Houses covered with ordinary gray slate can be found everywhere. At one time, this material was used as roofing in expensive cottages and in small private houses. This is due to its high performance, long service life and low price.

A roof made of slate can be painted in bright colors, and in this case, in terms of decorative properties, it is comparable to the most modern finishing materials. It is also important that it is quite possible to fix the slate with your own hands and, of course, you need to know how to do it correctly. It is interesting that slate can be laid in different ways.

A slate roof can be a home decoration

Wave slate properties

Wave slate is a wavy profile made from a mixture of asbestos and cement. On the surface of one unit of production, there are six to eight waves. Asbestos acts as a reinforcing component and gives mechanical strength to the product.

Slate sheets can withstand weight up to two hundred kilograms, so that when laying them, you can walk on them fearlessly. In addition, the material withstands up to fifty defrosting cycles without loss of performance, and this parameter determines its service life. The following properties of wave slate highlight its benefits:

  • Fire safety;
  • resistance to aggressive environmental influences;
  • good thermal insulation qualities;
  • excellent sound-absorbing properties;
  • ease of installation;
  • low price.

Ordinary gray slate can be painted

The negative qualities of this material include low resistance to point impact loads and fracture strength. A stone thrown into the roof is able to make a hole in the coating, in addition, due to the porous structure of the material, lichen and moss can settle on it.

Asbestos in the composition of slate sheets is in a bound state, and the release of its fine particles in the form of dust into the environment can be negated by impregnation with drying oil or staining, so the harm to health is controversial.

Sheet size options

The length of a standard slate sheet is 1750 millimeters. The width varies depending on the number of waves on the surface. If there are six of them, this parameter is 1125 mm, 7 - 980 mm, 8 - 1130 mm. Many manufacturers of this type of product produce slate sheets of non-standard size. This circumstance must be taken into account when buying, so as not to make a mistake in calculating the amount of material needed to perform a particular type of work. The dimensions of the slate determined by GOST are shown in the following table.

If necessary, ordinary gray slate can be painted, and how to do this, read the article. Currently, slate is also produced, already painted at the factory. Laying, laying and fixing the material is possible in various ways. At the same time, it is better to cover the roof with an assistant.

Comparative characteristics of slate sheets
Parameter nameSheet size 40/150Sheet size 54/200
Sheet width 6 waves, cm 112,5
Sheet width 7 waves, cm98
Sheet width 8 waves, cm113
Thickness, mm5,8 6,0; 7,5
Wave height private, mm40 54
Overlapping wave height, mm40 54
Overlapped wave height, mm32 45
Overlapping edge width 1, mm43 60
Overlapping edge width 2, mm37 65
Wave step, mm150 200

Requirements for a truss system for a slate roof

Due to the fact that slate sheets have a fairly large weight, reaching up to thirty-five kilograms, the coating made from them puts a serious load on the truss system. Based on this, the following requirements are imposed on its arrangement:

  • endurance total mass roofing;
  • unfavorable precipitation;
  • the weight of the assembly team.

The lumber used for the manufacture of the structure is preliminarily kept in piles. During the drying process, the bars are bent, they should be laid with the convex part down for unhindered drainage of moisture. Knotty wood cannot be used, it will not withstand the load exerted on it.


The rafter system must withstand the load of the slate

The smallest section of lumber for arrangement truss system is taken equal to 5 cm * 18 cm, the crate for laying slate is made of bars 6 cm * 6 cm, while each sheet, when strengthened, must rest on at least two bars. The angle of inclination of the roof slope is of great operational importance: the smaller its value, the more often the bars should be located.

A solid crate is equipped with the minimum allowable angle of inclination, since in this case it experiences the maximum load. The ends of the nails used for fastening should not come out of the wood, in no case should they be bent so as not to limit the mobility of the structure. Roof components will shrink and shift over time. Fasteners must be of high quality, the slate roof is subjected to significant operational loads.

Calculate the amount of slate for the roof

You can calculate the amount of slate in order to cover the roof, remembering school geometry lessons. To do this, the measured length of the roof eaves is divided by the width of a standard slate sheet. The result is the number of sheets in the first row. This figure should be increased by ten percent, since the laying is done with overlap.


Such dimensions will be required to calculate the amount of slate

Further, the distance from the ridge to the roof overhang is divided by the height of a standard slate sheet. As a result, the number of rows required to cover one roof slope is determined. The resulting value also increases by about fifteen percent.

Multiplying the obtained values, we find the desired result, showing how many sheets of material will be required to complete the work on one slope. If the roof has a complex shape, it is divided into simple geometric figures, determine their area by formulas and calculate in the same way. Of course, if triangular-shaped elements are needed, there will be a lot of waste that cannot be used.

Preparing for installation

Before starting work, you should prepare the necessary tools and a flat surface on which holes will be drilled and slate sheets will be cut. For the convenience of performing all manipulations to the place of work, an unhindered approach should be provided. You will need the following materials and tools:

  • ladder and ropes;
  • hammer and nails;
  • grinder and drill;
  • metal hooks and a respirator.

The slate is lifted using metal hooks and ropes. Having hooked the sheet with ropes thrown over the block, it is pulled to the required height. So you can lift the slate to one person. If a team of roofers is working, they can pass sheets to each other. standing on the stairs.


Convenient way lifting slate to the roof

Plain gray slate can be painted prior to installation to close microscopic cavities and provide a smoother surface that makes it easier for weather to roll off the floor. Asbestos is subject to thermal expansion, so holes of a larger diameter are drilled into the sheets than the nails used for fastening.

Instructions for laying slate on the roof with your own hands

The technology for performing the work is not notable for its complexity. The installation of the slate is carried out as follows. First, the material is laid in one row, while cutting internal corners. This manipulation improves the appearance of the coating and prevents the penetration of snow into the cracks under the influence of wind load. To cover the roof, you need to follow the instructions of the following instructions:

  • the truss structure is checked;
  • in its lower part, a beam is strengthened to organize an even laying of slate sheets;
  • along the beam with the help of nails, the initial row is fixed;
  • subsequent rows of material are laid up to the ridge.

Installation of slate sheets is carried out from the bottom. Slate elements are fastened with special roofing nails or self-tapping screws. Fasteners must be made of high quality steel. Nailing slate with your own hands is not difficult at all.

How to lay asbestos slate

The service life of the roof as a whole ultimately depends on how correctly the asbestos slate is laid. When performing work, the technological subtleties of the installation process should be carefully observed. The first step is to mount a good crate, which is the basis for laying asbestos sheets. A layer of waterproofing from a waterproof film is initially laid under the slate.


The scheme of laying slate with offset longitudinal edges

Installation is carried out in a run or with a shift of sheets relative to each other. The first method, in which each subsequent sheet is laid on top of the previous one, does not require the use of halves of sheets, but at the same time it is necessary to trim the corners, which complicates the work. When installing with a half-shift of the top row sheets, it is not necessary to cut the corners, but you will have to cut some of the slate sheets along.


Laying slate without shifting sheets of the top row

Asbestos slate is fixed with nails with an increased cap size. A sealing washer is placed under it, preventing the penetration of atmospheric moisture.

The durability of the roof depends on the reliability of the fastening.

Fastening sheets with nails or screws

The most reliable is the fastening of sheets with nails. They prevent displacement and deformation of the material. Nails should be hammered at the highest point of the wave, placing them strictly vertically. The hardware must be held not by hand, but by pliers, so as not to break the slate with an inaccurate blow. It is better to use ragged nails with notches that allow them to be securely held in the body of the wood, however, if necessary, they are quite difficult to remove.

Sheets can also be fixed using self-tapping screws. This method has its advantages, since, due to the hardening of the metal, in the manufacture of such a fastener material has a very high strength. In addition, the variety of cap shapes and lengths makes it easy to choose self-tapping screws for a specific job. They are supplied with high-quality sealing gaskets that prevent the penetration of moisture. To reduce the operating time, screws should be screwed in with a power tool.

Chimney connection device

There are many options for pairing the roof with ventilation pipes and chimneys. In general, the work is performed as follows. At the junction of the roofing to the chimney, a galvanized collar with a hole for the chimney outlet is installed over the waterproofing layer.


Organization of junctions and endings of slate roofing

The pipe is lined with asbestos sheets, and slate is laid on top of the collar. The gap between it and the chimney is filled with cement mortar.

Installation of additional elements

To give the roof a complete appearance and to prevent the negative impact of the environment at the final stage of the work, additional elements are installed. In addition to being functional, they also have a decorative purpose.


The main additional elements and nails for the installation of a slate roof

IN the best option the ridge is decorated with industrially produced parts made from a mixture of asbestos and cement. They can be replaced with a hand-curved sheet of galvanized steel. On dormer windows, ventilation and chimneys, collars are mounted, fixed with self-tapping screws. Galvanized trays are installed on valleys.

Despite the fact that today a huge number of new materials have appeared on the roofing materials market, asbestos slate has not lost its popularity. And to this day, a large number of people give their preference to the roof of asbestos slate. It is for this reason that manufacturers are trying to come up with various options how to upgrade it. So transparent slate and bituminous slate (aka ondulin) were born. The main reasons why slate roofing has remained one of the most popular for so many years is its relatively low price (compared to, for example), ease of installation and long service life. Asbestos slate itself has grey colour and it is still one of the most popular types of slate. However, now you can find multi-colored sheets of slate. It is worth noting that if the slate sheet is painted with special acrylic paint, then the service life can increase significantly. The service life of a slate roof is approximately 20 years.

One of the most important issues that may arise from a potential buyer of this roofing material- This "How to lay slate on the roof" . This process consists of several stages, each of which plays an important role, and if you make a mistake in one of them, the end result may not be what you would like. Below we will try to analyze the issue in detail: "How to cover a roof with slate" .

1. Slate: general information and description of the material

Figure 1. The scope of slate

As you know, asbestos is not a completely environmentally friendly substance, and it is for this reason that this material is not used in interior decoration.Slate is both flat and wavy(separately ) . Asbestos cement slate is a fairly durable roofing material, which makes it a relatively durable material. Flat slate is very often used for exterior finish walls, fences, and wavy slate is used for roofing works.

At installation of slate sheets as on the roof, and on the wall, it is recommended to pre-drill holes in those places where the slate is planned to be attached to the crate. This will keep the material sealed longer and prevent cracking of the sheets during the installation of the slate.

Technologically, the roof can be flat and pitched. In its turn pitched roofs can be both single-pitched and multi-pitched (two, three and even four-pitched). However, when working with slate, it is recommended to use simple roofs, with a minimum number of slopes. However, if the angle of inclination of the roof is very small, then moisture and snow can stagnate on such a roof.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of slate: what to look for when working with slate

Figure 2. Advantages and disadvantages of wave slate

Slate, like any roofing material, has its advantages and disadvantages.

Of the main advantages of slate the following can be distinguished:

  • Sun resistance;
  • Resistant to sudden changes in temperature;
  • Wet environment resistance;
  • Ease of installation.

Of the main disadvantages of slate the following can be distinguished:

  • Quite a large mass of slate sheets;
  • Composition of the material - Due to the fact that asbestos is included in the composition of asbestos-cement sheets, this material is not environmentally friendly. The truth about health
    not every type of asbestos affects a person, therefore it is impossible to say that all types of slate are harmful.
  • Relatively fragile material - it can break during transportation or during installation (in the case of direct impacts with a heavy object, however, it can withstand the weight of any person very well if the crate is correctly mounted).
  • It overgrows with moss and lichen over time, which is why there is a need for periodic cleaning and painting.

3. Which slate to choose: the thickness and dimensions of the slate sheet

Figure 3. Specifications and dimensions of slate sheets. An example of GOSTs and markings.

To date, the most popular are sheets of corrugated slate with six, seven and eight waves, which are standardized by GOST 30340-95

Dimensions of 8 wave slate sheet
The length of the slate sheet is 175 cm;
Slate sheet width - 113 cm;
Slate sheet thickness - 5.8 mm;
Slate sheet weight - 26.1 kg.


Dimensions of 7 wave slate sheet
The length of the slate sheet is 175 cm;
Slate sheet width - 98 cm;
Slate sheet thickness - 5.2 mm;
Slate sheet weight - 23 kg.


Dimensions of a 6-wave slate sheet
The length of the slate sheet is 175 cm;
Slate sheet width - 112.5 cm;
Slate sheet thickness - 6 and 7.5 mm
The weight of a slate sheet is 35 kg.

With the help of slate marking, you can absolutely accurately determine all its main characteristics. Let's, for example, consider the following slate marking: GOST 54/200-1750-6. Based on this marking, it can be seen that the number of waves in this slate sheet is 6, the length of the sheet is 1750 mm, the height of the ordinary and overlapping waves is 54 mm, and the wave step is 200 mm. All these parameters are indicated so that the buyer can correctly calculate the required amount of material that he will need for the future roof. It should be noted that for slate there are also such characteristics as “the area of ​​​​one slate sheet” - this is the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe entire sheet and “useful area of ​​\u200b\u200bone sheet of slate” - this is the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe sheet, taking into account the “overlap” in one wave. So, for example, the area of ​​one sheet of 6-wave slate is 1.968 square meters. m., and the usable area of ​​one sheet of slate, taking into account the overlap, is 1.378 sq.m. The material consumption is connected not only with the number of waves in the slate sheet, but also with the width of the wave step. For example, due to the fact that the step width of a 6-wave slate is greater than that of an 8-wave slate, it is sometimes much more rational to take 8-wave slate sheets than 6, because in this case the area of ​​the slate sheet, which will go to the "overlap", a 6-wave sheet will have more than an 8-wave sheet.

More details about technical specifications slate can be read in one of our past articles: ""

Figure 4. The sequence of actions when installing a slate roof

  • Calculation of the required number of slate sheets per roof;
  • Purchase of slate and its delivery to the site;
  • Installation of rafters of the future roof;
  • Installation of the crate over the rafters;
  • Installation of waterproofing (ruberoid, for example);
  • Fastening the slate to the crate.

5. How to correctly calculate the number of slate sheets per roof

Figure 5. An example of calculating slate for a roof

How to correctly calculate the number of slate sheets per roof - this is a question that everyone who decides to use slate as the main roofing material meets. Count required amount roofing material is always a very important and responsible process. If the calculation is not performed correctly, then the best thing that can happen is that you will have extra material left, and the worst thing is that you may not have enough purchased material and then you will have to go for it again, and this is extra money spent on delivery and time for his purchase.

There are several different roofing slate calculation methods. Let's look at one of the simplest ones:

  • 1. To begin with, it is calculated how many sheets of slate are needed for one row. To do this, we measure the length of the roof slope and divide it by the width of our slate sheet.
  • 2. Since each subsequent sheet of slate in a row is overlapped (as a rule, the overlap is one wave), then approximately 10% must be added to the resulting value.
  • 3. Then the number of rows in the roof slope is calculated. To do this, measure the length of the slope from the lowest point of the overhang to the highest point of the ridge and then divide by the length of the purchased slate sheet.
  • 4. Since each subsequent row is also overlapped and for each row (except the lowest one) we will get an overlap from above and below, then approximately 13-15% must be added to the value obtained in the previous step.
  • 5. And at the last step, you need to multiply the obtained values ​​​​with each other. As a result, we will get a number that will show how many sheets will go to the roof slope. The result is rounded up to the next whole number. The resulting value must be multiplied by the number of slopes of your roof.


Imagine that the slope of our roof, which we want to cover with slate, has the following dimensions: 5 m x 3 m (this is the full size, taking into account all overhangs). Suppose that we decide to use an 8-wave slate sheet with sheet dimensions equal to 1.75 m in height and 1.13 m in width.

Let's start with the calculations.

  • Step 1- find the number of slate sheets horizontally: 5 / 1.13 = 4.42
  • Step 2 — 4,42 + 10% = 4,42 + 0,442 = 4,862
  • Step 3- find the number of slate sheets vertically: 3 / 1.75 = 1.71
  • Step 4- add 13%; 1.71 + 0.222 = 1.932
  • Step 5- we find the total number of sheets per roof slope: 4.862 * 1.932 \u003d 9.39 (about 10 whole sheets)

As a result, we got about 10 whole sheets of slate for one slope. If there are two slopes, then the resulting number must be multiplied by two, respectively. Plus, take a spare 3-5 sheets just in case.

Figure 6. Mounting the lathing under the slate roof

For mounting the crate, you can use any non-edged board from 15 mm. up to 25 mm. or bars with a section of 50 mm. x 50 mm. In order to further protect the rafters and the crate, it is recommended to pre-treat them with an antiseptic from beetles and decay.

When using non-edged boards for the manufacture of battens, the distance between them should be 200 mm. - 1200 mm. If you are working with bars, then the distance between the crate should be approximately 450 mm, provided that the slope angle is 10 - 15 degrees. With a slope angle of more than 15 degrees, the crate pitch can be increased to 550-600 mm. But you must keep in mind that each sheet of slate must lie on at least three supports (one in the center and two along the edges), and best of all on 5. Then the roof will be reliable.

If the roof angle is very small, for example, only 5-10 degrees, then it is recommended to make the crate solid.

Before installing the slate, along the very edge of the overhang (under the lowest row), it is necessary to attach a strip of stainless steel (or some other metal) with a width of approximately 350 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. or 3 mm. This strip will help prevent the slate sheets from breaking along the edge of the overhang.

Works on the arrangement of gutters, gutters must be mounted before laying the slate on the roof, since the fasteners for gutters are mounted to the crate or directly to the rafters.

As a waterproofing layer, you can use roofing felt or any vapor-waterproofing, such as Tyvek or its equivalent.

7. Do-it-yourself installation of slate on the roof: layout options

Do-it-yourself installation of slate on the roof you need to start from the bottom row and move up. This principle will allow you to lay all the sheets of slate in such a way that water will flow along them without falling under them. Each new sheet of slate in a horizontal row is overlapped with the previous one. At the same time, the overlap must be at least one wave (provided that the angle of inclination is more than 5 degrees). Overlapping in two waves is allowed, this will make the roof more durable and reliable, but this is a more expensive option, since material consumption increases significantly. If the angle of inclination of the roof is 5 degrees or less, the overlap of the slate sheets should be in two waves.

Figure 7. Laying slate on a roof with an offset

There are several how to lay slate on a roof. The most common is "laying slate on the roof with an offset" .
The main difficulties when installing slate on the roof can arise when you have to fix more than two edges of the slate sheet in one place. When installing the slate using the “spread out” method, this problem will never arise, since this method implies that each subsequent row will begin with an offset of several waves (usually the offset is made in half a sheet) relative to the previous one. To do this, the slate sheet is carefully cut to the desired number of waves. Cutting a slate sheet in half is very convenient because you will get a beautiful and even pattern of sheets all over the roof, and there is practically no waste, since one sheet is divided into two halves and each of the halves, without additional sawing, completely fits through one row. Trimming may be needed only at the end of the roof. Those. visually it will look like this:

  • 1st row starts with a whole sheet;
  • 2nd row - from the half;
  • 3rd row - from a whole sheet;
  • 4th row - half and so on.

This method is also good because after installing half of the sheet on the second row, you can start installing slate sheets in two rows at once, without worrying about how much the next sheet needs to be shifted, since in this case the displacement of the new sheet relative to the previous ones will occur already automatically. The only difficulty in this case may be trimming the end sheets of slate (the last in a row).

Figure 8. Laying slate on the roof without displacement

Another way to lay slate is "laying slate on the roof without displacement" . This method is perhaps more economical, since there is practically no waste here. But in this case, it is necessary to trim the lower corner of each sheet of slate of the upper row in the place where it overlaps the previous sheet. (i.e., the first row, for example, is laid without trimming, and the second row is already trimmed with a lower corner that overlaps with the previous sheet) To do this, make a saw cut at the corner of a slate sheet about 103 mm in size. by 130-135 mm. this method is considered more rational in terms of overlapping sheets both vertically and horizontally.


To fasten slate sheets on the roof, special slate nails with a large round head and a special rubber gasket under it, or special self-tapping screws and screws, are used. In order not to damage the slate sheet during its installation with nails or self-tapping screws, it is recommended to make holes in the sheets in advance, and the hole should be slightly larger than the diameter of the nail or self-tapping screw, by about 3 mm, and the length of the nail itself should be 1 or 2 centimeters more than the thickness of the crate, plus the height of the wave of the slate. This will ensure that the nail is securely fixed in the crate. The nails must be fixed at the top of the crest of the wave so that water cannot seep through. Nails should not be hammered in close, because due to temperature differences, the slate can move and this will lead to cracking. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to leave a small gap of a couple of millimeters between the slate sheet and the head of the nail or self-tapping screw.

Figure 9. Slate nails and self-tapping screws

Holes, and hence the nails themselves (roofing screws) must be arranged in the following sequence:

  • Eight-wave slate sheet: the self-tapping screw is hammered into the 2nd wave and the 7th wave;
  • Seven-wave slate sheet: the self-tapping screw is hammered into the 2nd wave and the 6th wave;
  • Six-wave slate sheet: the self-tapping screw is hammered into the 2nd wave and the 5th wave;
  • Five-wave slate sheet: a self-tapping screw is driven into the 2nd wave and the 4th wave;

If slate sheets are attached to three battens, then 6 self-tapping screws or slate nails will be needed per slate sheet. If the slate sheet will be laid on five bars of the crate, then it makes sense to increase the number of attachment points to the crate to 10.

Video on the topic "Laying slate on the roof with your own hands":


22.01.2017 0 comments

Any roof serves to protect the building from the effects of precipitation and properly installed roof capable of serving a fairly long service life. The most common and quite often used roofing material is slate, which has a wavy profile and is made of asbestos cement. The standard eight-wave sheet size is 1750 × 1125 millimeters, the coverage area, excluding the overlap, is about two square meters.

Quite often the question arises; how to properly cover the roof with slate with your own hands without involving expensive specialists. A few practical tips and a consistent progress of the work performed will help beginners in arranging the roof.

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Types of roofs and truss frame

Roofs with one slope are most often used for utility rooms, sheds, various outbuildings and entrance groups. Two pitched and hip roofs are mainly used to cover residential and office buildings. When mounting the frame for slate covering, it is necessary to take into account the size of the sheet in such a way that it has three support points, taking into account the overlap of 200 millimeters of sheet to sheet. The device of the crate, start from the eaves to the ridge of the roof, observing verticality and horizontality.

The timber must have low humidity, which will prevent the deformation of the frame after installation during operation. The beam for the crate should be without large knots. With a rafter spacing up to 1200mm, a 50×50mm beam is used, and with a rafter spacing up to 1500mm, it is recommended to use a beam with a size of 50×60mm. Fasteners of the beam to the rafters are made with screws 80-100mm. Using a screwdriver will greatly facilitate and speed up the assembly process. final stage there will be a check of the slope plane with a stretched twine, the permissible error should not exceed 2mm.

Roofing tool

Any master without necessary tool, not a master. Before proceeding with roofing work, it is necessary to revise the existing tool and purchase the missing, but extremely necessary one. The minimum list of necessary tools for slate roofing:

  • Axe;
  • hammer;
  • nail puller;
  • pliers;
  • chisel;
  • chisel;
  • Screwdriver Set;
  • mallet;
  • metal scissors;
  • saw on wood;
  • saw for metal;
  • electric drill;
  • drill;
  • electric screwdriver;
  • manual circular saw.

All tools must be in working condition, the cutting tool must be sharpened, the hammer and ax must fit tightly on the handles, which will avoid injury during work. It is necessary to strictly observe safety precautions and actively use personal protective equipment.

Installation of slate sheets: the procedure and technology of work

In practice, two ways of installing sheets are used:

  1. Offset of the next row by several waves.
  2. Without shifting row with trimming the corners of the sheet.

This use makes it possible to prevent fourfold angular overlap of sheets, which contributes to the formation of cracks. Any of these methods will allow you to properly cover the roof of the house with slate. It should be noted that one wave of the sheet is below the opposite extreme wave, and it is colored with a stripe of black paint. The installation of slate sheets starts from the eaves, it is very important to correctly set the first sheet using the building level and plumb line. For marking, a twine is pulled, horizontal parallel to the eaves, which serves as a guide for the lower edges of the first row. Vertical twine is pulled from the corner of the roof to the ridge, which avoids the curvature of subsequent rows of slate. Be sure to take into account the direction of the main winds in the area. The joint of the vertical overlap should be located in the direction of the wind, which will exclude the possibility of breaking the slate sheets during strong gusts of wind. Sheets can be installed both from left to right and from right to left.

by the most in a simple way slate laying is a technology for ordinary displacement of sheets, which eliminates the cutting of corners. The first sheet of the second row is cut lengthwise into one or more waves, and then whole sheets are laid, the last sheet may be cut longitudinally.

Scheme of laying slate sheets with offset.

Laying slate without displacement

When laying slate without offset, the corners of adjacent sheets are trimmed to ensure a tighter fit. The first and last sheets are installed without trimming, the rest must be preparatory work. Required condition, cut corners during installation must have a thermal gap of two to four millimeters and in no case come into contact with each other. For complete clarity, the scheme of laying slate with cutting corners is given:

Scheme of laying slate sheets without offset.

To cut corners, you can use an old hacksaw for wood or a hand-held electric circular saw with a blade designed for cutting stone.

In order to perform the trimming correctly, we recommend watching the video below, as a professional does it.

Fixing work

The slate is fastened to the crate with screws with a silicone gasket located on the inside of the head; it is highly undesirable to use nails, since during operation they do not hold well in the wood, loosen and rise, which leads to a violation of the fit of the sheets to the crate. Each slate sheet of the first row is fixed with two screws in the lower part and one screw in the middle part of the sheet, through holes drilled in the upper wave with a diameter greater than 1-2 mm of the screw thickness. In no case should you punch holes, as you can damage the slate or get a hole of a much larger diameter than the screw head. The upper part of the sheets of the first row will be fixed when installing the second row, while the mounting holes are drilled through two overlapped sheets, which, according to technology, should be at least 200 mm at a slope of 25 degrees and at least 150 mm at a slope of more than 30 degrees.

Options for fastening sheets of slate.

Valley device

Sometimes there are internal corners in the shape of the roof, then in this case the arrangement of the valley is required, which is made before being covered with slate. The basis is a flooring made of boards on which is attached waterproofing material, which in turn is covered with galvanized sheet metal. When covered with slate, the sheets are adjusted in such a way that the gap between them has a minimum distance. From the outside, the joint of slate sheets is covered with a curved strip of galvanized roofing metal.

Scheme of the device of the valley under the slate.

Connection to chimneys and ventilation pipes

Depending on the location of the pipe, the slope of the slope and other nuances, there may be a sufficient number of options, so consider the main basic option. A sheet of roofing metal with a hole for a pipe is installed in such a way that the upper edge is located under the upper slate sheet, and the lower edge is released onto the underlying slate sheet. Asbestos is laid around the pipe, and on top it is covered with a second sheet with a hole for the pipe, but bigger size. Often they additionally arrange an ebb from cement mortar.

Scheme of the connection device to the smoke and ventilation pipes: 1 - front corner; 2 - side corner; 3 - annulus.

Attaching a slate roof to a wall

In some cases, it becomes necessary to install a roof when the upper edge of the slope is adjacent to the wall of the building. To prevent atmospheric precipitation from entering the gap between the wall and the slate, especially in the winter-spring period, an ebb is installed, made from a 400 mm wide roofing iron strip having a longitudinal bend corresponding to the angle of inclination of the slope. One edge of the tide is fastened with dowels to the wall, and the second one covers the slate sheets from above and is fixed through the upper wave with screws to the crate. This type of roofing is often used on entrance groups and all kinds of extensions to already existing buildings, usually have no more than two slopes.

Scheme of the junction of the slate roof to the wall: 1 - ridge; 2 - slate; 3 - corner; 4 - screw.

Installation of the skate

The final stage of roofing work, according to tradition, is the installation of a ridge. Various ready-made ridge elements for a ridge device can be easily purchased at any construction market, but if desired, you can make it yourself from a 400 mm wide strip of galvanized roofing metal using a metal corner and a mallet. Ridge elements are attached to the crate through the upper wave of slate with screws. At the end of the roofing work, it will not be superfluous to go up to the attic on a sunny day and carefully examine the work of your hands, and if cheerful sunbeams are seen in the twilight, then somewhere, something went wrong as you would like. Small gaps and through holes are easily removed with any silicone sealant.

Skate device diagram: 1-2 - skate; 3 - bracket for fastening navigation bridges; 4 - sheet of slate.

Covering hip roofs with slate

classical hip roof has four slopes, two triangular in shape and two trapezoidal, which are larger than triangular in area. The technology of laying slate is practically no different from single-pitched and gable roofs except for the additional trimming of the extreme sheets of each slope. In order not to make a mistake with the cutting angle and not to fill your head with calculations, a template is made from three thin rails to the height of the slate sheet in the form of a right triangle in which the right angle is rigidly fixed, and the hypotenuse is attached at the installation site of the first sheet. The presence of a template will make it much faster to mark and trim the extreme sheets on two opposite slopes. It should be noted that the angle of the trapezoid is different from the angle of the triangular slope and therefore a second template will be required. Trimming of slate sheets must be done on the ground, for installation on the roof, a ready-made workpiece should be submitted.

In contact with

Although the traditional asbestos-cement slate can in no way be attributed to innovative materials, it is being replaced by more modern coatings, and in many European countries it has been completely abandoned, Russian market it does not lose its former popularity, as it is quite durable and reliable. In this regard, the question of how correct styling do-it-yourself wave slate , still interested in homeowners. Moreover, this material may well be transformed by painting in the chosen color, which will be in harmony with the color of the facade. Therefore, slate can be used not only to cover country houses or outbuildings, but also for full-fledged residential buildings.

However, in order for the slate to serve for more than fifty years, as the manufacturer promises, it must be laid correctly, that is, some of the nuances of this process must be taken into account. First of all, it must be said that slate is not such a versatile material as many people think, since it is mainly suitable for covering one- and two-pitched roofs with a slope of at least 15 degrees. If it is planned to lay this coating on a more gentle slope, under the coating it will be necessary to equip the crate according to special rules, reliable membrane or roofing felt waterproofing, and also increase the mutual overlap of the sheets.

Varieties of slate and its dimensions

Slate was originally called a roofing material made from cement mortar and asbestos fibers, which act as a reinforcing component that gives the sheets durability and strength.


Since the wave version of the sheets has a higher mechanical strength, rigidity, and in more resists external influences, this form was taken as the basis for the manufacture of roofing sheets from other materials, such as keramoplast, cellulose fibers impregnated with bitumen, Various types polymers and sheet metal. Therefore, these materials also began to be called, while mentioning the material of their manufacture.

Asbestos-cement slate


The current GOST defines several standard parameters of traditional asbestos-cement wave slate, which differ both in the number of waves and in the length of the sheets. But in practice, material with a length of 1750 mm is most often used, as the most convenient to use. In turn, it is also divided into several types.

  • The six-wave sheet has dimensions of 1750×1125 mm and a thickness of 6 or 7.5 mm. Its weight is respectively 26 or 35 kg. The wave pitch is 200 mm, and its height is 54 mm. Such sheets are considered the most durable of all asbestos-cement wave slate options, so they are most often used to cover industrial buildings.
  • Seven-wave sheets have dimensions of 1750 × 980 mm, a thickness of 5.8 mm and a weight of 23.2 kg. The step and wave height are already smaller - 150 and 40 mm
  • The eight-wave version is a sheet with a size of 1750 × 1130 mm, a thickness of 5.2 ÷ 5.8 mm, and a weight of 23 ÷ 26 kg. The step and height of the wave are the same as those of the seven-wave. It is this type of slate that is most often used in housing construction.

Infrequently, but still, sheets of a more “modest” format are also used - 1200 long, 680 mm wide, with the same 40 mm wave as that of eight-wave slate, and weighing only 9 kg.

IN technical documentation may meet letter designations wave slate parameters. To understand this, you should pay attention to the diagram below, where: B - width; L is the length of the sheet; S is the distance between wave crests; t is the thickness of the slate; h is the height of an ordinary wave; h1 and h2 are the height of the overlying waves.


GOST also established a standard marking for wave slate in the form of a fractional value: the numerator is the height, and the denominator is the wave pitch, for example, 54/200 or 40/150.

Before purchasing this material and proceeding to its installation, you should have an idea about its positive qualities and existing shortcomings.

  • The advantages of asbestos-cement slate include:

- relatively affordable cost of the material;

- sufficiently high strength, due to the reinforcement and the characteristic shape of the sheets;

— simplicity of processing and carrying out roofing works;

- good sound absorption;

- low thermal conductivity - the roof will not heat up in the sun as much as it is covered, for example, with metal corrugated board or metal tiles;

- incombustibility of the material.

  • The disadvantages of such a slate can be called the following properties:

— brittleness under point and shock loading;

- hygroscopicity of the material - it can be saturated with moisture;

- the possibility of a break with sudden changes in temperature;

- a rather large weight, compared with other types of roofing, which complicates the transportation and lifting of sheets to a height;

- gradual decrease in strength under the influence of ultraviolet rays and wind (weathering);

- asbestos-cement surface with high humidity becomes a favorable environment for the appearance of moss and lichen colonies;

- asbestos-cement slate is not an environmentally friendly material, mainly due to the content of asbestos fibers in its composition, therefore, in European countries, it was decided to ban products containing asbestos.


In fairness, it should be noted that the carcinogenic properties of this roofing are too exaggerated. And in order to reduce the amount of asbestos dust that appears during weathering, as well as to protect the roof from the appearance and development of mosses, fungi and lichens, it should be painted or covered with drying oil every 4-5 years.

Modern varieties of slate

IN last years more and more new types of slate made from various materials and they are well worth a look.

Ondulin


Ondulin, which is otherwise called bituminous slate or euroslate, began to be produced in Europe when the technology for reinforcing bitumen with cellulose fibers appeared, which fasten, stiffen and prevent cracking of the coating during temperature changes.

Traditional wave slate continues to be a popular roofing material. One of the reasons for its popularity is considered to be a simple installation technology, so every homeowner can deal with the question of how to properly lay slate, if desired.

Features of slate coating

Despite the presence on the market of building materials of modern products for arranging the surface of the roof, slate is preferred due to the presence of a number of positive characteristics, including:

Preparatory stage for installation

Before proceeding with the installation of asbestos-cement sheets, you should figure out how to properly lay the slate so that the coating is reliable and durable. Not only roofing installation, but also any construction work start with the preparatory stage.


In this case, the slate device involves the creation of a base - it is a wooden crate. Before that, we should not forget about the need to lay a waterproofing layer, which is responsible for preventing moisture from entering the space under the roof and wetting the insulation. Made from well dried quality wood.

Roof slate mounting options

It can help to install the slate manufacturer's instructions with detailed description technological process. There are two options for carrying out work, thanks to which asbestos-cement sheets are firmly fixed on a wooden crate.


Ways of laying slate allow you to put it either with a cut corner and without displacement, or in a run. Each of these options has its own advantages.

A more common and less labor-intensive method of mounting in a run is considered, for the implementation of which experts recommend purchasing 8-wave products, since when using 6-wave or 7-wave material, waste increases.

The technology of laying slate in a run


Laying slate without shifting sheets

Considering the methods of laying slate, it should be noted that the installation option without shifting the sheets requires a lot of labor, but roofing material is saved.

Using this method allows you to vertically align adjacent sheets by trimming the corners.


If, as an example, we consider how to lay slate without shifting the material, starting from the left side of the roof slope, then it is necessary to cut adjacent corners at the junction of the second sheet in the bottom row and the first in the top row. Regardless of which method of installation is chosen, the coating of asbestos-cement roofing material is of high quality and at the same time inexpensive.

Features of installation of a slate roof

The technology for creating slate roofing has a number of nuances that must be taken into account:



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