Roof from slate, what are the advantages and disadvantages of how to choose the wave slate, storage and installation of slate
A variety of materials for the roof, defies any description. Developers are offered the latest and most modern materials, which, judging by the price, should last forever. We will not look for cons in the new-fangled metal tile or siding, but we’ll talk better about the advantages of the good old slate, which has been serving faithfully for decades.
Content
- Benefits of Slate Roofing
- Disadvantages of slate roofing
- Slate painting - video
- Slate wave - dimensions
- Slate mounting
- Laying slate - viewabout
Benefits of Slate Roofing
A distinctive feature of this type of material is its price. Compared to other materials that are abundant in the construction market, slate almost half the price.
Slate is a non-combustible material, which is explained by the presence of asbestos fiber in its composition (which, in turn, also acts as a reinforcement, giving additional strength to the sheets). Its alternative name is asbestos-cement fibrous roofing sheets. Therefore, if on the construction market, you will see such a description, know that this is the most ordinary slate.
The wave slate also has high strength characteristics, and its total service life reaches 40 years. Moreover, the warranty period of its operation is 10 years, which is a very good indicator.
Installation and installation of slate is easy and fast, which is important at the last stages of construction.
Disadvantages of slate roofing
Of course, in addition to the advantages, slate has its own small flaws, without which not even one, even the best material can do. So, we begin to look for cons in using slate sheets:
A slate roof, like a sponge, absorbs moisture. After a few years, due to excessive moisture, moss and various lichens can sprout on the slate. You can avoid these misfortunes simply by painting the slate.
The next disadvantage is the fragility of slate sheets during installation. When the slate is laid on the rafters, it is necessary to nail the sheets. From hitting a nail, chips and cracks often form in the slate. Therefore, when laying slate, it is better to drill holes into which the nail will enter.
Slate wave - dimensions
There are several main sizes of slate, which are very popular. These materials are distinguished by the size and number of waves. The countdown begins with five-wave sheets and ends with 8 waves. The most popular form is sheets of seven or eight waves, which are the best suited for private construction.
The size of wave 8 slate looks like this:
- Width - 1130mm
- Length 1750mm
- 5.8mm thickness
- The weight of one sheet is 26 kg
The popularity of these types is explained very simply when laying slate, the overlap in width is only one or a maximum of two waves, which significantly increases its usable area.
Slate mounting
Slate is laid on the finished crate, which consists of a structure for which lumber is used with a cross section of at least 60 * 60. It is best to choose dry wood, since raw wood will warp when dried, which will entail a weakening of the roof fastenings. Also, knotted bars and boards should not be used, since they do not have the proper strength and may not withstand the weight of the slate and the additional pressure of winter precipitation (snow).
The dimensions of the crate are calculated in advance and depend on the type and size of the purchased slate. In any case, the crate should be filled in such a way that a whole slate sheet rests on it, and there is room for overlap (at least one wave).
Slate is stacked strictly from the bottom up. And it doesn’t matter which edge you need to start laying from, it depends on the personal preferences of the builder. Although it is believed that you need to take into account the direction of the wind in your climate zone and start from that.
For areas with harsh climates and cold winters, it is recommended to lay roofing material under slate. To do this, you need to equip a continuous crate and lay on it first ruberoid and only then slate sheets. Of course, this method is much more expensive, but in the conditions of severe Siberian winters, for example, it is simply necessary.
The methods of laying slate directly depend on the configuration of the roof.
If the roof slope is long and not very wide, then it is best to lay the slate without displacement.
If everything is exactly the opposite (the slope is wide horizontally and narrow vertically), then it would be more correct to put the slate with an offset of one wave.
At the stage of attaching the slate, you must not forget to lay small ruberoid washers under the nails / screws. Many try to use rubber for these purposes, but this is fundamentally wrong. Rubber very quickly become worthless and it turns out that this work was done in vain.
When driving nails, a small gap should be left between the nail head and the slate sheet. And hammer a nail or screw a screw should be in the second or sixth wave of slate and always in its crest.
After all roofing work is done, you need not be too lazy and apply a little sealant under each nail. This will reliably protect the roof from drops of water during rain or snow.
If the slate is purchased in advance and it has to be stored for a long time, then it should be placed on the gaskets, in a horizontal position and covered with any waterproof film on top.
Taking into account our advice, you can equip a reliable roof from slate with your own hands, without resorting to expensive specialists for help.
