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ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
SLATE ROOF PHOTO LIBRARY
SLATE ROOF PATTERNS
CLOSED LAP
CONVENTIONAL
CURVED ROOF
DIAMOND
DIAGONAL
DUTCH LAP
FRENCH
GRADUATED
SLATE ROOF COLORS
GREEN SLATES
RED SLATE
RIBBON SLATE
STEEP SLATE ROOFS
MANSARD ROOF
STEEPLES
SLATE ROOF HARDWARE
SNOW GUARDS
SLATE ROOF DEFECTS
BROKEN CRACKED ROOFING SLATES
DELAMINATING
FLASHING
LOOSE LOST SLIDING SLATES
MINERAL INCUSION
STAINING SLATE
THICKNESS
SLATE ROOF REPAIRS
WORN OUT SLATE ROOFS
SOFT DETERIORATED SLATES
BEYOND REPAIR
Slate Roof References
Slate Sources, Repairs
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION CLASS
STANDARDS for ROOFING
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE
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 A Photo Guide to Worn Out Slate Roofs
RoofAPedia ©
- Photo Guide to Slate Roof Inspection
- Photo library of slate roofing materials & slate conditions
- Examples of worn-out slate roofs
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Here we provide photos of worn-out slate roofs that are beyond repair. This slate roofing photo library shows various kinds of roofing slate, slate roof colors, slate
roof patterns, and roofing slate defects. This photographic dictionary of roofing slates is a supplement
to our detailed article (links at page left) describing procedures for evaluating the condition of slate roofing.
How to inspect, identify defects, and estimate remaining life of slate roofs are addressed.
The article also references slate repair procedures, repair slate sources, and slate quarries.
The main article reviews
types of slate, common defects, inspection topics, and some repair
tips.
Also see How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs
for a detailed article about evaluating the condition of slate roofing and repairing worn or damaged slate roofs.
© Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
An online photo dictionary of roofing slate colors, types, and conditions
This article assists home inspectors, building buyers or building owners, and roofing contractors in
evaluating the condition of slate roofs by providing photos of various slate materials, patterns, defects,
and conditions. Readers should also see How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs for a detailed "how to" article on inspecting, evaluating, and repairing slate roofs.
Photo Guide to Slate Roof Inspections - Slate Roofs in Poor Condition
A Photo Guide to Soft Worn Out Roofing Slates
As we discussed in more detail at SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR, determination
of slate condition other than by direct up-close inspection is highly unreliable. Slates may look fine from the ground, but be found soft
and at end of life on close inspection. By direct inspection we mean looking at slates
from a few inches, either from a ladder or some other point of view such as an attic window. We strongly advise inspectors not to walk
on slate roofs whether they look soft or not. Soft Deteriorated Roofing Slates may not be obvious from the ground but mean the roof is at end of life.
Photos of Slate Roofs Past Economical Repair
 Poor condition slate roof, example of a slate roof probably beyond repair. Even from a distance the home inspector or slate roof inspector can see that while many slates have been replaced (darker slates in the photo), the remaining roof slates show white mineral efflorescence which has formed almost all the way to the center of each slate. The rust-colored slates in the photo were badly delaminated, thin, and soft, having no remaining predictable life. This slate roof is too fragile to inspect by walking-on. For a closer look, check out the next two photos, below. Poor condition slate roof, many loose slates, efflorescence almost fills upper slates, many thin delaminating slates, more than 25% of this roof is bad, beyond economical repair Poor condition slate roof - close up, of a roof beyond economical repair (using slate) - a patch and struggle policy may be tolerable. The dark colored slates are areas where bad slates have been replaced. We'd love to see this replacement pattern continue. Many roofers opine that when more than 25% of the slates have to be replaced in a short period, the roof is beyond economical repair.  Worn slates at or near end of life, in the upper roof - note the efflorescence on some slates and the delaminating slates. Some slaters inform us that when they see the efflorescence marks on slates having nearly completely covered the slate they guess that the slate is near the end of its life. Some slates, such as the red slates shown in photos above, do not show this efflorescence pattern, probably because the composition of that stone resists moisture absorption better than the darker slates shown in this photo. Worn slates at end of life, lost slates, delaminated slates, broken slates on this small roof make re-roofing necessary Worn out slates and sliding slates, on a slate roof beyond economical repair Sliding slates, failed nails, and rotted roof sheathing show that this roof has not been maintained for a decade or more. Thin delaminated slates are worn out.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
SLATE ROOF PHOTO LIBRARY
SLATE ROOF PATTERNS
CLOSED LAP
CONVENTIONAL
CURVED ROOF
DIAMOND
DIAGONAL
DUTCH LAP
FRENCH
GRADUATED
SLATE ROOF COLORS
GREEN SLATES
RED SLATE
RIBBON SLATE
STEEP SLATE ROOFS
MANSARD ROOF
STEEPLES
SLATE ROOF HARDWARE
SNOW GUARDS
SLATE ROOF DEFECTS
BROKEN CRACKED ROOFING SLATES
DELAMINATING
FLASHING
LOOSE LOST SLIDING SLATES
MINERAL INCUSION
STAINING SLATE
THICKNESS
SLATE ROOF REPAIRS
WORN OUT SLATE ROOFS
SOFT DETERIORATED SLATES
BEYOND REPAIR
More expert information on Slate Roof Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair |
ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
SLATE ROOF PHOTO LIBRARY
Slate References
Slate Sources, Repairs
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION CLASS
STANDARDS for ROOFING
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE
More Information
InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Roofing
Plumbing Water Septic
Structure
Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Contact Us |
More Information on Roof Inspection and Repair, and Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
Slate Roofing References
 How to Inspect & Repair Slate Roofs a detailed article about evaluating the condition of slate roofing and repairing worn or damaged slate roofs.- Slate Roof Photo Library photographs of colors, types, patterns of slate roofs, slate roof wear, slate roof conditions.
- Slate References page from the ASHI Technical Journal
- Slate Sources, Repairs page from the ASHI Technical Journal
- Roofing: Defect Recognition, Repair, Prevention for Roofing & Flashing main web page
- Inspecting and Evaluating Slate Roofs Hudson Valley ASHI seminar content
- Choosing a Roofing Contractor How to find and select a roofing contractor - (thanks to Jessie Schrader)
- Slate Roofs, National Slate Association, 1926, reprinted 1977
by Vermont Structural Slate Co., Inc., Fair Haven, VT 05743, 802-265-4933/34. (We recommend this book if you can find it. It
has gone in and out of print on occasion.)
- The Slate Roof Bible, Joseph Jenkins, www.jenkinsslate.com,
143 Forest Lane, PO Box 607, Grove City, PA 16127 - 866-641-7141 (We recommend this book).
- Slate Roofs , Steven Trapasso, presentation to NY Metro
ASHI, Inc. chapter seminar, November 1990.
- The Old-House Journal , Special Roof Issue , April
1983, The Old-House Journal, PO Box 50214, Boulder, CO 80321-0214
- National Slate Technology Center courses for architects, builders, etc.
- Handbook of Building Crafts in Conservation, Jack Bower, Ed.,
Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, NY 1981 ISBN 0-442-2135-3 Library of
Congress Catalog Card Nr. 81-50643.
- Slate Roofing Contractors Association of North America
- National Slate Association includes list of slate testing laboratories
More expert information on Roofing, Home Inspection, Construction Defects
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Poor condition slate roof
Poor condition slate roof
Poor condition slate roof - close up
Worn slates at or near end of life
Worn slates at end of life
Worn out slates and sliding slates
Sliding slates, failed nails