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Do It Yourself Roof

DIY roofing - jobs you may want to tackle yourself include replacing damaged tiles and slates; mending, or putting in, a corrugated plastic roof; re-pointing; and general checking and maintenance. The roof should be checked at least once a year to make sure it is still weather-proof and not leaking. Before undertaking roofing projects yourself, make sure that you have safe access to the roof. It may be worth considering getting scaffolding - although this is expensive, for larger jobs it makes it much easier working on, or around, the roof. If using a ladder, someone should hold the bottom to make sure it is secure.

Most plain slate tiles are made with nibs projecting from the top back edge, which hook over the batten. Every fourth or fifth tile is nailed down to the batten. To replace broken tiles, you need a tool called a 'slate ripper' which has a hook on the end to hook round and cut through any nails. To remove single-lap tiles, push up tiles above the one that is broken, and twist the broken tile to release it. To remove plain tiles, you need to tap wedges under the tiles in the row above the broken one. Slide a bricklayer's trowel under the broken tile in order to be able to lift its nibs off the batten. To put in the new tile, slide it into place and remove the wedges. If trimming slates to size, it is worth hiring a slate cutter. While cutting the top of the slate should be facing downwards to allow edges to break away slightly along the cutting line. If the new tile looks very different from the existing ones, it may be worth using a tile from a less visible part of the roof and then putting the un-matching tile in the space left by that one. Before putting ridge tiles on fresh mortar, brush some PVA adhesive on to improve the bond. To seal cracked slates or tiles squeeze roof-and-gutter sealant into the cracks. Or cover them with self-adhesive flashing tape after brushing some primer on the slate or tile first.

To mend a corrugated roof you need to remove any damaged sheets by removing the fixings and sliding the sheet out. Push a wedge between the rafter and the next overlapping sheet. Slide the new panel under the raised sheet, allowing it to overlap with the next one. When cutting corrugated plastic make sure it is securely fastened before sawing. Cold weather may make the sheets crack so bring them indoors to cut them.

You may need to re-point brickwork where required: simply remove old, flaky mortar and replace with new.

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