How to tell if slate roof wear is normal or a serious problem?
Original slate roofs develop wear patterns and aging signs that look alarming to buyers even when inspectors dismiss them. This leaves homeowners doubting professional advice and struggling to figure out whether the roof needs expensive repairs or is simply aging normally.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to tell if slate roof wear is normal or a serious problem?
- 1Getting a gut check from online communities or expertsDid this help you?
- 2Checking pipe flashing and tarred ridgesDid this help you?
- 3Trusting the reassurance of the home inspector and real estate agentDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Both my inspector and agent said this isnt a big deal but I dont know if I believe that?”source ↗
“Looking at a house with an original slate roof from 1946. Looking for a gut check on whether or not the “wear” patterns I see should be of conern”source ↗