How to fix this leak in a roof

[JT101]

Hi guys.

I am trying to repair a leak in this roof. Original Welsh slate, no felt underneath. Having sprayed a hose at various locations it seems to entering around where I put the red mark. The ceiling below has collapse and due to lack of felt I'm confident it's coming in here but no obvious signs of damage apart from a cracked slate which I repaired. I've not done roofing for a while so I'm a bit rusty. Just trying to think how to best expose the area.

Am I best just removing slates in the highlighted area and then replacing with lead straps, those than cannot be re-nailed? It will look pretty ugly, but short of removing the entire roof from top right, I think I just have to remove a section like this?


Thanks

 

[Deluks]

You're best off removing what's inside first, see where it's actually coming in, as it may be coming in higher up, and then tracking down the woodwork to where it builds up.
Like you say, no obvious signs of damage, but you have a chimney and flashing above it, both are notorious spots for ingress.

 

[JT101]

Great suggestion thanks. But I sprayed the water much lower down than the chimney flashing and it still leaked. I appreciate the sentiment that it may be entering higher up than it drips down but it's definitley in that area. I also ripped out the remainder of the ceiling underneath. I guess my main question is, whether or not my approach is correct.

First question is, should I just rip out the area where I think it is? I'm certain I'm not required to remove slates from the top right of the roof i.e. in reverse order of how it was laid, because obviously this makes it a massive job. So this is going to be a patch job.

Secondly, let's say I end up removing 20 slates. Only some will be able to be nailed back nice and solid. All the ones around the perimeter will need a strap, and the ones along the valley I'm not sure how you secure them if they're flopping about. My mate suggested clips, but they only seem available for tiles, not slates.

It just all feels so weak and sloppy and likely to leak again but maybe it's the only way it can be done. I appreciate when you replace a single broken slate, it won't flop around due to the weight of the other slates.

Anyway, just trying to do a good job

 

[ree]

OP,
Without getting too involved with your thread here's a couple of suggestions:
1. The side flashing on the stack is not a best practice installation for slates - the side flashing should be one soaker per slate with stepped cover flashing above.
2. One observer in the loft, & one other person lightly spraying the roof slates and the valley. Spraying up to & over the stack flashing.
3. After spraying wait five & then lift the flashing & look for damp.