In centre-nailed slating, the gauge is the spacing at which the battens are fixed to the rafters, trusses or counter-battens to provide the required head-lap. The margin is the exposed length of the slate measured in the same direction as the gauge. The lap and margin will be the same. c) Next, put the second batten underneath the slate, and slide it upwards towards the first batten. Take the eaves slate and position it onto the second batten, ensuring it reaches the bottom of the roofline. With a bright stainless steel coating for a purely decorative finish, this coating does not impact the corrosion resistance of the core material. The bright finish will typically last ten years or more unless in very abrasive settings for example salted winds.

Some metal fixings are flimsy. Others take too much time, are awkward to prepare, and if wrongly prepared the head of the slate could slip off the upper batten.If you measure from the top of one batten to the top of another, this gives you the batten gauge. This allows you to work out the distance between the battens on the rest of the roof. For example, if your roof is 500cm, and the pre-existing battens are 20cm apart, a total of 25 battens will be required, each 20cm from the previous one. 6. Lay the roof slates To replace a slate on a slate roof, you’ll require a slate ripper, tin snips, and a hammer, as well as a new slate and a strip of lead. Stainless Steel Slate Hooks are an alternative fixing to clout nails for fixing Natural Slates, which is used extensively across Europe. This method offers a cost effective alternative method with lots of bonuses. Hooks can be used in the most exposed locations and because the slate is supported at four points, the resistance to wind uplift is extremely effective. The top edge of the slate is gripped under the top part of the hook. The shank of the hook runs down along the side of the slates in the next course, and the return grip at the bottom of the hook holds the tail of the slate on top. This means that each slate is held in place by four hooks; one at the head, one at the tail and one on each side. The one at the tail stops the hook from sliding down, the ones at the side prevent it from turning and the one at the head holds it at the batten. A recycled roof slate is the result of combined waste slate materials. This goes even further regarding the environmental impact as there is no manufacturing process involved in the creation of the final project. In turn, this means that the amount of wastage is reduced. I’ve chosen what I want for my slate roof, what’s next? The man-made roof slate is considered more eco-friendly for consumers. However, despite their development process taking a more modern approach, their look doesn’t steer far from the traditional slate appearance. Due to their manufacturing, they also have a greatly reduced risk of breaking. Recycled roof slate

Before starting the installation process, you need to find out the pitch of your roof. the roof pitch dictates how much overlap is required with each slate. This has been made easier with the development of technology. Most smartphones nowadays can access apps that have been designed specifically to find out the pitch or angle of your roof, such as the VELUX pitch roof app. 2. Find out the required overlap The natural roof slate is exactly what you’d expect. This authentic slate roof solution provides the ultimate natural slate look and comes with an array of benefits. Not only does it look great, but it is also fireproof, frost resistant and requires little maintenance. It also comes in a variety of different styles including Spanish slate (below), Welsh slate, Canadian slate, Brazilian slate and Argentinian slate. Man-made roof slate a) The next step is to work out the placement of the battens– to do this you’ll need two full-sized slates and an under eaves slate. Place two battens onto the roof on top of the overlay – don’t fix them down so they can be moved around for adjustments easily. Roof slates are a very popular choice when it comes to deciding which roofing material to use on a pitched roof. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, and increasing the potential selling value of the house, roof slates have a number of physical benefits. Slate is a durable and hard-wearing material that provides waterproofing characteristics to a pitched roof, unlike other roof materials which absorb water. This means that slate is unaffected by frost damage and freezing. What types of slate roof are there?So after experimenting with all manners of ideas and devices, Jimmy solved the slate roof repair problem with the invention of the Hallhook. With the hook fixing system, the slates are secured at the tail, thus providing strong resistance to wind uplift. To comply with BS 5534, hooks should be stainless steel, 18/10 or 316 (marine) grade, 2.7 mm gauge and at least 5 mm longer than the minimum lap required. These hooks are frequently used when replacing individual slates or making minor repairs on a roof. The length of hooks required is equivalent to the head lap plus 2-3mm. Features & Benefits: 100mm Bright Stainless Slate Hooks Point Driven - 316 Grade (Box of 500)

Nails should be copper (to BS 1202 part 2) or aluminium (to BS 1202 part 3). In corrosive or marine atmospheres copper nails are preferable and in severe conditions silicone bronze nails should be used. The nail head diameter should be at least 10mm to comply with BS 5534 to minimise the risk of the nail head pulling through the slate. A 10mm head is only possible where the nail shank is 3mm diameter or greater. Firstly, put the hooked end of the slate ripper underneath the damaged slate, trapping the nail in the hook. Then hammer the handle of the slate ripper, to force the nail out of place.Now the roof has been set out correctly, with the battens at the right distance apart, it’s time to lay the slates. Start by laying the under eaves course, creating a staggered pattern for stability – a 5mm gap between each slate is required to allow for natural expansion. e) Add a third batten, sliding it from the top downwards to below the top of the slates. Make sure that the top of the full-sized slate is sitting central to the batten. Fixing with a slate hook involves trimming the head of the slate, thereby losing some head lap (a building inspector may not accept this) If you only need to repair a small area of your slate roof, we offer the Hall hook slate repair fixings kit. The Hall hook will leave you with a professional, neat repair that is fail-safe and invisible once complete. Unlike many slate repair methods and plastic alternatives, these hooks are durable, time-efficient, and the perfect answer to everyday roofing problems. Copper Slate Straps

Product inventor Jimmy Hall, a slater and tiler for the past 45 years, couldn’t stand to see a beautiful slate roof covered in unsightly lead or copper straps. He had tried all the slate repairs on the market.All natural slates can be fixed using slate hooks. The hook method offers considerable freedom in design and can save up to 25% on labour costs and eliminate breakages. The practice is very popular in Europe and is gaining popularity in the UK.