Slate Roofing in Sydney

A roof slate is a thin piece of slate rock, or similar imitation material, that gives a watertight surface to roofs or fascias. Roof slating is the fixing of roof slates to the exterior surface of roofs and fascia structures. Roof slating work includes using shingles or shakes (or imitation slates, shingles or shakes) and installing flashing, sarking, battens and valleys. It also includes putting in skylights, ventilators and the like, and putting protective coatings on roofs, so long as the work does not involve making structural changes to the roof or its parts. Roof plumbing is a separate NSW category covering gutters, downpipes and roof flashing, and the NSW Government says it does not include work on coverings made of non-metallic tiles and slates, so ask whoever quotes which category the quote falls under.

An old slate roof, and when to replace it

The NSW Heritage Office's maintenance sheet says an old roof should be kept going as long as possible through regular maintenance. Once the slates or their fixings are beyond repair the roof has to be stripped, and the sheet says because slate is such a durable material, most of the slates stripped from a roof are likely to be reusable. However, it is common for at least 10% of the slates to require replacement. The sheet is dated March 1998, online edition 2004. SafeWork NSW says a business must protect workers from a fall whatever the height; the roof surface is the contractor's risk to manage, not the owner's to test.

Ask the provider whether the quote is for repair, for re-slating with the existing slates, or for new slates, and which licence category the work falls under.

Is there a slate roofing licence?

No. NSW names roof slating as a trade category, and over A$5,000 in labour and materials, including GST, the contractor needs a NSW contractor licence for residential building or trade work, including roof slating. There is no separate slate roofing licence.

What does roof slating cover?

Roof slating is the fixing of roof slates to the exterior surface of roofs and fascia structures. Roof slating work includes using shingles or shakes (or imitation slates, shingles or shakes) and installing flashing, sarking, battens and valleys.

Can slates be reused?

Because slate is such a durable material, most of the slates stripped from a roof are likely to be reusable. However, it is common for at least 10% of the slates to require replacement. The sheet is dated March 1998, online edition 2004.