HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230393 39 Fifth Roof Replacement Roof Assessment LetterJune 19, 2023
Alex Design
Design Industries
4292 route 50
Saratoga Springs, ny 12866
Dear Design and review board,
Assessment of 39 Fifth Avenue slate roof
Due to the fragile slate condition and improper hip installation, making a
repair to the four incorrectly installed hips is next to impossible without removing
all slates. Delamination has occurred to the slates causing them to become
extremely fragile. If you try to remove one slate, the next will break, so on and so
forth, causing a domino effect and they will all need to be replaced.
Delamination is caused by the reaction of certain minerals to long-term
moisture cycles. Over time, these minerals expand, causing layers to separate
along cleavage planes. Because slates are most likely to absorb moisture along
their edges, that’s where delamination is often most obvious. As slate ages,
paper-thin flakes separate from its surface, and its interior becomes increasingly
soft and spongy as the inner layers also begin to delaminate. As layers
delaminate, they provide an avenue for moisture to be absorbed into the tile's
interior. The chemical and physical changes common to aging slate increase its
moisture-absorption properties and reduce its strength and toughness. This
general weakening leaves slate tile more vulnerable to breakage, cracking and
chipping at the corners.
With the slate at the end of its life cycle, I recommend full replacement
using a top of the line synthetic slate tile (Eco-star) to match original roof.
Installed with 1.5 inch stainless steel ring shank nails. New 1/2 plywood to be
installed over existing roof boards to provide a proper roof deck. WIP 300 high
temperature ice and water shield installed though out the entire roof. All flashing
to be 20oz copper hips, ridges, valleys and snow slides to match existing.
Sincerely yours,
Alex Design
DESIGN INDUSTRIES