Slate Roof Torching

Slate roofs are no exception.

Slate roof torching.

Keeping the local stone slate roof of an historic building helps to conserve its significant character. This system was commonly known as torching and was used before the introduction. This can be carried out cheaply and it s work you can comfortably undertake yourself. Thanks i never knew that so why use it now.

Torching is a lime cement weather seal traditionally used inside old slate roofs. Over the years this torching can crumble and break normally falling with a thud on the floor of the roof space during the middle of the night. Lime acts as a sponge to hold water and release it as conditions change. A new slate or salvaged slate which should match the size shape texture and weathered color of the old slate is then slid into place and held in position by one nail inserted through the vertical joint between the slates in the course above and approximately one inch below the tail of the slate two courses above.

Originally the only recognised roof under coating was the application of sand lime mortar reinforced with animal hair applied to the headlaps of double lapped slates or tiles. The homebuyer survey noted the torching was dropping away and would need attention in the next year or two reported as amber. I bought a late 20s small three bed semi with a slate roof in september. We constantly battle to prevent roofers from stripping entire roof pitches just because they see torching and say oh an old roof without felt it needs felt.

1 2 the gradual decline of the stone slate roofing industry has led to a loss of expertise of both roofers and specifiers and there is little written information available on best practice methods for. The torching on clay tile roofs contributed to securing them in the days before nibs were added to hold them on the wooden battens. Torching is most commonly encountered to the underside of old stone slate roofs. Quite a lot of it is missing and the rest looks like it won t last that long.

Traditional variations of a physical secondary barrier against wind driven snow and rain include reeds laid between the tiles and the battens and a coating of mortar known as torching to the underside of the tiles or slates. Although a slate roof is initially quite costly it will often last for a lifetime and beyond. Nearly all old roofs were lime torched. In order to maintain your investment and make sure it lasts a slate roof will need regular maintenance.