Robert Wewer Slate Roofing Company Philadelphia  
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Fully Licensed and Insured & Serving Eastern Pa., Central NJ, and Northern DE

SLATE • TILE • CEDAR • COPPER • TIN • ROOFING

 

THE ANATOMY OF A BOX GUTTER

 

METAL LINED VALLEYS

 

COPPER STANDING SEAM ROOFING

 

BEWARE: USE OF COPPER FLASHING ON CEDAR ROOFING

 
 

COMMON USE OF FACE NAILS CAUSES ROOF FAILURES

 

CEDAR ROOFING PLAGUED BY NEW GROWTH WOOD 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFECTS ON COPPER

 

METAL THERMAL MOVEMENT

 
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Recycled Slate Roof     Recycled Ludowici Tile Roof   Copper Yankee Guttering  
RECLAIMED SLATE ROOF- Now THIS IS GREEN! ... purple and tan....     Ludowici Tile Roof Recycle Job, Half Round Gutter, Custom Cornice   Yankee / Built-In Gutters  
Contact Us Today     New Growth vs. Old Growth Cedar   Dormer on Slate Roof Copper Flashing  
        Slate Roof Repair - Dormer Flashing - Bucks County, Pa  
cool roof philadelphia     Wilmington Delaware Built-In Gutter Repair   commercial cool roof repair philadelphia  
Cool Roof Coating & Repair     Wilmington, Delaware Built-In Gutters & Slate Roof Repair   Commercial Cool Roofs  
Tin-Knocker Roof     Round Yankee Gutter   Copper Turret Roof Pa  
"Tin-Knocker"
Hand Formed Roof
    Built-In Round Gutter   Copper Turret Roof  

CHIMNEY REPAIRS:

   
Chimney Repair
   
   
 

CHIMNEY REPAIRS

   
  "It takes more than a mason."
Call us to inspect your roof today as a simple repair may save you a lot of heartache later...........CLICK HERE to set up appointment.......
 
     
  Slate, Tile & Cedar Roof Repair & Replacement & Related Metal Work Must Be Rendered By An Expert    
 
Coppersmith works on custom copper in St. Davids.font>

The environment of the rooftop is as harsh as that of any place on earth. The temperatures can vary 100 degrees in a single day and the seasonal swings can double that number in some climates.

More threatening to these natural rooftops than the regular assault of the elements is the band of sloppy servicemen that are the transients that frequent the roofing profession. Haphazard slate roof repairs are rampant in this day and age of fast food, the fast buck, and the fly by night roofer. A can of flashing cement and a trowel is all the unscrupulous contractor needs to generate almost immediate income. With little or no expertise and a ladder, these guys are making slate roof nightmares every day.

Roof Cement otherwise known as "Muck" PA ....Well it is actually the guy that uses it on your slate or tile roof as a method of repair. Take a look at the destruction that can be wrought by the unskilled, uncaring, or unscrupulous contractor:
 
ACIDIC MASTICS AND ASPHALT CEMENTS DESTROY METAL FLASHINGS
 
Asphalt Roof Cement eats Copper

Asphalt roofing products such as Asphalt Roof Cement, in their "active state," will leach out acidic material that will destroy some construction metals.

 

The image to the left is depicting a "step flashed" Copper Valley that was "mucked." The Slates were removed and the metal pieces were removed as one mass, cemented together by the asphalt.

To the right is a photograph of the same Step Flashing mass (as above) being dismantled. Notice the damage from the Acid Wash in the center of the Valley. Asphalt roof cement destroys copper
Valley eaten by harmful mastic

To the left is a photo of another valley from a Tile Roof that was sealed at the Ridges, etc. The mastic type sealant was pigmented to give it a matching hue to the Tile Roofing. A Mortar would have been preferable to the non-setting mastic. The Valleys had holes everywhere!

The mastic seemed to have been falling down into the valleys and lodging there and leaching an acid wash for years. The pliable nature of the mastic allowed it to embed itself into the irregular surfaces of the tiles. Mortar by contrast, if dislodged, will tend to bounce and fall from the roof. Mortar is far less caustic to metal than acidic mastic.

A closer look at the non-setting mastic sealant & the resultant damage is to the right and an even closer look is shown below. Notice that the acid wash first causes a wearing away of the protective patina, then the damage continues to pit the metal. Notice all of the holes in this metal valley.

Note: Ours was the third valley re-lining on this tile roof in 80 years!

How do we know this?

One side of the roof had two layers of metal that had been eaten away in the same manner. We removed this mastic material to prevent future damage.

acidic non-setting mastic
valley rotting because of acidic mastic
Call us to inspect your roof today as a simple repair may save you a lot of heartache later...........CLICK HERE to set up appointment.......
ROOF CEMENT (MUCK) REPAIRS CAUSE LEAKS & DESTROY ROOFS

PA Slate Supply MaterialsA guy with a ladder and a can of muck slathered this valley and made a small leak into several gushers. As air pockets crack and become fissures, they direct water velocity laterally and in unpredictable directions. This roof was leaking worse than before almost by the time the check cleared the bank. The poor consumer is left holding the bag again. This guy is out of the business and working at his night job.

 

Valley that has been "Mucked" with Roof Cement PA

 

 

Muck and Silver Coat in Metal Valley Pa Blk SLate

 

Valley repair up close - a mess PA Black Slate

Take notice of the pimples and fissures in this recent coating application used as a method of repair for this slate roof.
 

The immediate concern for those with mucked roofs is the fact that these materials trap and direct water flow to cause lateral flow and leaks in the very areas meant to be repaired. The next matter to be of serious concern is that of the destruction an acidic material like roof muck can cause.

 

Asphalt Roofing Products & Mastics are acidic in nature and applying them over some metals like Terne Coated Steel and Copper leads to degradation of the metal. It is the wash from atmospheric moisture that picks up the acidic material and releases it in a continual way with every morning dew. Every time it rains or snows, this same effect is also realized, but the concentrations are less than with simple morning dew. The metal eventually wears away and the leaks increase over time.

PA Slate Failed attempt at sealing leak with "Muck"The pans of this terne metal lined Built-In gutter have expanded and contracted for many years of service and finally have given way at the seams. After the use of damaging aluminum fibrated coating, the next transient repairman mucked the seams of the tin and the course of slate above. These areas have begun leaking worse than before. Total replacement of the linings and the slates is now the only viable option.

Slate roof repair expert

 

“While yer at it, muck that pipe too,” and ruin another seven or eight slates.

 

 

Pa Black Slate Plumbing Vent sealed with "Muck"

Aluminum roof coating is not a fix for a leaking valley, or for any other leaking roof, for that matter. Old terne coated ferrous roof metal that is prone to oxidation will only rust away under the porous fissures that quickly develop and hold moisture when such coatings dry.

Call today for us to look over your Slate or Tile Roof as a small repair may save you much heartache and expense later......CLICK HERE  to set up appt.....

 

 
This slate roof valley on this 100 year old Vermont Slate Roof has been maintained. It is coming due for replacement and all of the original slates should be able to be reused.
good clean maintained old original valley Vermont SLate
 
copper valley after replacement Slate Supply
New metal valley linings on worthy slate roofs should be a labor of preservation and the level of workmanship displayed should leave the lasting statement of a caring craftsman.
Common Types of Roofing Slate Found in the Northeastern United States:
Vermont Mottled Green Slate
VT Mottled Green & Purple

New York Red Slate
New York Red

Pennsylvania Black SLate Supply
Pennsylvania Black

Vermont Royal Purple
VT Royal Purple

Vermont Unfading Green Slate
VT Unfading Green
Virginia Buckingham Slate
Virginia Buckingham
Vermont Semi-Weathering Gray-Green Slate
VT Semi-Weathering Gray-Green
Vermont Semi-Weathering Gray-Green Weathered Slate
VT Semi-Weathering Gray-Green (weathered)
 

Shapes

These are some of the common shapes used in slate roofing:

Deep Bevel Pa Slate Materials
Deep
Bevel

Shallow Bevel Pa Roof SLate
Shallow
Bevel

Deep Scallop Pa Slate
Deep
Scallop

Shallow Scallop Slate Pa Supply
Shallow
Scallop

Pointed
Pointed

Round or Fish Scale PA Slate
Round or
Fish Scale

Square
Square

The above courtesy of Durable Slate Company
 
 
     
CONTACT US

Robert Wewer Philadelphia Roofing Contractor

Roof Repair Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pa. Historical and Disaster Recovery Slate Roof Restoration Contractor Serving PA,DE,NJ

 

Website written by, Robert Wewer