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My rural house in Scotland was built in 1956 and the roof appears to be slates nailed directly onto the sarking (hoping that’s the right term!). I can’t tell whether any membrane was used - was that common in the 50’s?
Anyway, around this time last year, I noticed wasps congregating on one area of the roof and a few days later, we had lots of wasps coming into the house. I suspect the wasps came in through a gap in the tiles, although a quick look around up there didn’t reveal any obvious gap. There is no loft - well not an accessible one anyway - under that part of the roof to check as the lift was mostly converted, but fairly sure they’ve been in there building a home. The wasps eventually went after a couple of visits from the pest controller and haven’t come back this year, however I’m thinking that if there is a gap or gaps up there, I should do something about it, not just to avoid a repeat of the wasp situation but also to maintain the roof.
What might be the best course of action? I could get a roofer to lift some slates to check the condition of the roof/ fill a gap in that particular area, but if the membrane (if there is one) is such that insects can move in with ease, I imagine it’ll be in a similar condition elsewhere also. Do people go to the trouble and expense of having large or complete areas of slates removed, a new membrane fitted and then either the slates reused or replaced on a roof of this age?
Anyway, around this time last year, I noticed wasps congregating on one area of the roof and a few days later, we had lots of wasps coming into the house. I suspect the wasps came in through a gap in the tiles, although a quick look around up there didn’t reveal any obvious gap. There is no loft - well not an accessible one anyway - under that part of the roof to check as the lift was mostly converted, but fairly sure they’ve been in there building a home. The wasps eventually went after a couple of visits from the pest controller and haven’t come back this year, however I’m thinking that if there is a gap or gaps up there, I should do something about it, not just to avoid a repeat of the wasp situation but also to maintain the roof.
What might be the best course of action? I could get a roofer to lift some slates to check the condition of the roof/ fill a gap in that particular area, but if the membrane (if there is one) is such that insects can move in with ease, I imagine it’ll be in a similar condition elsewhere also. Do people go to the trouble and expense of having large or complete areas of slates removed, a new membrane fitted and then either the slates reused or replaced on a roof of this age?
