Slate Roof Mistakes - Incorrect Nailing Technique

[jonesj699]

the slates should have been graded first! and why only one hole at the top of the slate ?? we in the uk have two holes , set at the  edge of the slate so there are no holes in the water margin !! surely , with one hole at the top , you would get bottom edge movement in high winds ??

[brokenarrow2222]

go look for the roofer and sue him.

[hyattpeter1]

most roofers hook the front of the slate and pin with copper nails these days, unless its rag slate which are individuly fitted. this guy is talking crap as slate even when graded will never be uniform when layed as you can't guarrantee the the thickness

[gazads]

ide say was down to thickness or slight bulge on top of slate or even the camber, not poor nail practice as pointed out. Was down to not grading slates properly as for pushing down the bottom of the slate what a load of nonsense jeez, slates are natural stone not man made pushing slate down to nail is simpley making problem worse better to change slate under the one thats kicking

[claymoreman90]

another cause of slates kicking up is when the rafters are bowed up on a cut roof,when putting up the rafters i crown them , but then pull them down to nail to the purlin which is set about a quarter inch low so theres a slight concave curve on them this lets the slates sit tight at the tail .

[lesdorry]

Theres an art to laying slate takes a bit of practice and a good knowledge of the material gradeing into thickness should be the first job so many slaters dont do this hence kickers, a slate roof done well should look 2 dimensionaly flat,

there should be a beveled edge on the valley cuts facing outwards.

[AnAmericanFan]

If you have a slate roof, get a credible slater with references. My guy maintains most all of the local old stone with slate roof college and institutional buildings along with a just as credible competitor. Both have done so for several decades. You will pay to have someone like this do it right!! It is mostly common sense but does require experience to get good and efficient with no slip ups. Me? Although I have a 58 year old slate roof, I prefer the new rubber slate for new projects.

[robdbuck]

Could also be due to the curve of the slate. I find that a large percentage of spanish slates have been feathered on the wrong face, resulting in a slate with a back bow. Nearly all the slates we come across that kick up are due to this bow.

But on another note, these roofers probably under cut a good slater by a fair amount, best price does not mean best quality. I also agree that they should have been sorted before laying but hey, that just takes more time ;)

[chaz4188]

you talk shit min, call yourself a slater, go and wisen up, that roof is fine, look at the shape of the valley on the left perfectly cut angles, done by pro's, so shut i!

[kopynd]

I would like to work with some roofers from north america, it's interesting what you can learn vice versa

[kopynd]

slating a sarked roof is so much easeier, than laths over open rafters

[kempouk]

lay your thick slates first, then your medium slates then the thinner slates at the top of the roof.

grade the fukers that's all that is needed.

holding the slate at the bottom will do nothing to help as when you let it go the bloody thing will rock.

it is kicking because the top of the slate below is to thick and the slate is riding off the batten...

[kopynd]

the perpindicular should be no more than 5 mil gap,the tail of the slate shall lay up on the 2 slates below,it is not important to grade the slates, only on close mitre , yer 30yrs experience

[lilbob15]

it doesnt help that the slates are cheap and nasty chinise slate and its coz they havent been graded and soted

[kempouk]

lil bob, you took the words out of my mouth exactly,

these kickers have fukall to do with holding the bottom of the slate to nail it you dumb-ass, they needed grading.

you tell him lilbob, this guy is clueless.

[drazticb1]

learn the trade buddy its simply from not gradeing the slates!!!

[ukaryannation]

slate holes on top?top holers?all slates must be shoulder holed in england.

[jcjenkins01]

these are shoulder holed

[bertinfiddle]

@jcjenkins01 where are you from? i used to roof in nashville. i have roofed 6 houses on Belle Meade blvd. and many others in that area. check out Will Andrews construction

[leeeroy1]

talking shite, the slates are all shapes and thicknesses and need to be sorted. if you held the bottom down while nailing the slate would still kick up when the next course of slates was nailed

[jcjenkins01]

That's the point - it won't kick up - it lays flat.

[jasminelilyhammond]

your talking bollocks

[gunigoogoo008]

Also the slates should be graded from thick to thin. One main problem of this happening is these slates have been fixed as a thin tile is next to a thicker tile.

[gunigoogoo008]

What he hasn't told you is that not every slate is evenly flat. Alot are bowed. And once slates are fixed down, no-one should need to walk on them.