How to Repair Slate Shingles

A slate roof is a slippery roof. It is dangerously slippery when wet so if you must make repairs, rent a roofer's ladder.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Slate shingles are extremely slippery. You should never walk on a slate roof, so work from a ladder against the side of the house. If you cannot reach the damaged shingle this way, it is safer to hire a bonded, insured roofer to do the job.
   
   If a shingle is slightly cracked, you can repair it by running a bead of roofers cement along the length of the crack.

2. If a slate shingle is so badly damaged that is must be replaced and you can reach it without getting on the roof itself, first remove the shingle by splitting it into manageable pieces with a MASONRY CHISEL and BALL PEEN HAMMER.
   
   Slide out the broken pieces.
   
   Cut a piece of FLASHING about two inches wide and at least three and one half inches longer than the original shingle.
   
   Slide the flashing under the line of shingles above the repair area. It should hang about one inch below the line or the repair.
   
   Make sure that it is in the centre of the empty space. Nail in place.
   
   Run a line of roofing cement along the sides of the flashing where it touches the understructure as well as over the roofing nails.

3. Line up the new shingle and trim, if necessary to fit. To cut off any excess, mark the edge that you need to trim. Score the line with a chisel. Line up a piece of strong, straight wood along the scored line and snap off the excess.
   
   Slide the shingle in place over the flashing and line it up with the adjoining shingles.
   To hold it in place, bend up the one inch of flashing over the shingle bottom to form a little brace.

Tips & Warnings

• When using a masonry chisel wear protective goggles

[tachic]

on 6/6/2009 Thanks for the tips to repair a slate roof.