Another roof verge question

[plasticpigeon]

Hello again people. I'm afraid I need a bit more advice!!! The slates on my house were replaced shortly before I bought the place. Looking at the gable end of the back addition, I realise that on my side of the gable (it is a terrace) that the verge has no undercloak. The tiles are simple sitting on the bricks of the gable and pointed up. Is this bad??? I wonder if it was originally like this of if the roofer was a cowboy?

 

[middi]

If the tiles are doubled up at the eaves ( ie, one above the other with the correct overlap, level at the edges and staggered ), then there is no real need for undercloak.

As long as water cannot seep between the tile gaps there should not be a great need for concern.


Middi

 

[plasticpigeon]

Ok, thanks middi. The tiles are doubled up at the eaves, with around 3" where 3 tiles overlap up the rest of the gable. I don't know if water can seep in or anything, probably not. The pointing around that area is not great and the cuts for the bricks a bit suspect though. It is an odd arrangement, I can't see the mortar sticking the tiles to the wall very well, I'm guessing it is just used for gap filling!!!!

 

[middi]

Well, the pointing may be a bit " shoddy" but the tiles should be fine. ( you can always repoint if it is a bit unsightly)
As to undercloak, this is a modern invention and never really used on older buildings.
Sometimes 6" boards were laid flat to act as " undercloak " and made it easier for pointing, this rotted pretty quickly and needed regular maintenance.

Middi