Slate Roof Repair in the Berkshires
Keep the slate. Fix what is letting water in.
Broken and slipped slates, worn flashing and failed valleys repaired on older homes around Pittsfield, Lee and the rest of Berkshire County, so a sound slate roof keeps doing its job.
A good slate roof is worth repairing
Slate roof repair in the Berkshires usually comes down to a few weak spots on an otherwise solid roof. The slate itself can outlast the nails, the flashing and the valleys that hold it together, so a leak on a slate roof rarely means the whole roof is done.
The usual problems are cracked or slipped slates, nails that have rusted through, and flashing at chimneys, dormers and valleys that has worn out after decades of freeze and thaw. Fixing those spots properly keeps the original roof on the house, which matters on older Berkshire homes where slate is part of the character.
If most of the field is soft, flaking or falling apart, patching only buys time. In that case we will tell you so and price a replacement instead.
How we fix broken slates and flashing
A broken slate comes out and a matching slate goes in, held with a copper strip or a hidden fastener the way slate is meant to be held. We match size, thickness and color as closely as we can so the repair blends into the roof.
We set roof hooks and staging and step carefully on slate, because careless walking is one of the most common ways a slate roof gets broken. We do not smear tar or sealant over cracked slates or face-nail them where it shows. Those shortcuts look fine from the ground and fail early.
When the leak is at a chimney, dormer or valley, the flashing is usually the real problem. On slate roofs we rebuild those spots in copper, which lasts as long as the slate around it.
See our slate and copper work See residential roof replacement
How a slate repair goes
From finding the leak to the last slate.
Find the cause
We look at the slates, nails, flashing and valleys around the problem, and in the attic when we can, to find where water is getting in.
Price it in writing
You get a written estimate for the repair, and a straight answer if the roof is past the point where repairs make sense.
Replace and reflash
Broken slates are swapped for matching ones, and worn flashing or valleys are rebuilt, usually in copper.
Check and clean up
We look over the surrounding slate for anything we disturbed, clear the site and walk you through what was done.
Seeing slates on the ground, or a stain under a slate roof?
Get a slate repair estimateWhat changes the price of a slate repair
The price of a slate repair depends on what failed and where:
How many slates. Replacing a handful of broken slates is a short job. Dozens of slipped slates across the roof is a bigger one.
Flashing and valleys. Rebuilding a valley or the flashing around a chimney in copper is more work than swapping slates, and it is often what actually stops the leak.
Matching slate. Common gray slate is easy to match. Colored slate, patterned roofs and unusual sizes take more time to source.
Height and access. Steep pitches, tall houses and turrets need more staging and time.
Slate roof repair questions
What Berkshire homeowners ask before a slate repair.
Should I repair or replace my slate roof?
If the slate is mostly hard and sound and the trouble is a few broken pieces, rusted nails or worn flashing, repair is usually the better choice. If many slates are soft, flaking or delaminating across the roof, replacement makes more sense. We look at the roof and tell you which.
Why are slates sliding off my roof?
Most of the time the slate is fine and the nails holding it have rusted through. The slipped slate is reset with a copper strip or hidden fastener, and we check the area for other loose pieces.
Can you match the slate on my roof?
We match size, thickness and color as closely as we can. Gray slate is easy to match. Colored and patterned roofs can take longer to source.
Is roofing cement a good fix for a cracked slate?
No. Tar and sealant over a cracked slate fail quickly and make the next repair harder. The cracked slate should be replaced.
Why copper flashing on a slate roof?
A slate roof can last a very long time, and copper flashing lasts about as long. Cheaper flashing can wear out decades before the slate around it does.
Do you also replace slate roofs?
Yes. When a slate roof is past repair, we can price replacement options, including new slate or a different material. See our residential roofing page.
Who does the work?
CBR's own crews, with Chris on site for every project. We are licensed in Massachusetts (LIC #101201, HIC #160959) and insured.
Get a free estimate for slate roof repair
Tell us what you are seeing on the roof or inside the house. We'll look at the slate and price the repair in writing.