What a slate inspection looks at
A useful inspection looks at the slate and everything around it. The roofer checks whether the stone is still hard and sound or soft and flaking, counts broken and missing slates, looks closely at the flashing and the ridge, and checks the gutters. Where possible they look inside the attic for stains or daylight. You should get a plain-English written list of what they found and what they suggest.
Buying a home with a slate roof
Many general home inspectors do not walk on slate roofs, and some will flag slate as old without knowing how much life it has left. A slate roofer can give a more specific opinion. If you are under contract on an older home in Columbus, mention your timeline in your notes.
Read repair or replace a slate roof and how to spot slate roof damage.