I have been involved in roofing, siding and mostly any exterior residential construction since shortly after birth but a client asked me something that I was hard put to answer. I did a slate roof for a client about two years ago. I do not do slate every day but have do enough to have all the tools and not to be intimidated or even concerned about installing their 20 square roof. I have done other entire roof jobs already and do not rmember having any problems. Well, these guys stumped me. After two years, maybe 5 slates had cracked at the corners. OK, maybe I missed some. I tap and listen to them and visually inspect them for cracks so maybe out of some 2,000 I missed 5. Well two different people told them that I put the slates on too close together. There is on average about an 1/8″ gap between them and that is just to make for a nice sight line. I never really thought about keeping them away from each other but these two different people said that they were too close and will crack because of that. It is a rock, it is not going to expand and contract a whole lot. Maybe a hard wind will move it I guess but that is pretty unlikely. I used 2 1/2″ copper nails (or maybe even bigger, I don’t eactly remember).
My question is, is there a minimum spacing between shingles that I may be unaware of? I dond’t think that 5 slate out of well, alot, is a big deal. I offered to replace them and have done so but the client is now concerned for the future. Any thoughts or imput would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you .
Steve
Replies
based on the info you've given, I don't see where you've done anything wrong but if he wants you to assure him about the future of the roof conditions, you want him to assure you that NO-ONE but you will ever, for any reason, be walking on that roof. hint?
I've done three slate roofs in my 27 years in building and they were in my first five years. I did EXACTLY what u did and theyre fine to this day.
Be well
Namaste'
andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Taking it to the basics. Take these split soft rocks up on the roof and nail them on and thats it! A slate roof will last 100 years (with luck) depending on the grade of slate and every year of those 100 will require maintainence. Your installation was fine. You have to expect some slates to fail early.
Was the slate you used punched,countersunk,or factory drilled? Many manufactures cut corners by stack drilling the slate without countersinking. This causes rub and ware on the slate and will eventually cause the slate to fall or break.
The slate was counter sunk. I think the client is just a twinky and I am worried about nothing. Thanks for you time.
Steve
Thanks for the reply. Could have been some dumb critter dancing on the guys roof.But slate can be tricky. Good luck