Nail Rot on Roof

[wolf63]

My block of flats is about to have various problems on the roof fixed. The scaffolding went up on Monday and the roofers have now managed to have a proper look at the roof.

They have advised that we have 'nail rot' and the job will be bigger than first suspected. They are to get back to the person who arranged the work (not me) to advise true cost of repair.

Is nail rot 'bad' - is it going to take all the contents of my piggy bank to repair?

[rowanwitch]

and the cats piggybanks too....hopefully the cost will be shared among enough of you to make it a bit less painful....its where old style nails corrode leaving the tiles liable to slip or fall...may mean the whole roof needs re nailing. I would insist the person organising it gets a couple more quotes in case its a roofer trying it on....

[wolf63]

It is the end of a three year saga which has found me sleeping on the floor of the spare bedroom with the kitties.

A long story but the roofer is honest and reliable. We did get other quotes which were higher - must have 'guessed' at the possibility of nail rot.

The bill is divided between six of us which helps a bit. I just want it done.

;-)

[The Builder]

........... also known as "nail sickness" Susan. It's the most common problem. I guess it's a natural slate roof. Being several floors up, and needing scaffolding, patching would be most uneconomic.
Usually, the slates are re-usable....... it's just that the nails corrode. It's quite easily spotted, even from the ground. Just the way the slates lie at odd angles is what gives it away.
The good news is.......... it can often be a lot easier job to strip it all off and start again, rather than spend ages climbing all over a sick roof......... making it worse.
In the end, you should have a complete, new covering of "breathable" felt (TYVEK, or PROTEK or similar), new timber battens, and slates fixed with copper nails.
Divided six ways makes it at least bearable :o)

[wolf63]

Mr Builder - I fear that your idea of a reasonable amount of dosh and mines may differ.

;-)