Valley repair
Worn or rusted valley metal is replaced where many slate leaks begin.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
A Lyndhurst slate roofer can pull broken slates with a slate ripper, set matching replacements and repair the copper flashing that keeps the roof dry. Call (551) 348-2859 to reach a local roofer who works on slate.
On a slate roof, the stone is usually the last thing to fail. Hard slate can last well over a hundred years and soft slate somewhat less, but in both cases the nails, flashing and valleys often wear out first. When nails rust through, slates slide out of place and leave gaps, a problem sometimes called nail sickness.
Slate repair is a specialty, and the methods matter. Roofers cut the hidden nails with a slate ripper, set a matching slate and fasten it with a hook or a covered copper nail. Coating slate with tar or roof cement only hides problems and stains the stone.
Do not climb onto a slate roof to look. Slate cracks under foot, especially older slate, and it is slick when wet or icy, so roofers work from ladders hooked over the ridge and roof brackets rather than walking on the stone. From the yard, note any missing or slipped slates, flaking surfaces and rusted metal at valleys or chimneys.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Lyndhurst roofer may also recommend slate roof replacement or slate roof installation.
Looking for Lyndhurst slate roof repair? Call (551) 348-2859 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The slate roof repair process
Here is how a slate roofer usually handles a repair.
Stage from ladders
Before any repair, the roofer rigs ladders and brackets that keep feet off the stone. Work only happens when the roof is dry, since wet slate is slick.
Pin down the source
The source is pinned down first, since a slate problem and a flashing problem are fixed very differently. Widespread slipping points to nail failure rather than isolated damage.
Remove broken slate
The damaged slate is freed by cutting its hidden nails with a slate ripper. The slates above stay in place the whole time.
Fit matching slate
A matching slate is fitted and secured with a hook or a covered copper nail so no fastener is exposed. Matching is easiest with salvaged slate of a similar type and age.
Renew the metal
Valleys and wall flashings that have rusted through are replaced with new metal, with the slates carefully removed and relaid. Copper is the traditional choice because it lasts about as long as hard slate.
What is included
Common slate roof repairs
Slate replacement
Damaged slates are swapped for sound ones using hooks or covered copper nails.
Slipped slate rehanging
Slates that slid are refastened so the coverage is whole again.
Chimney flashing
Wall and chimney flashing is rebuilt so joints stay watertight.
Tar cleanup
Old tar and roof cement patches are removed where possible to stop trapped moisture.
Related service
Slate Roof Inspection Lyndhurst, NJ
A slate roof inspection decides whether the roof needs a few repairs or a bigger plan. Key checks include the slate type, how many slates are cracked or delaminating, whether nails are rusting and how worn the valleys and flashings are. Tapping a slate is a quick test: sound slate rings, worn slate thuds.
A slate inspection on a Lyndhurst home relies on ladders, binoculars and drone footage more than walking, to protect the slate. The attic is checked as well for stains, daylight and rotted sheathing boards. The result should tell you how many repairs are needed now, what can wait and how much life the slate has left.
Related service
Slate Roofing Company Lyndhurst, NJ
Choosing a slate roofing company matters more than with most roofs, because slate needs its own tools, methods and experience. Ask about their tools and methods: slate rippers, hooks, staging and the flashing metals they use. A roofer whose first suggestion is coating the roof with tar is a red flag.
A slate roofing company that works in Lyndhurst should be able to describe recent slate repairs and where it sources matching slate. Matching size, thickness and color is what makes a repair disappear into the roof. One call to (551) 348-2859 is a good place to start.
Local help
Slate Roof Repair Near Me
In Lyndhurst, slate tends to cap older and historic homes, and many of those roofs are still on their original stone. From Lyndhurst out to Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington, slate repairs tend to involve slipped slates, worn valleys and flashing that has outlived its service life, which is why finding a roofer who knows slate is worth the extra effort.
Searching for slate roof repair near me from Lyndhurst or Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington? Call (551) 348-2859 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Lyndhurst
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Lyndhurst is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Lyndhurst
Roofers in Lyndhurst know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about slate roof repair
Is roof cement a good fix for a slate roof?
Tar patches on slate fail and make proper repairs harder. They dry out and crack, hold moisture against the slate and add work for the next repair. A real repair uses new slate and new flashing instead.
Do I need a new slate roof or just repairs?
Slate roofs are built to be repaired one slate at a time. It is when the slate is delaminating widely, or slipping everywhere, that a full strip and relay becomes the better plan. A slate inspection shows which situation you are in.
How long does a slate roof last?
Depending on the type of slate, a roof can last anywhere from several decades to well over a hundred years. The nails and flashing need attention long before the slate does. With timely repairs, many slate roofs outlive several generations of owners.
Can I walk on my slate roof?
Walking on slate is best avoided. Slate breaks easily underfoot and becomes dangerous when wet. Professionals work from ladders hooked over the ridge for this reason, and homeowners are safer looking from the ground.
Why are slates sliding off my roof?
The nails holding each slate are the usual culprit. Many older slate roofs used nails that corrode in time, and once a nail fails, the slate slides out of its row. Individual slates are rehung with hooks, but widespread slipping points to relaying the roof with copper nails.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2859
Related services
Slate Roof Replacement
Full slate roof replacement when the stone, the nails or the flashing have failed across the roof, planned around the weight and look of the home.
Learn moreSlate Roof Installation
Natural slate roofs installed over a solid deck with copper nails, proper headlap and long life flashing, for new homes, additions and full reroofs.
Learn moreFlashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed slate roof repair in Lyndhurst, NJ?
Call (551) 348-2859 to talk to a roofer serving Lyndhurst, NJ.