Simulated Slate Roofing - InspectionNews

Jim Hughes · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 02:00 PM

Hey Gang:
I inspected a house yesterday that had a simulated slate roofing system. To my surprise, the material is rubber. Royal Roofing is the manufacturer. It was very uneven and the corners were lifted. The roof is only two years old. Do any of you have any experience or knowledge of this roofing system? It didn't look right....
Thanks,
Jim

Billy Stephens · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 06:56 PM

Jim,

I would think that Royal roofing is the installation company and touts a 2 year warranty on materials & labor.

But the manufacturer would likely be EcoStar is Premium Roofing

Jerry Peck · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Stephens

But the manufacturer would likely be EcoStar is Premium Roofing

(underlining is mine - first underlining is good, second underlining is good, third underlining is HA-HA! GOTCHA!, yeppers, *only their* fasteners are allowed

)
"Fasteners - Fasteners must be ring shank stainless steel EcoStar Fasteners™. EcoStar Fasteners are available in either hand drive style or pneumatic coil."

Also, tiles are 18" long and the maximum exposure is 7"? The minimum exposure is 6"?

18" - 7" = 11" tile headlap?????

DANG ... that sure is some headlap (when you are used to a 3" headlap for 18" long concrete tiles).

If installed with the recommended 6" headlap, the roof will be three friggin' tiles thick! With that, heck, why even install any underlayment?

Tim Voss · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 06:59 PM

Curiosity forced me to go to their website and read the installation instructions.

From page 2:

Quote:

4. . A critical step is BENDING. Every tile that is installed must
be bent in a downward arch before applying it to the roof deck.
Whatever position the tile is in when fastened to the roof deck, is
the position it will maintain. It is recommended that each member
of the installation crew be instructed on how to bend the tile to
insure that it lies flat when fastened to the roof deck. While grabbing
the top of the tile (textured side up) with the right hand and
the bottom edge of the tile with the left hand, bend the tile in a
downward motion until the tile maintains arch. The tiles must be
curved under when installing.

Jerry Peck · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008, 08:29 PM

Tim,

That's because the tiles are installed 3 thick, making the tiles raised 1/2"+ above the roof at an angle. Bending the tiles allows the butt end to lay flat against the tiles it overlaps.

Same thing which standard three tab shingles except that they are so thin, and the shingles so flexible, that the tabs lay flat by themselves.

Tim Voss · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 07:39 AM

Right. I was thinking maybe they didn't bend them properly, and that's why the edges are lifted.

Quote:

Whatever position the tile is in when fastened to the roof deck, is
the position it will maintain.

Jerry Peck · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Voss

Right. I was thinking maybe they didn't bend them properly, and that's why the edges are lifted.

Tim,

I'm thinking the edges never "lifted".

That the tile are simply laid flat ... and the angle they would be at when laid over two other layers, because the butt end (the low and exposed end) would be 1/2" -3/4" above the roof sheathing when the head end (the end covered and nailed down) is tight to the roof sheathing. Think of nailing a 1x2 down and then laying a shingle over it, one end will be 'waving in the wind' while the other end is nailed to the roof sheathing. It's a see-saw resting with one end down.

Tim Voss · #8 (**permalink**) 08-10-2008, 08:28 AM

Yes, that's what I said.