Re roofing of Victorian semi

[davelad65]

Hello

My neighbour has decided to re roof his half of our 1901 4 story semi's due to slates letting in water. We have no obvious problems on our side but feel that it might be time to get our's done also.

Two builders have been out and I am rather concerned about the problem of ventilation. The roof has no felt at present and we have rooms in the attic with sloping ceilings, I understand that the lack of felt allows natural ventilation. The builder proposes to use felt and a few vents to allow for ventilation and also advises that cement type slates are much cheaper than using slate.

Can anyone advise of a roofer in Northern Ireland with experience in this type of property repair.

Thanks

David

 

[Moo]

I seem to remember hearing that cement slates are to be avoided because the roof timbers were not designed to carry so much extra weight.

 

[middi]

Apart from the very exellent point from Moo, the cement stuff you want to replace them with age very badly and look terrible on a period building after some time.

They are very good at keeping the rain out though.

 

[NT]

Hello

My neighbour has decided to re roof his half of our 1901 4 story semi's due to slates letting in water. We have no obvious problems on our side but feel that it might be time to get our's done also.

I'm not seeing how that makes any sense.

Two builders have been out and I am rather concerned about the problem of ventilation. The roof has no felt at present and we have rooms in the attic with sloping ceilings, I understand that the lack of felt allows natural ventilation. The builder proposes to use felt and a few vents to allow for ventilation and also advises that cement type slates are much cheaper than using slate.

they may be, bt its not what would be recommended.

Can anyone advise of a roofer in Northern Ireland with experience in this type of property repair.

Doesnt sound like theres anything in need of repair. Replacing a slate roof in sound condition with a fibre cement roof would be foolish.


NT

 

[davelad65]

In reply to NT

"I feel that it is time to get our done" makes sense to me as the roof is 103 years old and as our neghbours have only recently started having damp problems it is very likely that we will have in the near future. Also the removal of shared ridge tiles and the hammering when they fit new battons will probally cause some slate slippage on our side.


Dave

 

[davelad65]

My request was for a recommendation of roofers in Northern Ireland. I simply want an expert opinion on the condition of our roof and should it need replaced I will be using natural slate.

Dave

 

[Penners]

As Moo has commented, I would certainly be worried about using concrete slates on a roof designed to support natural slates. I would get a structural engineer's opinion on this before you proceed.

As to the ventilation issue, I would instruct the builder to use a permeable membrane, such as Tyvek, rather than conventional roofing felt.

 

[NT]

"I feel that it is time to get our done" makes sense to me as the roof is 103 years old and as our neghbours have only recently started having damp problems it is very likely that we will have in the near future.

AFAIK neither of these are in any way reasons to replace the roof. May I suggest a little reading on slate roof maintenance before shelling out thousands unnecessarily.


NT

 

[mark_j_k]

A few re-roofs that I have seen done in concrete tiles had to have the timbers strengthened to take the extra weight. This was mostly done by installing the same sized timbers next to each other and into the wall at each end.

Wouldn't like to try and do it myself mind you, timbers that size can be heavy, and another thing is where can you get 10" x 4" timbers from that are 17 foot long??

 

[davelad65]

the slates were fibre cement type which i understand will be lighter that the original natural slates

 

[davelad65]

why would i need 10" by 4 " timbers??? Almost wish i had not asked this question - I was simply looking for an referral to an experienced roofer in Northern Ireland

 

[Penners]

Almost wish i had not asked this question - I was simply looking for an referral to an experienced roofer in Northern Ireland

In which case it might have been best just to ask that question.

The people on this forum are very helpful, and always try to give the fullest possible advice. If some of that turns out not to be exactly what you wanted, or even not entirely appropriate to your circumstances, don't moan about it. Just be grateful for their willingness to try and help.

 

[mark_j_k]

Sorry, I was just rambling on about my roof and stuff.

 

[middi]

I have this terrible devious feeling that roofers that want to substitute original slate or peg tiles kill two birds with one stone all at the expense of the customer. Carefully remove the old material to sell at reclamation yards for twice the price of the new cr*p which the customer pays for .

 

[Gervase]

Carefully remove the old material to sell at reclamation yards for twice the price of the new cr*p which the customer pays for .

Ouch! You cynic. That surely can't be the reason that so many roofers are able to source slates at the 'bargain' price of £1.75 each... :twisted:

 

[NT]

The original question strikes me as exactly the sort of thing that preserving historic properties is not about. If Evelyn were here I'm sure he'd give the OP a ticking off.

Its odd though, most people do seem to want to spend their money unnecessarily and spoils a property's character. RD&H


NT

 

[biffvernon]

If Evelyn were here I'm sure he'd give the OP a ticking off.

So she might.

 

[NT]

I guess my touch triping isnt upto much


NT