Replies

1. 
   IdahoDon | Dec 19, 2006 07:39am | #1

   I drag out a caulking gun and silicone to more or less glue the upper portion enough so it doesn't fall out.  Then a face nail in an area that won't cause problems if water gets by.

    

   Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Dec 19, 2006 03:54pm | #2

   I never did wooden shakes, but here's what I do for slate. Nail the shingle through the slot between the two shingles above it. If necessary, drill/enlarge the slot enough to get the nail head through. (I use two nails, one above the other, to keep the shingle from tilting later.) Then slide some flashing up under the upper row to cover the nailheads. Hope that makes sense.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Hazlett | Dec 20, 2006 12:55am | #3

    If he does it like that, the shingle may split, now or later, from 2 nails lined up in the same grain.

    I would either blunt the nails, or mebbe pilot hole the last shingle.

   On the slates mike------ get some slate hooks--they work nice---and you don't have to put in bibs--and worry about the bibs  falling out later.

   stephen

3. 
   coonass | Dec 20, 2006 02:25am | #4

   anjusj,

   Slide the shake in place but leave it 3/8" long. Drill pilot holes at 45º just below the shake above it. Squirt some Lexel in the holes. Nail and then pound the shake upward so the nails slide up and are covered.

   KK

1. 
   dockelly | Dec 20, 2006 04:31am | #5

   what's lexel?

1. 
   coonass | Dec 20, 2006 05:11am | #6

   doc,Lexel is a copolymer rubber caulk. I use it waterproofing anything.http://www.sashcosealants.com/home_improvement/products/lexel.shtmlKK

1. 
   dockelly | Dec 20, 2006 08:15am | #7

   went to the website, sounds to good to be true. thanks for the info!

4. 
   hammer1 | Dec 20, 2006 09:29am | #8

   You can hide the face nails by using finish nails. Keep the shingle about 1/4" low. Place a couple of finish nails tight against the butt of the next shingle. Take a wood block and tap the bottom of the shingle up. The nail holes will slide right under the butt and won't be seen.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   angusj | Dec 20, 2006 12:27pm | #9

   thank you all for your help I think I'll give the Tap the shingle up to hide the nail trick a try.

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 20, 2006 03:08pm | #10

   That's the way to go. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Hazlett | Dec 21, 2006 01:05am | #11

    on a wall--great

   on a roof--------looks like a potential problem to me.

   not a common material here for roofs( very common on older houses as siding though.)

    you undoubtably have more call for that up there---so i will assume you are correct.

   stephen

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 21, 2006 02:58am | #12

   Most of my shake roofing was in Colorado. I believe he mentioned a steep pitch. On a lower pitch I might consider adding the caulk 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   seeyou | Dec 21, 2006 03:14am | #13

   >>>>>>>>>>>>On a lower pitch I might consider adding the caulkCaulk Smaulk - I've replaced some cedar roofs that were over a million years old that only had pine tar and beeswax for flashings and didn't leak.http://logancustomcopper.com

   http://grantlogan.net/

    

   Halelujah, everybody say cheese

    

   Merry Christmas from the family

3. 
   Piffin | Dec 21, 2006 03:56am | #14

   Yeah, butat what pitch - and speaking of pitch, you and Noah invented rain anyway, so why shouldn't you get lcuky?;) 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   angusj | Dec 22, 2006 11:37am | #19

   Hey guys sorry I didn't get back to you with the pitch our power has been off again.  If it matters the pitch is around 7/12.  thanks for the discussion. Angus

5. 
   Hazlett | Dec 21, 2006 03:02pm | #15

    Piffen,

     He didn't mention the pitch---but let's assume, steep.

    when I encounter these roofs, generally they are burried under 2-3 layers of ashpalt shingles, LOL.

    my suspicion of that method ???-----------

    Lets say we drive in that nail, right under the butt----counter sink it, and then tap the shingle  UP 1/2 inch.

    the NAIL stays in the same place beneath the surface,--- but tapping the shingle  UP has started a split that is presently camaflauged by a fraction of an inch of wood fibers( the thickness of the countersink depth)-------aethetically-it looks good NOW---and I bet it is an  A-1 fix on a wall--------- but on a roof when the sun and rain hit it-- i would be afraid that in a year that split is gonna open up  at the surface.  I am guessing at THAT point weather the split leaks is determined by how the 2 proceeding courses line up-----maybe a leak--maybe not.

    any how--that's my reasoning--perhaps over-analytic--------AND--as I said, no longer a common roofing material here.

    a lot of very nice  upper/middle class homes done here in a shingle style/craftsman  style in the teens and 20's-- but they  seem to have been asphalted over pretty early in their life.

   stephen

6. 
   Piffin | Dec 21, 2006 03:35pm | #16

   no, what happens is that the nail bends up as you drive the shake.BTW, are you thinking shakes and not shingles when you talk about 2-3 layers over???
   I cannot imagine anyone being idiotic enough to lay composition shingles over handsplit wood shakes. They'd only last a couple of years, if that over such an irregular surface. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

7. 
   Hazlett | Dec 22, 2006 12:25am | #17

    Yea, you are right, I was thinking sawn wooden shingles--based on the 5/8" Butt

    almost never see split shakes here---and when we do they are WAAAAAY thicker than  5/8" at the butt

    Regaurdless--if it's 5/8" at the butt--the thickness where the nail actually is is what?--3/8"---1/4" ?---wouldn't think that's enough mass to  bend a wire nail--I would assume the wire nail would slice right through it.

    but--as i said--wadda I Know, LOL.

    BTW----- unloaded about 4 square of slate this morning at new job-carried down driveway and into garage------- ouch. there is a half hour of my life i will never get back.

   stephen

8. 
   theslateman | Dec 22, 2006 04:31am | #18

   Stephen,

   Is the slate you're using new or recycled?  Whats the color?

   Just being nosy.

   Happy Holidays,  Walter

9. 
   Hazlett | Dec 22, 2006 03:31pm | #20

    walter--thought you would be interested LOL.

    the slate is new

    your color terminology and mine may be slightly different

    however--we call it  a "weathering sea-green"-------- place I bought it from calls it a _" semi-fading Sea green"

    the back story on the slate is-----------

    there is a place about 40 minutes from me that sells some salvaged roofing materials. I have bought odd-ball pieces of tile, slate, asbestos etc. from them many times.--Previously there was an older guy working there that I dealt with. about 3-4 years I bought maybe 20-30 pieces of this stuff---along with some others for a repair. noticed these stacks off in a corner.

    fast forward 2-3 years.- Present project comes along. 1916  foursquare.  I remember this slate and realize it is going to be as near to perfect as is possible---even had a few pieces left to show the homeowner.

    I removed the slate from a Bay window with problems--and from   a Front porch with problems----those slates I will use for misc. repairs on the main roof.

    the new slates will be used on the Bay and the front porch. Explained to the homeowner that the new slate will not  match the old slate  in color--since the old slate has been fading since 1916-------- but the  homeowner is wildly enthusiastic about the   new stuff.

    told the homeowner i would drive up and see if enough was left for his project. If it was there, I knew EXACTLY where it would be.

    older  guy I had dealt with previously has since passed away. Luckily the same slate was in the same position and I found it immediately.10x18's. just enough to do the front porch-------and about a square of somewhat smaller slates( same material though) to do the bay window.

   since the older guy passed away----- traffic has died down for this source--previously a lot of people came through each day buying 3 pieces for this repair , 7 pieces for that repair---- now hardly any. This slate was excess left over from a new install--never been on a roof.

    i would tell you what i payed for it---- but I suspect it might upset  YOU

   or, worse yet, you will tell  ME i got hosed LOL. In fact I was quite pleased with what I payed-----and the salvage yard was happy to sell it off since they are mostly out of the slate business now anyway. they DID clue me in  on another operation a little farther away still doing a pretty good business in it---for future reference.

    Best wishes, Stephen

10. 
    theslateman | Dec 22, 2006 10:37pm | #23

    Stephen,

    Sounds like a perfect trade-they wanted to get rid of the slates and it was just enough to do your job-win/win all around.

    Thanks for the response.

    Walter

11. 
    Piffin | Dec 22, 2006 04:29pm | #21

    U may have a point there a bit. Every shake I've ever laid were "heavy"s. They are 3/4" plus 

     

    Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

12. 
    hammer1 | Dec 22, 2006 04:55pm | #22

    You just use some stainless 4d finish nails and drive them right at the butt. You only need to tap up enough to hide the little hole.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match