Temporary fix for leaking roof

[russellpeters]

Dear fellow DIYers and Trade experts,

There is dampness in the ceiling and walls of our second floor bathroom that seems to be caused by the poor condition of the roof tiles immediately above it. The roof is in the "rear extension" of a typical London Victorian terraced house. Please see photos below of both the tiles and the dampness. I am looking for a temporary DIY fix that will last at least 2 years.

Ours is a 120 year old Victorian terraced house in London and the tiles are very old (probably as old as the house itself) and need replacement. We plan to get the roof re-tiled professionally in 2015 (postponed till then due to financial constraints). I have approached various roof specialists for a temporary fix but most of them refuse to take up the job and the one specialist who has come back has given a quote that is well outside my budget.

My specific questions are:
(a) What temporary fix, if any, would you recommend? (Is Acrypol a good solution?)
(b) Is it okay to do this by myself (with a mate or two for safety and help) assuming I hire the right equipment?
(c) What equipment would I need to do this myself? I am guessing ladder, roof ladder, safety harness... am I missing anything?
(d) If this leak cannot be fixed is there anything else I can do to reduce the dampness damage?

I am a fairly confident DIYer but as you can imagine this "DIY" project is in a different league compared to anything else you do inside the house or outside.

Thanks.

Untitled

• russellpeters
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

Untitled

• russellpeters
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

 

[footprints]

Slate roofs are very easy to repair, the cost of new replacement slates is quite high a reclamation yard is the best place to look.

Slates are held in place with two nails through them most slip because one or both nails have given up.

You need a slate ripper, it's a strip of steel with a cranked handle it is slipped up under the slate and has a cutter that is hooked around any nails you need to remove then pushed up and puled back smartly to cut the nail.
It also helps you to lift slates to aid slipping the new ones into place.

You cannot nail slates into place unless you strip the ones above so to replace a few you nail/screw (use rustproof ones) a length of copper wire or strip of zinc between two slates then push the replacement up into place, over the strip and bend the strip up over the bottom edge to hold it in place.

Main thing is a head for hights and a secure duckboard/roof ladder to spread the load and avoid damaging more slates.

 

[cotswoldbuilders]

I can understand most of the roofers not interested in patching, you need a new roof.
If some one spent a day patching/repairing the roof you would be calling him back a month or so after to replace more slates.

 

[ners]

That needs stripped and re-covered. I cant see a temp repair possible

 

[palaceray]

I really think you are wasting your time trying to coat your roof with acropol or similar. To repair the obviously broken and slipped slates would cost approx £250 but the money would be much better spent towards a new roof.

Where abouts in London are you ?

 

[catlad]

That roof looks like its been patched a dozen times already, there comes a time when another repair isn't really feasible.

 

[shane12345]

No chance of repairing that.

 

[russellpeters]

Thanks for the replies everybody. I guess we will simply have to live with the leak and dampness till we save enough to re-tile the roof.

@cotswoldbuilders - Yes, some of the ones I spoke to stated the exact same reason. I was still hoping that there something I could do that would last for a while.

@palaceray - I am in Peckham / Nunhead area of London.

 

[palaceray]

Quite close to me. If you ever want a quote let me know.

 

[noseall]

Buy a cheap tarp'.

 

[Pallatrax]

Dear fellow DIYers and Trade experts,

There is dampness in the ceiling and walls of our second floor bathroom that seems to be caused by the poor condition of the roof tiles immediately above it. The roof is in the "rear extension" of a typical London Victorian terraced house. Please see photos below of both the tiles and the dampness. I am looking for a temporary DIY fix that will last at least 2 years.

Ours is a 120 year old Victorian terraced house in London and the tiles are very old (probably as old as the house itself) and need replacement. We plan to get the roof re-tiled professionally in 2015 (postponed till then due to financial constraints). I have approached various roof specialists for a temporary fix but most of them refuse to take up the job and the one specialist who has come back has given a quote that is well outside my budget.

My specific questions are:
(a) What temporary fix, if any, would you recommend? (Is Acrypol a good solution?)
(b) Is it okay to do this by myself (with a mate or two for safety and help) assuming I hire the right equipment?
(c) What equipment would I need to do this myself? I am guessing ladder, roof ladder, safety harness... am I missing anything?
(d) If this leak cannot be fixed is there anything else I can do to reduce the dampness damage?

I am a fairly confident DIYer but as you can imagine this "DIY" project is in a different league compared to anything else you do inside the house or outside.

Thanks.

You obviously don't want to live with the damp - it isn't nice to look at and more importantly, it is very bad for your health.

Although a tarp isn't going to look pretty, I doubt you spent long looking at your roof to worry about it.

Tom

 

[russellpeters]

Thanks for all the useful replies. Using a tarp is an acceptable solution to me so I am going to explore it.

I found some good guidance on temporary roof repair using tarps here:
[PDF file] Guidance for Volunteer Agencies to Make Expedient Roof Repairs - https://eportal.usace.army.mil/sites/ENGLink/TempRoofing/Job Aids/VOLAG (PDF).pdf

 

[taz123]

I can't see a tarpaulin lasting 5 minutes and it's certainly not going to be watertight.

You need to get it re-roofed asap but don't expect it to be a straight reslate...........I bet there'll be rotten timbers under there.

 

[Pallatrax]

Screwfix list large enough tarps for £12.

Even if it only lasted six months, that's £48 to see them through 2 years when they've hopefully saved enough.

A bit of batten and a can of expanding foam or mastic and that roof would be a damn sight better sealed than it is now IMHO.

Tom

 

[TheVictorian]

I'd be getting a loan and having it fixed properly. The interest costs would be offset by the extra costs associated with temporary repairs or further problems that may occur in the next two years.