The rule of thumb among slaters is to push for replacement once 20 30 of the slate has deteriorated beyond reasonable repair.
Slate roof repair vs replacement.
When replacement is necessary even a slate roof that has been meticulously maintained will need to be replaced during someone sownership.
Broken or missing slates are easy enough to spot.
Again some roofing material choices are better candidates for repair than others.
Replacing a slate roof.
Of course replacing a slate roof with a new slate roof would be ideal but it can be an expensive proposition.
With slate and tile replacement is almost never the best choice.
Neither replacing a slate roof and reusing old flashings nor replacing flashings in a deteriorating slate roof is advisable.
If 20 or more of the slates on a roof or roof slope are broken cracked missing or sliding out of position it is usually less expensive to replace the roof than to execute individual repairs.
When properly maintained it can last well over a hundred and fifty years before needing replacement.
This is especially true of older roofs nearing the end of their serviceable lives because even the most experienced slater will likely damage additional slates while attempting repairs.
Valleys chimneys and dormer sides are flashed in metal in homeland painted terne metal or copper and in the course of the slate roof s life time the flashings may be replaced two or more times.
If your slate roof is nearing the end of its life you may be considering a replacement.
Replacement for different roofing material options.
Replacement on the other hand needs to take place at some point in the life of all slate roofs particularly those on older historical houses.
Slate roofs cost about 1 500 per square installed.
Unless your slate or tile roof is more than 70 years old there s a good chance that even extensive repair will be a better.
A square is a standard 10 x 10 unit used by roofers.
So many times when homeowners have a slate roof on their home they have questions like is a roof leak an emergency with slate roofing and is a roof repair covered by insurance.
Relatively little maintenance and repairs are needed to help it last for decades.
When 20 to 30 of the slates on a roof need replacement it is usually more prudent to replace the entire roof than to perform expensive annual repairs.