How to Replace Slate Shingles

Slate shingles: lovely, heavy and expensive. If you have to replace very many, you should probably call a pro, but you can handle a few by yourself - especially if they're reachable from a ladder.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Builder's Felt
• Slate Shingles
• Common Nails Ripper
• Trash Bags
• Trash Bags
• Extension Ladders
• Hammers
• Hammers

1. Make sure you have access to replacements before you do any wholesale removal of slate shingles. Start with a single shingle, preferably one near the edge of the roof.

2. Work a nail ripper underneath the shingle just above the damaged one.

3. Pry it up just enough to remove the damaged slate.

4. Cover the exposed area of roof by pushing a piece of heavy plastic sheeting (big enough to overlap the space by about a foot on all sides) gently under the shingles above it. A plastic trash bag will suffice if sheeting isn't handy. Weight the other edges with rocks or secure them down with heavy tape.

5. Take the damaged shingle with you to the lumberyard, home improvement center or roofing supply house to find matching replacements.

6. Test fit a new shingle in the space where the old one used to be.

7. Mark two nail holes on the replacement shingle while it's in test position, as far under the upper shingles as you'll be able to reach to hammer it in place. (You can also use slate hooks, if they're available in your area.)

8. Remove the new shingle from its test position and drill its nail holes.

9. Slide the new shingle into place. Nail it down using a hammer and a punch if needed to completely drive the nails.

10. Slide a small piece of builder's felt under the upper shingles to cover the nail heads.

11. Repeat the removal and replacement steps for all damaged shingles.

Tips & Warnings

• In some areas of the country, slate shingles may have to be ordered by the supplier. This could take a few days or a few weeks. Try to provide the supplier with a count of how many shingles you'll need - plus a few extra.
• Cutting slate requires a special pressure cutter.
• Some slate shingles use an interlocking system instead of being nailed.
• Slate roofs can be very steep and have a slick surface, so exercise extreme caution.
• Major repairs should probably be handled by professionals. They have the experience and special equipment to get the job done quickly and safely.