Slipped slate rehanging
Slipped slates are put back and secured so the coverage is whole again.
Slate Roofing
Slate Roof Repair North Arlington, NJ
A North Arlington slate roofer can pull broken slates with a slate ripper, set matching replacements and repair the copper flashing that keeps the roof dry. Call (551) 348-7205 to reach a local roofer who works on slate.
On a slate roof, the stone is usually the last thing to fail. Original iron or steel nails rust through, flashing corrodes and valley metal wears thin, and slates then slip, crack or let water past. Rusted nails let slates slip loose one by one, which is why slipped slates often show up in gutters.
Slate needs repairs done with slate methods, not shingle methods. A slate ripper slides under the broken slate to cut its nails, then a new slate of matching size, thickness and color is slipped in and held with a copper or stainless slate hook or a copper nail covered by a metal bib. Roof cement smeared over cracks and seams is a common bad repair that traps water and makes proper repairs harder later.
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 yard, note any missing or slipped slates, flaking surfaces and rusted metal at valleys or chimneys.
Slate Roof Repair is often paired with slate roof replacement and slate roof installation, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in North Arlington, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-7205 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a slate roof repair
Good slate repair keeps foot traffic off the stone and leaves no exposed nails.
Set safe access
Access is set up with ridge hook ladders and staging so nobody has to walk on the slate. Work only happens when the roof is dry, since wet slate is slick.
Trace the leak
The source is pinned down first, since a slate problem and a flashing problem are fixed very differently. Widespread slipping points to nail failure rather than isolated damage.
Cut the old nails
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
A replacement slate matched in size, thickness and color is slid up into place and held with a copper or stainless slate hook. Salvaged slate of the same type and color often gives the closest match.
Repair the flashing
Worn flashing is renewed by removing the surrounding slates, installing new metal and rehanging the same slates. Copper flashing is common on slate because its service life comes close to that of the stone.
What is included
Slate repairs a roofer can handle
Chimney flashing
Step and counter flashing at chimneys, dormers and walls are renewed in metal that lasts as long as slate.
Tar cleanup
Failed tar repairs are cleaned off and done properly so water can drain freely again.
Valley repair
Leaking valleys are rebuilt where many slate leaks begin.
Slate replacement
Broken slates are cut out and new ones hung in their place matched in size, color and thickness.
Related service
Slate Roof Inspection North Arlington, NJ
A slate roof inspection decides whether the roof needs a few repairs or a bigger plan. 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. Tapping a slate is a quick test: sound slate rings, worn slate thuds.
A slate inspection on a North Arlington home relies on ladders, binoculars and drone footage more than walking, to protect the slate. Inside, the attic shows where water has gotten through and whether the board sheathing is sound. 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 North Arlington, NJ
Not every roofer works on slate, and the wrong repair can do more harm than the original problem. Ask whether the crew uses a slate ripper, slate hooks or copper nails with bibs, hook ladders instead of walking the roof and long life flashing metal. A roofer whose first suggestion is coating the roof with tar is a red flag.
For North Arlington homeowners, a good sign is a slate roofer who keeps a stock of salvaged slate and talks about repair before replacement. Matching size, thickness and color is what makes a repair disappear into the roof. Call (551) 348-7205 to talk with a roofer who works on slate.
Local help
Slate Roof Repair Near Me
Slate roofs in North Arlington are mostly found on older homes, churches and historic buildings, along with some newer homes built with slate on purpose. Homes in North Arlington and neighboring communities such as Kearny, Rutherford, East Rutherford and Secaucus with original slate usually need nail and flashing repairs long before the stone itself wears out, and storms that drop limbs on the roof add broken slates to the list.
Need slate roof repair around North Arlington? Call (551) 348-7205 for a North Arlington roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the 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. Most homeowners in North Arlington, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in North Arlington know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about slate roof repair
Can tar be used to repair slate?
Tar and roof cement are poor fixes for slate. They dry out and crack, hold moisture against the slate and add work for the next repair. The lasting fix is replacing the broken slate and renewing the flashing with metal.
Is it safe to walk on a slate roof?
Walking on slate is best avoided. Slate breaks easily underfoot and becomes dangerous when wet. Slate roofers use hook ladders and roof brackets to keep their weight off the slate, so leave the climbing to them.
Why are slates sliding off my roof?
The nails holding each slate are the usual culprit. 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.
How long does a slate roof last?
Slate is among the longest lasting roofing materials, with hard slate often lasting more than a century. The nails and flashing need attention long before the slate does. Kept up with repairs, a slate roof can serve for generations.
Do I need a new slate roof or just repairs?
Slate roofs are built to be repaired one slate at a time. It is when the slate is delaminating widely, or slipping everywhere, that a full strip and relay becomes the better plan. An inspection tells you which way your roof leans.
More questions? Call (551) 348-7205
Related services
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, planned around the weight and look of the home.
Learn moreSlate Roof Installation
New slate roofs planned around the slate grade, the framing and the details that let stone last a century, for new homes, additions and full reroofs.
Learn moreFlashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, 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, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a North Arlington roofer about slate roof repair
Call (551) 348-7205 to talk to a roofer serving North Arlington, NJ.