JayD

Thanks everyone, appreciate your advice. I spoke with my friend and explained water creep, and issues with coatings on slates. We're going to do it properly by lifting off the bottom slates and seeing what has been done. From the gutter side, I can see a later of felt of the flat roof that's about 3 inches in length behind the slates. We're thinking of using a fibre glass valley instead of the bottom row of slates resting on the flat roof. One we take of the bottom row of slates we see how to sort this properly so to avoid any future issues.

Thanks @NSS Heart felt condolences to you on the loss of your mum and dad. Yes, I agree, our parents would be proud. My mum wanted to get the ridge tiles replaced as they were badly flaking for a long time. Trying to find a reliable and genuine roofer with experience was difficult while she was alive. Only a couple of weeks ago now, with the help of a friend, we replaced old ridge tiles with dry ridge system. I remember climbing up the ladders to the roof for the first time in a very long time, and I heard my mums voice in my head say "be careful son, take your time and pay attention". I feel my mum is around in another form - energy can't be destroyed, transforms from one form to another. What's hit me so hard is that I lost my best friend and only parent. Mum was a super woman, mother and father rolled into one. I remember mum repairing the washing machine when I was 8 years old, replacing the motor. She replaced the starter motor and brake pads (in the 1980s) of the Hillman Hunter car we had (mum learnt how to do things herself - low income, single parent)

I've got two pitched slate roofs with a flat roof in the middle. The bottom row of slates are resting directly on the flat roof. I think the flat roof was repaired or replaced in 2012. With winter coming, I'm looking at preventative ways stop potential leaks (no leaks at present) and get a few more years from the roof. I was thinking of using acrypol plus to cover the flat roof and areas on the flashing that have weathered away. A friend has said to cover half of the bottom row of slates in acrypol plus, and to fill in the vertical gaps on the bottom row of slates with butyl roofing sealant. The idea to create a waterproof surface so water rolls down the slate onto the acrypol flat roof. I have some questions: 1. Is this a good robust approach? 1a. Should acrypol plus be used on slates? 1b. Will water seep behind under the bottom row of slates ? (Currently it probably does and dries out) - that's the concern for leaks to develop with rain and aging of current roof. With this water proof idea, I've been watching how water flows down into the lead flashing when raining heavily, so I'm concerned about water creeping behind any acrypol area (via slates) and then causing more problems. 2. If not a good approach, what is a robust, reliable and low maintenance approach? Attaching a photo, that will help. Thanks Jay

Hi everyone I'm a newbie and finally finding the strength (my mum passed away 5 months ago) to get some jobs done. Found it very difficult to find a reliable roofer so have ended up doing some of the key work with a friend who's an established self builder. Jay