Cleaning Reclaimed Slates

[aockenden]

I’ll soon be re-roofing an outbuilding and I’m planning to use some old reclaimed slates I got from my neighbor.

They are very dirty with some old lime stains, lead stains, plenty of grime and lichens, some mastic in spots, etc. There are also old nails jammed into some of the holes which will need removing. What’s the best way to freshen these up a bit before I put them on?

I searched the forum for relevant threads but nothing jumped off the page.

 

[a twig]

Jet wash? Or have you done that already?

 

[aockenden]

Mmm no I haven’t done that. I’d be a little worried it would just smash the slates into shards. Have you ever actually done so before?

 

[a twig]

Haven’t done it myself but the roofers who just finished our extension were up there with a pressure washer afterwards to clean up after themselves.

They were confident enough to do it in situ

Admittedly it wasn’t one of those high power rotary heads, just one with an adjustable nozzle set more towards the fine spray end of things than a jet.

 

[a twig]

If that doesn’t appeal then a steam mop type cleaner might do the job?

 

[Toby Newell]

Slate is basically very, very old squished clay. I use Lithofin products, it's what I see all the top guys use on site, a lot of the guys from Chesney's use the products, actually worked alongside Chesney's yesterday. Unfortunately the slate cracked

Try giving Lithofin a call and ask for Bob in technical. He is very knowledgeable and helpful, they have great advice.

 

[aockenden]

Slate is basically very, very old squished clay. I use Lithofin products, it's what I see all the top guys use on site, a lot of the guys from Chesney's use the products, actually worked alongside Chesney's yesterday. Unfortunately the slate cracked

Try giving Lithofin a call and ask for Bob in technical. He is very knowledgeable and helpful, they have great advice.

Ok thanks I’ll see what they’ve got.