The worst culprits are conservatory installers and then you cant get near the wall to do a proper job as all the sheets are fittedand as soon as you see it fitted you know some cowboys been at it and stitched someone up who knows no better
if you don't feel confident sitting on slate or coming in from the gable then take out 6-8 slate from the bottom courses with a step ladder or even a small tower with a few planks and tie a ladder to the spars hanging of the gutter side and reaching up to the pipe...you can then work off the tied ladder and put the slates back in the front when your done...pick up a lead slate from hoole building supplies by the rail bridge,your also going to need about 8 used slate as you being a bit of a newbie you will break some...or you could ignore all the above and get a roofer in (should be about £150-£200) including the slate flashing etc. sorry i cant quote for you as i am rammed atm with stuff
...Oh forgot to mention you can cut your slate straps from the old lead flashing
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