Caring for My Slate Roofs
There’s always something going on at my Bedford, New York farm.
Owning a farm is a huge responsibility. Not only must I look after all my animals and gardens, but I also have to maintain the safety and upkeep of every house and structure on the property - that means staying on top of necessary repairs, replacements, and routine cleaning chores. Among the items every homeowner should watch is the roof. Here at the farm, I have several different roof types: cedar, lead coated copper, coated aluminum, glass, and slate. Not long ago, I noticed that some areas on my slate roofs needed attention. Delicate slate roofs can last a very long time - 100 years or more— if taken care of properly. We got to it right away, cleaning any grime and debris from all sides.
Enjoy these photos.
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- A roof is any top covering of a building, including all the materials necessary to support it on the walls or uprights, providing protection against rain, snow, sunlight, wind, and extreme temperatures. Every homeowner needs to take good care of the roof to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Here at my farm, my outdoor grounds crew and I always look out for any damages, or regular wear and tear on the roofs. These are the slate roofs on my chicken coops.
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- On my Tenant House, Winter House, gym building, Summer House, pool house, and pavilion, I have Alaskan yellow cedar. These roofs age to a nice gray-silver color.
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- Here are some of the Alaskan yellow cedar roof shingles before they were used on my Tenant House. Alaskan yellow cedar shingles are fine textured, light in color, and moisture tolerant.
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- We replaced these roofs three years ago. Cedar wood is long-lasting, making it an ideal roofing material. Cedar is also more expensive, but it lasts at least 10-years longer than common roofing materials such as asphalt.
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- This roof on my pool pavilion is also made from Alaskan yellow cedar to match the other houses.
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- At my farm guest house and studio, we used a Western pressure-treated red cedar, which also ages nicely and can last more than 30-years if properly maintained.
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- Over my carport is standing seam lead coated copper. Copper has been used as a roofing material since the medieval times and continues to be very popular. It is lightweight, flexible, resistant to weather and corrosion, and extremely durable. Its minimum lifespan is 75-years. This side of the carport is also where I hang my bird feeders – up to 125 different kinds of birds visit my feeders every day.
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- I use a different metal on my large Equipment Barn. This is a standing seam aluminum roof. Standing seam metal roofing features vertical legs with a flat space in between. It is very durable and weather-tight. I also placed these antique finials on top. They are made of Swedish or French lead-coated copper.
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- The roof on my Hay Barn is also made from standing seam aluminum with another beautiful finial on top. I bought these finials many years ago and knew right away they would be perfect for these rooftops.
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- And this newly installed aluminum roof over my Stable Barn is coated with Kynar. Kynar coating is a metal finish that is chemical resistant, abrasion resistant, flame resistant, and stable under strong UV rays. This barn houses some of our feed products as well as important agricultural equipment and tools.
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- My vegetable greenhouse and my main greenhouse are, of course, topped with glass – special horticultural float glass that allows in sufficient light for the growing plants.
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- This is one of several hoop houses on my farm. It is covered with two layers of fabric – one is a heavy-duty, woven polyethylene that features an anti-condensate additive to reduce moisture buildup and dripping. The other side contains UV additives that allow the fabric to maintain its strength through the seasons.
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- And over my Stable, Carriage House, and stable offices, I use more slate tiles derived from sedimentary rock and clay. Slate roofs are durable, waterproof, and insect-proof…
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- … but unfortunately, they are not dirt proof. After years under the elements, these tiles can collect mildew, grime, and even moss. Here is a look at some of the build up of dirt from the last year. They are not bad, but definitely need a cleaning.
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- The areas facing north and west were a bit dirtier than those facing south and east.
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- Pete uses a cleaner specifically for slate roofs. These are available at hardware stores. He fills a two-gallon handheld sprayer with half solution and half water.
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- Then Fernando sprays the cleaner generously on the tiles. Regular cleaning should be done once every two to three years, and more if there are obvious signs of mold or other debris.
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- After waiting about 30-minutes, Pete rinses the solution with a power washer. This is also a good time to inspect the roof closely for any broken or misaligned tiles – everything is in good condition.
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- Pete does this from the safety of our Hi-Lo cage.
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- Fernando stands below to control the Hi-Lo and to ensure Pete remains safe at all times. My outdoor grounds crew always works in teams – it is safer and more efficient.
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- Here, one can see dirt on the left, but the right is now clean. The clouds also rolled in along with some rain. The entire job takes a few days, but already it is looking so much better.
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- The next morning, the sun was out once again. This is my stable office building. This side of the roof looks good and doesn’t need cleaning, but it’s important to look at all sides to be sure. Whatever type of roof you have over your home, I hope this inspires you to take a close look to see if it needs any maintenance or cleaning – it will save lots of time and money in the long run.
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