MY BIGGEST MISTAKE YET! DIY Slate Roofing Project

The joys of learning as you go! This is what DIY is about I guess. 🙄
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#slateroof #roofing #diyroofing

[@alexgreig3598]

As a roofer for 45 years, great job and so good you learned by mistakes

[@timleach3177]

From another Tim , 45 years in the building trade as a carpenter I'd say you've done a great weldone , pat on the back for having na go , looks good , cheers Tim

[@Y1AN1]

i have been following your channel as i restore my own house. It gives me massive comfort to see that i'm not alone in learning to do it myself, demanding a higher quality of my novice self than most trades people would produce and saving a bucket load in the process. watching your videos has helped my confidence in myself develop as i learn and pump out nice looking projects. your work is great quality and you're inspiring many others to follow your lead. seriously... well done!

[@kairomalachi255]

You all probably dont care at all but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot the login password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@deaconenoch3456]

@Kairo Malachi Instablaster =)

[@kairomalachi255]

@Deacon Enoch i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@ConstructionwithKieren]

It’s impressive how thorough you are when doing jobs, it’s a breath of fresh air mate well done!!🙌🏽

[@maggiesue4825]

I'm just amazed you took on this major job. I think it's excellent!

[@nonsheep5823]

Been slating, tiling for too many years , recommended disk cutting stacks of slates for eaves and top eaves, top eave battern over battern with 5mm lathe to stop chattering, and perk out roof from top of gable down and put 5mm on slate width when stricking out , looks lovely least you can appreciate real mans graft now lol

[@nicolalang5603]

It's so important to share your mistakes! Not only can other people learn from them, but it makes us all feel a bit better - we all make mistakes, but we can be really hard on ourselves about them and believe that it's just us being a 'failure'. I loved slating my roof but I didn't plan the detailing for my verges and I *think* I'm getting a little wind driven rain which is ending up on the soffit and dripping out the join between the soffit and fascia. One to address in the spring when the weather settles down! I liked your solution with your verges. Also sympathise with feeling like you've been riding a horse - my bum hurt from sitting on awkward battens! It's looking good 👍

[@coffeefortwosolly]

Roof looking gooood, loved the little apprentice helper💕🙋🏻‍♀️🇬🇧💕

[@Th13GhOsTs]

Did a great job mate, I would advise on any valley work you may do in the future, open the welt up a bit more and as you slate up the valley just press the slate down a touch to close the gap, ensures a nice decent welt

[@pahooper99]

That roof is going to look outstanding when you have finished it.

[@StevePhillips]

"If you can do it yourself" DIY hahaha, not too sure this time. Storm Arwen made big hole in my slate roof. Here at Middlesbrough. December is not the best time of year to be out on the tiles, slates in this instance. Great video thank you for sharing. I just came to be inspired and see how much of a job it would be to fix it.

[@Nothing-g7e]

Looks brilliant well done

[@jodirauth8847]

That roof is beautifully done

[@scottjohnson2841]

I really wish they built homes and roofs like this in the US on a regular basis. This is absolutely beautiful!!!

[@namesanmanname297]

A lot of hard work .Well done.

[@jefffrench9799]

Outstanding job, well done

[@stevenedwards4470]

You seem to be doing a really good job on something you're doing for the first time. I was amazed to see there's a tool that can cut a slate roof tile like a piece of paper. 🤔

[@tlangdon12]

Slate is a very interesting material to work with. The tool you see Tim using is relatively modern. In earlier times, the roofer would have used a slaters axe (or the side of their hammer) and an anvil on the battens to chop the slate to size. They would use the slaters axe in a very similar cutting action to how the modern tool works. The modern tool also punches holes in the slates for the nails.

[@dhb572]

Those slates are not much better than paper. Nice job though.

[@dhb572]

@Dr Shi Ton-Mi Over 35 years, using Welsh new and reclaimed, Burlington and Yorkshire grey slates.

[@jacksmith4375]

Guillatines are the one (how ever u spell it )

[@petersaupe7455]

@@tlangdon12 Zaxe is a slaters axe, rectangular in shape with a spike on the back edge.Used with a iron edge spiked to the rafters.Slate is a lovely material, Welsh is vastly better than any imported but sorry to say 3 times the price.

[@buddysinsight9834]

Welldone for having a crack at that yourself. I don't pay anyone to roof my self builds. I did a 24000 tile roof with six hip ends and it took me two months on my own. Crazy

[@havemotorhomewilltravel1154]

Looks awesome well done 👍

[@jasbo7288]

Looks very nice mate, I wanted proper slate but expensive so had composite instead..😉

[@jameshowcroft321]

You did an awesome job champ cheers looks amazing.👍👍👍

[@doric_historic]

I would love to do my roof, good on you for giving it a go...

[@jonathan1427]

The only people who don't make mistakes don't make anything at all. You're doing a great job! I've seen "pros" who make more errors, either though cutting corners or straight-up incompetence. Will you be taking a (well deserved) break after the scaffolding comes down?

[@chrispayne1029]

Great job Tim 👏👌🏻👍

[@jeffkb73]

Don’t beat yourself up , looks great 👍

[@karl9675]

Looks great. Best advice i could give now is once one side is complete, lay the top 5 courses on the opposite side and the ridge as you come along. Will stop you needing to shuffle along. Bedded ridge should also be machanically fixed to meet bs5534;2014.

[@dougsaunders8109]

I did a small roof on an office on the back of our garage. It amazed me how many slates, (I was using eco-slates, recycled plastic) I needed for the last rows. Same thing as you, full, 2/3 & 1/3. This meant I ran out and needed to order more. Dressing all the lead was many hours of KZbin to see what I need to do due to location of the chimney

[@northlakes34]

Top job looks great

[@fireblaster9961]

You done a better job than I would have as I don’t like heights

[@bertrandducouedic8621]

What a great job

[@charlotteconroy9367]

The edge of the lead valley is supposed to have a wooden bead to dress over, the water and snow will penetrate. those areas.

[@adrianobonaldo8941]

yes correct

[@taffytop]

Double nail every slate and lay diagonally, they're slates not interlocking tiles.

[@tomtht3355]

Correct !

[@stevewebster317]

Yes, the only time you single nail slate is when making repairs.

[@JJ-jh6hz]

True 👍

[@lazycarper7925]

@@JJ-jh6hz hes using hooks, why nail twice?

[@lazycarper7925]

hes using hooks, why nail twice?

[@1806StoneHouse]

I have serious roof envy!

[@jacksmith4375]

Always eave the top as u go and plonk ridges on as u go can be good wen slating

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Ah yes hindsight! 😀

[@MrThirstysuperior]

nice job

[@roycarter5717]

Hi bit late for your roof but a tip for anyone thinking of having a go .Works best to lath your roof to full slates to the ridge only one row of cuts ,save time and monney🔨💷👍

[@Reverend-Rodger]

Mistake? I think that you have done an amazing job. I could get through it, but It's not a job that I would want to tackle on my own. You're too critical of your excellent effort here. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jlmfoy365]

I bet you could hardly move the next morning after straddling that ridge all day. Excellent job by the way, and a little tip I was given, lay your lead dresser flat on the sheet and tap the dresser with a hammer it's much easier to get the lead to lay flat. ( It's easier to do than explain .) Regards Jim.

[@stevesawbridge4849]

Nice pointing on those chimneys 👍

[@willhamilton4646]

Cracking job. Looking at doing mine next year. No bay windows thankfully!! How long did it take you to do the slating?

[@Matt01miller]

You should of installed some ladder hooks for future maintenance, also it would of helped you finish up. Fantastic job anyhow!!

[@iritsko]

Nice job...was yr choice for slate, i would’ve gone for the challenge aswell maybe instead of normal roof tiles

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes just wanted to replace with something similar to original.

[@MM-qd4km]

Disappointing , from the title I was expecting the penultimate tile when you realised it all had to come off😂 looks really good and you should be proud.

[@davidrevitt7470]

Good video.little tip for cutting valleys.just turn your cutters round .you dont have to transfer your mark onto the back of the slate

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Did that on some small cuts but pretty awkward to do, for me at least. 😀

[@davidrevitt7470]

@@TheRestorationCouple yep does feel wrong.but more you do it the easy it gets

[@alexgreig3598]

In scottish practice we go straight on to sparking and cut slates with a slate knife. Great job though

[@anthonymisell8845]

A lead valley, I haven't used lead valley for fifty years in Melbourne Australia, and am a retired Plumber now.

[@hansvanoosterwijck5969]

Official roofers aren't even allowed to use lead anymore where i live .

[@johnbarleycorn7845]

Superb.

[@PeakyBlinder]

You might find it easier if you run striker battens up each hip instead of 1 on the hip tree. Very neat job though from a Slater with 43 years in the trade.

[@jameschard453]

Looks fantastic. Must give you a great sense of achievement.

[@gary24752]

When you stagger them up the roof rather that in rows are you only nailing with one nail since the slate is slid under the upper slate? I get that in doing so you have something to hold your self on the roof.

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, you are obviously very ‘handy’ and willing to have a go at almost any construction job as far as I can tell from following your channel. Part of it I’m sure is making content for your channel but I’m curious if you think you have saved much doing it yourself? It looks like you are doing a great job with the roof but do you think a professional crew would have done a better job? Finally, time, how long do you think it will end up taking you compared to a pro crew? This is purely curiosity so please don’t take this as a criticism.

[@jimcub22]

When doing a restoration against a direct replacement there is a difference, although a tradesman professional will undoubtedly do a grand job. I do diy only because of cost and so I know how it’s done as well as the little bits of restoration, improvements and including work to make other jobs easier in the future.

[@jonathanharper802]

From personal experience the main cost is buying the tools to do the wide range of jobs. But if you view DIY as a hobby, the cost is justifiable. The other downside is the time it takes to do stuff when you are doing it for the first time and trying to get it perfect. A tradesperson will get a 90% result quickly, as they are running a business and not striving for perfection.

[@Dmoriarty1993]

A lot of roofers are cowboys because there is no regulation for the practice and few training centres. My roof needs doing and I was quoted £21k and £25k for a job worth about £16k. He has undoubtedly saved money at the cost of time and most importantly he has an essential skill for life now.

[@H2Dwoat]

@@Dmoriarty1993 hi, thanks for the response. It’s always a balance for me between the care taken by yourself vs the skill of a ‘professional’ and I would have disagreed about the skill for life. After all I couldn’t see him needing to replace the roof in his lifetime especially as he would probably be in his eighties when work would need doing. Even if he is fit and hale it would be a bit much at that age 😁. Then gosh darn it they decide to build a house from scratch so it was definitely a good dry run 👍.

[@stephenmurray4916]

I know it a bit late but if your slates are 300mm wide you snap caulk lines every 2ft 2 slates will fit in the space on alternating laths to accommodate the slates on the alternate laths you flick a line at 6in inside each of the squares. All this is done before the roof is stacked and using black perminant chalk.

[@Elites-asthetic]

Do you do this for tiling too buddy Use a marking stick (lath) lay 3 tiles on the lat - mark the first tile on the lat Mark the last tile on the lat Then from the last lath mark 6” across With that marking lath work your way from the left gable over to the right ? Do this marking on the top lath and bottom lath Then string a line on each of the marks on the roof

[@81mooks]

Probably should have divided up the battens too, so as not to have to cut the top two slates, the top rows are always akward to pull across, also I hate using hooks 😂😂 still, nice job, perps are spot on, easier to take up the gable and the bottom 2 slates tho, then snap lines, go over the lines with pencil, then load the roof!

[@jimbolger264]

The only thing about making a mistake is you won't make the same one twice. I have learned so much from my mistakes that I'm thinking of making a few more.

[@johncoppock3823]

Looking good. Just a thought, could you have made up a small wooden seat to sit on the ridge?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Might do when I go back up to for the ridge tiles. 👍

[@garethhope1]

If that’s your biggest mistake yet🤣 then your doing well 👏🏻 tradesmen across the world still try different ways ideas and make mistakes all the time if they say they don’t then they’re just liars

[@peterbalac1915]

Spot on🤙

[@cryptobond0079]

Can I ask are you qualified as any trade at all. Carpenter? roofing experience? Seems like you have a fair idea of what to do 👍

[@magill4046]

I read the thumbnail as the whole project being your biggest mistake!! 😫😂 Nearly there mate👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It’s feeling like it at times!!

[@GeordsYouTube]

Some of us learn from our mistakes so we should welcome them. The two things we can learn from doing something for the first time is, we learn we never want to do it again or we learn how we can improve for the next time

[@paulhampson8496]

im slater pal very neat and tidy job good effot

[@jeffreydgagnon]

Thank you for sharing the way Slate Roof are installed. Great quality work.

[@wayneflash]

What do you clean the lead with??

[@mattsmaintenance7139]

Is there anything you can't do lol love your videos

[@robertlodeski3274]

Do you have the ridge details?

[@sandravancampenhout7280]

Great job ! I'm just a bit surprised that you only used horizontal planking and no vertical planking between the green roofshield and the planking on which the tiles are fixed ....Just wondering were your condensed water is gonna go ...

[@tominterrupto]

The green membrane is draped slightly between the rafters or counter battens below it so there is a space below the battens for water running down the membrane.

[@steveh9997]

Top slating there The restoration couple. Just wondering what brand of slate are you using and are they Spanish slate. Thanks keep up the good work.

[@tlangdon12]

An earlier video confirmed that these are premium Spanish Slates. Tim provided a link the the supplier in the description of that video.

[@steveh9997]

@@tlangdon12 thanks for that Tony, this was my first video I watched. I must go back over them, looks good. You don’t know the brand of slate by any chance.

[@ewanhobbs6297]

What was the mistake again fella :-) i must have missed it ;-), very nice job you've done, i've seen some real bodges done by 'roofers' in my time. Here's a tip if you ever do another slate roof, lay your bottom eave slate upside down then when the first row goes on the slates go to a nice point with no gaps. Keep up the good work fella

[@jandavis1523]

What a monumental piece of work! Looks beautiful.

[@marcusmason3440]

Hooks are the way to go.

[@tsunamitube3351]

You didn't rake your table slates. Every gable slate should have 45° cut on the outside top edge. This forces water to the edge of the slate to drip free of the building. Without it the capillary action will pull it back in. Good overall effort for a self build! Well done. ( I'm a roofer of 25 + years )

[@123beagley]

Didn't need to with the verge profile he used. Its a 1st class job .

[@janespensandvik3131]

Are you happy with the flashing 3:49

[@denty32]

If you gave this video a thumbs down then your the mistake. Well done Tim I wouldn’t even class this a mistake I would call it a inconvenience 👏👏

[@duncanblanchard334]

I must of missed the bit where you showed us where you went wrong, and how you put it right 🤔🤔. Looked perfect to me.👍

[@TheRestorationCouple]

There would not have been a need to sit straddled on the stop of the roof for a day and a half if I’d slated to the top as I went along first time.

[@tlangdon12]

@@TheRestorationCouple I can believe that it was really painful - you will have stretched muscles that are not usually stretched.

[@tlangdon12]

It's a mistake that only affected Tim's body rather than affecting the roof!

[@ratchriat1716]

how long did take you to complete the roof from start to finish and would you a gain .

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Still going! 😀 8 weeks but not full time.

[@omaoileoinb9]

Is there only one nail in the slate when you go vertical?

[@marcwilson326]

He will only manage to get one nail in when installing vertical but he is also using hooks so this is fine. I prefer to double nail with copper nails and don’t use the hooks. Everyone has their own ways. This is a good job.

[@noordinaryjoe1414]

*rebuilds entire house by himself, with no training* “oh! Made a mistake!” Er...I’d say you’ve done rather well, actually!!! Great series, but what you going to do when you’re finished????

[@johnthresher259]

Tim is too hard on himself. I'm in awe of his skills!

[@sajulldin5147]

I'm impressed with fact you don't wear gloves, your hands will shot. Awesome work, keep it up!

[@deanbarber5576]

You have nailed the valley far to close on there should be no nails through the lead put them into the roof and let the head rest lightly on top of the bead which isn’t there on theses ones. copper nails is a big no with lead it reacts

[@gerrylaidler1492]

Would you say that the original slates were better than the ones you replaced?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Probably when new but a large number were now soft and delaminated compared to the stronger and slightly thicker new Spanish slates.

[@PeakyBlinder]

Imagine doing blocks of 10 straddling the right with a bucket of muck in your hand,

[@petemoring67]

Riding your roof like that is what it's like riding a Honda Blackbird :-) ..... They've got SOME Saddle Girth .... Maybe some more Yoga Classes would help - AARRGGHH!!!!!!!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

😂

[@tygonsam2296]

Love your show but you are supposed to cut leaving the burr on the top so water doesn’t get sucked in underneath. Also the burr matches the natural edge

[@deanalexander3825]

Good work. Next time I would suggest opening or closing the batten gauge as you batten to avoid a short course. You have some play with the wholing gauge you could go to 8 and quater inch down to 7 and 3 quater inch no need for cutting apart from tops.. inch over the whole from the tale. Just a tip. Batten first 4 courses and measure down from ridge and see what you have. If the guage lands over your 4th batten you need to gradually close if under open.

[@robertprice2911]

I'm curious Tim, why would you want to save ten to fifteen thousand pounds slating your own roof to a high professional standard. I just can't understand it!

[@djsplaying]

😂😂😂

[@davidbray6515]

Having said what you said its still a 95 % perfect compared to some professional roofers sorry for bad mouthing roofers but they've only got themselves to blabe less haist more speed and a sprinkling of finesse is what you have achieved

[@tlangdon12]

It's not really fair on professional roofers as they have to work at pace, and can't afford the time that a householder can. Professional are aiming for a neat, weatherproof roof, not a perfect roof. Tim has the luxury of being able to take his time, and will get a roof that is at least as good as the average professional can deliver. The real craftsmen can work at speed and produce a near perfect result, but such craftsmen are getting harder to find.

[@itwillbenicewhenitsfinished]

Dont understand what the fail was

[@timmstiegler4156]

Is a reason why you made the roof without Ventilation?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

There is some soffit ventilation but this is also a fully air permeable membrane. 👍

[@timmstiegler4156]

@@TheRestorationCouple ok, in germany we have over the membrane at least an 3cm ventilation zone befor the wood for the roof comes

[@jmc8018]

Looks great. Not really ideal doing the ridge on your own

[@peterbalac1915]

Piss poor preparation promotes piss poor performance. Sometimes your too keen to start firing some slate on,,,,, been there done that it's all a learning curve 🤔 but usually we had nobers standing around and the prices were shite hence the sense of urgency. No criticism here that's the easiest thing to do just a bit of banter, Keep up the good work bud the man that never made a mistake,,,,never made anything!!!!!😉🤙

[@elizabethamizdail7939]

How can one cut slate? Those things look like scissors.

[@dudleyjoseph9485]

slate cutters. Really good little tool

[@tlangdon12]

They are scissors, but they have a longer lever than your kitchen scissors. They have one sharp blade, the other blade is not sharp but acts as an anvil for the sharp blade to cut through the slate.

[@elizabethamizdail7939]

@@tlangdon12 Cool. Thanks.

[@chasingsupercars558]

Better than so called professional

[@lewispewsey6843]

Brilliant job Tim I couldn't even dream of doing a job this size. 👍

[@michaelt2987]

Only wish my roof was half as well constructed.. it was done by so called “professionals’ it’s tile and the ridge tiles stand up like a pea on a pimple with half a tone of mortar under them. Chunks of mortar falling out all over the place. I have had to go around with silicone in hope of keeping it water tight. I was royally ripped off by bodgit and scarper and his wife, literally his wife on the job.

[@mrsb2914]

Blimey Tim I’d have pooped myself sitting up there 😱

[@lewispewsey6843]

I was thinking the same thing. I was shaking whilst on my garage roof never mind my house roof 😂

[@siduk79]

Ha not the first !!!!

[@siduk79]

Just for clarify I meant not the first in comments .... beaten by 18 sec I think ✌🏻

[@TheKingsbridge]

You verges should be no less than 50mm , school boy error

[@hellooohowareudoing]

you should change the channel name to The Restoration Man :D

[@puddytat62]

Curious. I assume you are forced to use slate for historical reasons? Maybe restrictions by the local government? Do you need an engineer to calculate the load on the roof trusses/joists. They must weigh a ton. Not sure what the weight difference is between an asphalt shingle roof and this slate but it must be significant...mind you asphalt shingles are not that light weight... I assume the whole point is that this is a permanent roof.... We do have fake slate shingles in North American and even fake Mexican style shingles ... they weigh almost nothing but have something like a 100 year warrant... Anything like that in UK??

[@TheRestorationCouple]

No we decided to keep natural slate as a choice rather than a requirement. That said, it is probably the lightest roofing option available, the others mainly being concrete based products. Not sure how battens and slate compares to sheathing and shingles. We don’t tend to use felt/asphalt on anything but sheds and flat roofs in the uk.

[@puddytat62]

@@TheRestorationCouple Yes concrete supported by timbers does seem counter intuitive for sure. The faux slate shingles in NA are generally made of fibreglass or some sort of polyeurathane. Somewhat lighter than slate. The real slate does look great and guess lasts forever as long as no tree falls on the house but installation seems enormously complex. I guess you'd also have to be cautious of where you stand when walking on a slate roof. Nonetheless, job well done!

[@cedarstuff]

Was expecting "I've put the slates on upside-down!" ;)

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Only a couple! 🙄

[@PaulJohnson-we1hz]

Pay a proffesonal