How to Install Heat Tape on Slate Roofs

Heat tape is a temperature-regulated cable that prevents metal from freezing in extremely cold weather. Heat tape is generally used with home water pipes, but it can also be used to prevent your roof gutters from freezing. You can install heat tape yourself; but if your roof is slate, you will need to take safety precautions to ensure you don't hurt yourself while applying the tape.

Things You'll Need

Ladder

Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Climb up onto your roof with a ladder. It is best to have someone hold the base of the ladder to keep it steady while you climb.
- 2
  Locate the metal runoff valleys between portions of your slate roof. Ice can accumulate at these locations and cause damage to the roof.
- 3
  Measure the length of the metal runoff valley with a measuring tape. Use a length of heat tape that matches the measurement.
- 4
  Remove the adhesive cover on the heat tape and apply it, adhesive-side down, to the valley. Repeat with any remaining valleys on the roof.
- 5
  Move your ladder to the outside of your roof gutter. Climb up the ladder until you have access to the exterior of the gutter.
- 6
  Measure the length of the gutter and use a heat tape that matches this length.
- 7
  Remove the adhesive covering from the tape and apply the tape along the exterior length of the roof gutter.

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