Tar cleanup
Roof cement over slates and seams is replaced with real repairs which also improves the look of the roof.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Repair Nutley, NJ
Most slate roofs in Nutley that leak still have plenty of good slate, and the fix is usually new slates in a few spots and new flashing, not a new roof. Call (973) 858-1824 to reach a local roofer who works on slate.
A slate roof leak rarely means the slate is worn out. 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 needs repairs done with slate methods, not shingle methods. The broken slate is removed by cutting its nails with a slate ripper, and the replacement is secured with a slate hook or a nail under a small copper bib so no nail is exposed. Tar on slate is a shortcut that fails, and removing it later adds work.
Stay off the roof yourself. Walking on slate breaks it and is dangerous when the stone is wet, so slate roofers use hook ladders and staging instead of walking the field. From the ground, binoculars show slipped slates, missing pieces and rusted flashing well enough to describe on the phone.
Many slate roof repair calls in Nutley also turn up a need for slate roof replacement or slate roof installation.
Need slate roof repair in Nutley? Call (973) 858-1824 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Nutley.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a slate roof repair
Slate repair follows a careful routine.
Rig the roof
Before any repair, the roofer rigs ladders and brackets that keep feet off the stone. Slate is never worked on while it is wet or icy.
Trace the leak
The roofer checks whether the problem is a single broken slate, rusted nails across a slope or flashing at a valley, chimney or wall. Widespread slipping points to nail failure rather than isolated damage.
Remove broken slate
With a slate ripper, the roofer cuts the nails holding the broken slate and draws it out. The slates above stay in place the whole time.
Set new slate
The new slate goes in and is hung on a slate hook, or nailed through the gap above and covered with a copper bib. Matching is easiest with salvaged slate of a similar type and age.
Fix the valleys
Corroded valley metal, step flashing and counter flashing at chimneys and walls are replaced, usually in copper, by lifting and resetting the slates around them. Copper flashing is common on slate because its service life comes close to that of the stone.
What is included
Common slate roof repairs
Broken slate repair
Broken slates are cut out and new ones hung in their place using hooks or covered copper nails.
Slate refastening
Slipped slates are put back and secured before they fall and break.
Valley replacement
Worn or rusted valley metal is replaced with the slates relaid along each side.
Flashing repair
Step and counter flashing at chimneys, dormers and walls are renewed instead of being covered with tar.
Related service
Slate Roof Inspection Nutley, NJ
Before repairs, an inspection sorts out whether the slate itself is sound or nearing the end. 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. Hard slate in good condition rings when tapped, while worn soft slate sounds dull and breaks easily.
A slate inspection on a Nutley 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 Nutley, NJ
Slate is a specialty, and a slate roofing company should show it knows the trade. 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.
When looking for a slate roofing company in Nutley, ask about past slate jobs and whether they keep salvaged slate on hand for matching. Salvaged slate that matches the original is the key to repairs that do not stand out. Call (973) 858-1824 to talk with a roofer who works on slate.
Local help
Slate Roof Repair Near Me
Slate roofs in Nutley are mostly found on older homes, churches and historic buildings, along with some newer homes built with slate on purpose. From Nutley out to Glen Ridge, Rutherford, North Arlington and Clifton, slate repairs tend to involve slipped slates, worn valleys and flashing that has outlived its service life, and storms that drop limbs on the roof add broken slates to the list.
Need slate roof repair around Nutley? Call (973) 858-1824 for a Nutley roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Nutley is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Nutley and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Slate Roof Repair questions
Is roof cement a good fix for a slate roof?
Tar and roof cement are poor fixes for slate. They crack as they age, trap water against the stone and stain it, and they have to be scraped off before a proper repair can be done. A real repair uses new slate and new flashing instead.
Can I walk on my slate roof?
Walking on slate is best avoided. The stone cracks under weight, especially older slate, and it is very slippery when wet, icy or covered in moss. Slate roofers use hook ladders and roof brackets to keep their weight off the slate, so leave the climbing to them.
Do I need a new slate roof or just repairs?
Repair is the right call when most of the slate is solid and the problems are nails, flashing or a few broken pieces. Replacement makes sense when a large share of the slate is flaking, soft or breaking, or when nails are failing across the whole roof. A slate inspection shows which situation you are in.
Why are slates sliding off my roof?
Rusted nails are the usual cause. Many older slate roofs used nails that corrode in time, and once a nail fails, the slate slides out of its row. Each slipped slate is rehung with a slate hook or covered copper nail, and if slipping is widespread, the roof may need to be stripped and relaid with new nails.
What is the lifespan of a slate roof?
Hard slate can last well over a century, while soft slate lasts a shorter but still long span. The nails and flashing need attention long before the slate does. With timely repairs, many slate roofs outlive several generations of owners.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1824
Often needed together
Slate Roof Replacement
Replacing a slate roof that has reached the end of its life, by relaying the sound slate on new nails or installing new natural or synthetic slate, so the new roof lasts as long as the old one did.
Learn moreSlate Roof Installation
Slate roof installation from choosing hard or soft slate to the final copper ridge, for new homes, additions and full reroofs.
Learn moreFlashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Nutley roofer about slate roof repair
Call (973) 858-1824 to talk to a roofer serving Nutley, NJ.