by correct positioning, giving maximum cover.

Lead aprons, soakers and flashings were fitted to all chimney stacks as work progressed op the roof.

The existing ridge tiles were reloaded onto the roof and fully bedded in cement and sides and collars skimmed with cement to ensure a watertight fix.

Strap verges were fixed in cement to provide full weatherproofing to the verges (edges).

Chimney Stacks

A key requirement of the refurbishment/renewal was to maintain the character of the stone cottages, of which the chimney stacks are an attractive feature with an aesthetic quality of their own. Each of the 5 chimney stacks received individual attention with the lead flashings being tailored to match each chimney.

Lead aprons are the close fitting apron that wraps around the base of the exposed chimney stack. The apron extends down the roof, secured underneath the roofing slates on either side of the chimney.

Stepped lead flashings overlay the lead soakers to create a fully waterproof seal.

The end chimney had its original stone flashings 'Killer stones' - built into existing chimney as a cill - this was retained and flashed using code 4 lead was applied to give full weather seal.