Slate roof repair in Cincinnati
A quarter of the homes in the county ZIPs on this site were built before 1940, and slate was a common roof on houses of that era. When an old slate roof leaks, the slate is rarely the problem. The nails and the metal around it usually go first.
- City-registered roofers for Cincinnati jobs. What that means
- Written price before work starts
- Free to you; the roofer pays us
On this page
How long slate lasts
The National Park Service says a properly installed slate roof lasts 60 to 125 years or longer, depending on the slate, the roof shape and the location, and that some have lasted over 200 years. A roof put on in the 1920s can still have decades left in the stone itself, even when the copper or steel around it is worn out.
What usually fails
- Nails. Slates hang on nails. When steel nails rust through, slates slip out of place one at a time.
- Flashing. In the valleys and around chimneys. Before replacing a slate roof, the Park Service says to look for isolated damage and worn flashing first, along with leaky gutters, since those often cause the leak.
- Gutters. Built-in gutters behind the cornice, common on Cincinnati's older houses, back water up under the bottom rows when their lining fails.
- Foot traffic. Slates can crack under the weight of someone walking on the roof, the Park Service notes, which is one more reason to keep off it.
What a good slate repair looks like
- Broken or missing slates replaced with matching slate, hung with copper nails or slate hooks.
- Worn flashing replaced in metal, not patched. The Park Service warns against patching slate with mastic: it makes later repairs harder and speeds corrosion of metal flashing.
- Gutters relined or rebuilt before the roof above them is called failed.
Questions to ask
- How many slates are broken or slipped, and can you show me photos?
- Where will the replacement slate come from, and will it match?
- Is the leak from the slate itself or from the metal around it?
- If the house is in a historic district: If the city has designated the property or building as historic, you need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Urban Conservator (513-352-4848) before work starts, even if no permit is needed. More on that.
Not every roofer works on slate. Ask directly whether they repair slate and how often.
Questions people around Cincinnati ask
Should I replace my slate roof with shingles?
Not before an honest repair estimate. Before replacing a slate roof, the Park Service says to look for isolated damage and worn flashing first, along with leaky gutters, since those often cause the leak. If most slates are sound, repair costs far less than a full tear-off and keeps the house's original look.
Can someone walk on a slate roof?
Slate roofers often work from ladders and roof hooks to avoid stepping on the slate. Slates can crack under the weight of someone walking on the roof, the Park Service notes, which is one more reason to keep off it.
How long does a slate roof last?
The National Park Service says a properly installed slate roof lasts 60 to 125 years or longer, depending on the slate, the roof shape and the location, and that some have lasted over 200 years.