All You Need To Know About Inspecting Slate Roofs

If you’re a prospective home buyer, then most likely you have come across multiple homes that are covered in asphalt shingles. But, what should you do when you come across a house that has slate roofs? Even though the chances might be less, you need to treat this type of roof differently than what you’d do when inspecting asphalt roof shingles. 

It should be understood that even though slate roofs can look aesthetically pleasing, they tend to be much more expensive than asphalt shingles. That’s why you don’t see many homeowners using slate roofs. But, it should be perceived that slate roofs don’t last forever and inspecting their condition is a duty for the home inspector. 

Things To Learn Before Inspecting Slate Roofs

• Avoid Walking On Slate Roofs

A professional home inspector in El Paso suggests that it’s isn’t always required to walk on a slate roof, to be able to inspect it properly. Walking on slate roofs can be dangerous for mainly two primary reasons:

• There’s a chance that you can fall off easily. 
• There’s a chance that the slate tiles might break easily under pressure.

However, it should be realized that examining the tiles from the ground-level isn’t sufficient either. It would be difficult to detect their shape as well as their overall condition. 

The ideal situation would be to use a ladder for the task and use it to inspect the tiles. When using the ladder, you can check whether the tiles are suffering from layer separation or delamination. Such a problem can be diagnosed by your general eye-sight, without any issues. Moreover, it should be known that in case the tiles are only suffering from surface delamination, then there’s not much you should be concerned about. 

• Look For Any Damaged Tiles

You along with the home inspector should see whether there are any crumbling or broken tiles when inspecting slate roofs. Slate tiles can easily crack when they’re struck by an external force from above, such as a falling tree branch.

It has been reported by most professional home inspectors that if more than 25 percent of all the slate tiles are damaged, then it’s not worth going the repair route. Instead, it’s a better decision to opt for direct replacements. In that way, you’ll save enough time and money in the long-term, while also enjoying peace of mind. 

Thus, it’s highly recommended that you follow the aforementioned procedures when inspecting slate roofs with your home inspector and if you want to ask more questions regarding the same, just reach out to us. We’ll be happy to assist you with any additional queries so that your home inspection process can go smoothly.