Slate roof renewals/replacements in Melbourne

If you need quick assistance or advice for your slate roof call : John 0403022137

There are two types of slate roofs that may need replacing. The first type that I come across now and again is the cheap poor quality slate roof that was installed perhaps not that long ago. The second, and probably more seen is some of the old slate roofs on Melbourne’s original Victorian and Edwardian period homes.

Recently installed poor quality slate roofs.

Beginning in the 70’s, after a fairly long period of hibernation, slate roofs for new homes began to make a comeback. At the time I don’t think there were too many construction industry people in Melbourne who understood slate roofing . Most of the types of slate that became available were not of a good quality from what we have seen the past couple of decades. These roof slates were imported mainly by companies who were dealing in all types of marble, granite and slate floor tiles. These companies probably chose these roof slates on price alone, without a thought for their quality and longevity. You need to remember that – at least to me anyway – a good quality slate will easily last 100 years. I really consider anything under 30 years as a poor quality slate. Anything in between those years – well I’m not sure about. My reason for saying that is that in my experience and observations, poor quality ones seem to be well on their way out and causing problems well before the 30 year mark. You can actually see the deterioration begin a few years after installation. Problems such as rusting, staining , fading, cracking and the big one – delaminating .

If you have a home with a slate roof installed from the 70’s or maybe even just a few years ago – that always seems to leak, what can you do about it.

Well the answer isn’t really a simple one. You need to weigh up whether it’s worth the cost of continually repairing and prolonging the life of the roof or just re-roofing and be done with it. It really depends on you and your peace of mind really. If it’s left too long you may be caught out and suffer some damage that needs costly repairs inside or outside your home. On the other hand, and depending how bad it already is, with a bit of careful maintenance, the life of the roof may be able to be extended for a few more years. One thing is certain – it will never improve and will continue to deteriorate and eventually need replacing at some stage.

To sum up – if your slate roof from say the 70’s and up to present day seems to need constant attention because of leaks, chances are it was never a good quality slate. Take a good look at your roof on a dry day. Can you see rusty brown stains running down the roof or what appears to be solid patches of rust or the slates are fading in an uneven fashion – these are all signs of low grade slate. Chances are that, if you already aren’t, you are going to have some issues down the track with your slate roof.

Old original period home slate roofs

Many of Melbourne’s original period homes are coming up to and exceeding 100 years of age. Lots of these homes have slate roofs that are still performing quite well. There are a couple of reasons why your homes slate roof may be causing you constant problems.

Your roof slates are at the end of their lifespan and are beginning to go soft and crumble.
Over the years your roof has suffered much foot traffic and alterations and the constant repairs has now become messy and ineffective.

It’s true that some of these original roof slates over 100 years old are still as good today as when first installed. It is also true that after performing perfectly for 100 years there are others that are at the end of their run – simply old age has caught up with them.

Balaclava slate roof repairs — These original roof slates are around 100 yo – they are worn out and need replacing

Chinese slate fading and rusting — This is a re-roof of an old building- the new slates are not very old and are rusting and fading. Dark slate at top are repairs already.

We also come across many old original roofs that have over the years been subjected to lots of foot traffic. For example, a home we recently re-slated had previously been extended with dormer windows on both sides of the roof. Solar pool heating had been installed on the slates at about the same time. The original chimneys had been repaired and new render applied. All of these works had caused much damage to the slates and add to that poor and shabby repairs over the years. It’s no wonder that this roof was constantly leaking and causing the owners much angst every time rain was forecast. In this instance it was more economical for the owners to replace with new slates than try to even restore this roof.

Again, if your ageing slate roof needs to be repaired constantly and still seems to leak often, it may be time to consider that you might need a new slate roof. If you are still uncertain about what to do about your roof you can always seek the opinion of a credible slate roof professional.