Slate Roof Discoloration

Before replacing a slate roof check for isolated damage corroded and worn flashings leaky gutters poor ventilation in the attic and other possible sources of moisture.

Slate roof discoloration.

When cleaning a slate roof don t use chemicals like ammonia or chlorine bleach. Often the damage is hidden under overlapping slate courses and becomes apparent only when the roof starts to leak. Also slate is slippery when wet. Trees plant debris stains stain patches under trees or nearby may be due to seeds berries leaves and other debris falling and decaying.

Dark black or brown roof shingle stains are often caused by black algae bleed through or extractive bleeding of asphalt dirt soot or organic debris. This slate roofing photo series shows all kinds of roofing slate defects. Slate roof defect photo library. Regular roof cleaning is critical for your roof as slate is easy to cleave and water absorbent.

If your slate is looking a little worse for wear do not be alarmed. That ll prevent the cleaner from drying out too quickly. Then spray the cleaner onto the shingles photo 1. Slate is a beautiful and popular medium for fireplaces and patios but it is highly susceptible to stains from water and hard calcified deposited stains under pots and other items.

But there are other roof stain colors and causes. White stains on slate roofs efflorescence or salt stains from rain water sometimes appear on slate shingles. Pour it into a pump sprayer strap yourself into a full body harness tie it down and climb to the roof. Buildup of moss and debris on slate roofs hold moisture in the slates that can split them during winter.

Before applying the cleaner spray the roof with water to cool it down. Moss often grows in the shade of trees too. Slate shingles do not lie flat against each other and can easily snap under pressure. Historic slate roofs should be repaired rather than replaced whenever possible.

You can t walk on a slate roof no matter how shallow its pitch. Here we give photographs of slate roof conditions including normal wear on slate roofs worn out slate roofs types of slate roof wear and damage and stains or discoloration on slate roofs. You can also do a fair amount of checking at ground level. The remedies for and means of preventing stains on roof shingles are discussed as well.