Gaps Under Slates - Should I fill with mortar ?

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Hi

I noticed that there are gaps under the slates right down at the eaves of my roof - see circled areas in attached photo.

I was thinking about filling these gaps with mortar to keep out the driving rain and to keep the rain away from the galvanised nails ( should I believe have been copper ?? ) as they are beginning to rust.

Would you recommend this ?

Cheers

freddiemercurystwin · 1 Oct 2009

A dry verge would be good eg http://www.klober.co.uk/product2.php?id=26 http://www.klober.co.uk/uploads/Dry Fix/Continuous Dry Verge 150dpi.pdf
get'em from a merchant

Copper seems to be a popular choice on the forum for slates although there's not much you can do about it now.

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Hi

I don't think that the dry edge system will fit ?

freddiemercurystwin · 1 Oct 2009

On the pdf link, could the T strip type not be used? You'd need to cut away the flat 100mm bit that would normally go under the tiles as in diagram A, then screw the trim to the verge board through the 37mm long vertical leg. You would need to measure the thickness of the slate overhang, it looks like using the T strip type would allow for up to about an 85mm tile thickness.

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Hi

Yes it might fit, but if it did not would filling the gaps with mortar be a solution ?

freddiemercurystwin · 1 Oct 2009

It would, although its difficult to see know how successful it woud be as its a retrofit and there are some mighty small gaps to fill where the slates touch. Better than nothing though.

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Many thanks !

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Hi again

What about expanding foam rather than mortar ?

freddiemercurystwin · 1 Oct 2009

Err, well, a bit of a bodge to say the least, theoretically I suppose it would work although how would you be able to stop the foam from expanding underneath the slates and/or pushing the slates upwards or pushing the underlay downwards? You could always try to find a suitable pvc profile that you could use if the one in the link didn't.

self builder 123 · 1 Oct 2009

Hi thanks again !

diynot

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Gaps Under Slates - Should I fill with mortar ?

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