Slate is a popular material that is inexpensive, but highly reliable and durable. If you paint it, then in terms of decorativeness it can easily compete with modern roofing materials. Therefore, the scope of application of slate is practically unlimited: asbestos-cement roofs can be found on both modest country houses and luxury cottages.
The spread of the material is also facilitated by the fact that laying slate on a roof is not a difficult job, anyone can do it. But in order for the coating to last, as it should, for at least half a century, you will need to study all the nuances of this simple but important event.
Technical characteristics of slate
Let's start with the fact that 20-25 years ago, companies that produced new roofing materials started an anti-slate campaign. They began to claim that this roofing building material contained asbestos, which causes cancer in people. All this is an outright lie, because the slate uses chrysolite asbestos - safe for humans, and not amphibole asbestos, which is harmful to us.
In addition, the substance itself is in a bound state in the product. So we can talk about its danger only if cutting is done using a grinder. In this process, dust will be released from under the cutting tool. She is harmful.
Types of slate according to technical characteristics Source ms.decorexpro.com
Now about the technical characteristics that the buyer must know about before purchasing it:
- There are 6, 7 or 8 wave slates on the market today.
- Sheet thickness: 5.8; 6.0 and 7.5 mm. Here the connection is direct with the wave height; the larger this size, the thicker the material.
- Depending on the number of waves present, the width of the sheets varies in the range of 98-113 cm.
- The bending strength of the sheet is 16 MPa. This is the lowest rate among modern roofing materials.
- Slate itself is fragile, and it does not withstand shock loads well.
- All manufacturers provide a guarantee of 40 years of operation. Experience has shown that slate roofing covers last much longer.
Seven-wave asbestos slate Source softwaremonster.info
Installation of connections to the chimney
If the house has a stove, it is necessary to install a chimney pipe on the roof. For a chimney on the roof slope, the connection is arranged differently depending on whether there is waterproofing or not. If there is waterproofing, a junction made of steel sheet is installed under the slate and film, and if it is absent, it is made in such a way that the upper edge of the steel sheet is under the slate, and the lower edge along the slope is above it. The connection device diagram is shown in the figure.
Advantages and disadvantages
There is a large amount of information on the Internet regarding the advantages of this roofing material. Experts highlight two main ones: low price and good service life. The last advantage is possible only if the slate laying technology has been 100% maintained.
Now about the shortcomings, of which there were many:
- Many companies producing corrugated slate offer material with quite serious errors in shape and size. Therefore, the process of laying it on the roof becomes a big problem. The sheets must be adjusted to each other, swapped all the time, aligned and precisely joined.
- Heavy weight. Under the slate you will have to build a powerful rafter system, which will negate the savings in purchasing this roofing. Lifting sheets onto the roof is also difficult, and it is inconvenient for roofers to work while lifting them. Especially if one sheet has to be shifted, trimmed or shifted all the time.
- During operation, sheets may break. It’s good if the crack goes along the upper wave. This defect is not critical. But if a fracture occurs along the lower plane, then the sheet will have to be replaced or repaired. Again costs.
- You can lay corrugated sheets and bitumen shingles with your own hands. These are simple processes. But when the question is raised about how to properly cover a roof with slate, you cannot do without an experienced craftsman. You can try on your own, but the quality of the final result is not guaranteed. Moreover, not everyone can hammer a nail correctly so as not to break the sheets.
Powerful rafter structure for slate Source krovlyakryshi.ru
Slate roofing - types of materials and their features
The most common option is corrugated asbestos cement sheets, which cover most houses. Their advantages include: resistance to temperature changes, fire resistance, fairly long life, ease of processing. The disadvantages of such slate are increased fragility, it is very easy to damage even with a slight blow, and large weight, which significantly complicates roofing work. In addition, there is an opinion that the asbestos contained in it is harmful to health, but studies have not confirmed this.
There is also so-called asbestos-free paper slate. It is inferior to its brother in terms of resistance to mechanical loads. However, its durability, moisture resistance, lightness and flexibility make it possible to use it, unlike its asbestos counterpart, even on roofs with a fairly weak frame. For the roofing of industrial premises, it will be important to familiarize yourself with how to cover the roof with slate made of plastic or metal. They are distinguished by good wear resistance, lightness, strength characteristics and environmental safety. In addition, their color range can satisfy the needs of even the most demanding consumers.
Useful tips
Before moving directly to the topic of the article, namely, how to lay slate, I would like to give a few recommendations.
First, you should not paint slate after laying it on the roof. After applying the paint and varnish material, the coating will look good. But after a few days it will become covered with faded spots. It's all about the heterogeneous porosity of the material. In some places it will quickly absorb paint, in others slowly. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase painted slate, which is offered by manufacturers today.
Painting slate is useless Source remontik.org
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in roofing materials.
There are two painting technologies: pigment is added to the raw material mass, so the color is obtained throughout the entire thickness of the sheets, or the paint is applied to the surface of the finished product. For this purpose, special paints and varnishes are used that are well absorbed and do not fade in the sun. The first option is better, but it is correspondingly more expensive.
The second is installation of the sheathing. The number of sheathing elements depends on the angle of inclination of the roof slopes. But experts adhere to the golden rule - the slate must lie on at least four slats. In addition, the entire roofing system must be stable. Therefore, before putting slate on the roof, it is recommended to walk on it and try to loosen it.
Slate lathing Source www.stroimdom.com.ua
Third, how to fasten the slate and how to do it correctly. There is information on the Internet that it is optimal to fasten with self-tapping screws, for which holes are made in the slate covering using a drill. This information is for those who do not understand anything about roofing. This technology will take a very long time. Plus, there is no guarantee that the sheets will be firmly held by self-tapping screws. In addition, you will have to place either sealing washers under them, or fill the holes with silicone sealant.
Craftsmen use slate nails all the time. This is a guarantee of high quality. Of course, hammering such a nail is not easy, but not for them. You can learn how to use nails quickly, although you will have to ruin more than one sheet. Therefore, my advice is to try it on damaged or used material. Twenty to thirty holes punched and you'll be driving nails in like a real roofer.
Slate steel nails Source hi.decorexpro.com
Fourth - how to properly lay slate on the roof. This refers to the arrangement of the sheets relative to each other. Like all roofing materials, slate is laid overlapping in one wave. To ensure that the joining point does not stand out from the total mass of laid material, manufacturers make the outer wave thinner. The product marking is applied to its upper surface. It is on this plane that the adjacent slate should lie, covering the inscription.
Attention! There is no need to hammer nails into the overlap area. The joint itself is strong.
The marking on the slate is covered with an adjacent sheet Source gid-str.ru
Features of modern production
Currently, there are three types of slate: asbestos, metal and Euro standard.
- The first type includes a natural material - asbestos, which provides slate with high strength. Asbestos consists of many fibers, which during the manufacturing process break down into individual elements and at the final stage form a structure resembling a reinforcing mesh.
- Metal slate or corrugated sheeting is very common in the construction of roofing coverings, and for the construction of other structures in construction and industry. Galvanized sheet steel is used for its production. Most often, an additional protective coating in the form of polymers is applied to it .
The production of slate of this type requires the use of special rolling equipment, on which the production of profiled sheets takes place. - Euro slate is produced, as a rule, in the eurozone countries. Experts from Europe conducted tests and numerous tests to check the quality of asbestos and found that some types of this material are unsafe for human health. Therefore, instead of asbestos, other components are used: fiberglass, cellulose, basalt fiber and jute.
technological process for the production of asbestos-cement slate
In addition to these components, natural slate is widely used. But still, the classic concept of slate implies the use of asbestos cement. Flat and corrugated slate sheets are made from asbestos and water-based Portland cement.
Slate installation rules
Let's go further and go directly to the step-by-step instructions - how to properly lay slate on the roof:
- First, the rafter system is checked to ensure its correct assembly. That is, four sheathing slats must be laid under each asbestos sheet.
- A board is nailed to the ends of the rafter legs at the overhang. Some craftsmen use a tensioned thread, but a board is better; in this case, it will additionally work as a stop for heavy sheet material. After completion of the work, the board is dismantled.
- The slate of the first row is laid with emphasis on the hammered board. Make sure that the lower edges of the material fit tightly to the surface of the board.
- Each sheet is nailed. Usually the scheme is as follows - through two waves to the third. Therefore, the consumption of nails is 10 pieces per sheet. We have already discussed how to fasten slate with nails. Let us add that the blow with a hammer should be sharp.
- As for trimming the corners, they should be trimmed at the second and third sheets, while the first and fourth remain intact.
Slate laying scheme Source teplica-exp.ru
Financial side of business
The financial issue plays a fundamental role for many entrepreneurs. Since the necessary funds are often raised from outside, it is very important to know the exact figures of upcoming expenses and possible income.
Even in the case of a small production workshop, a lot of capital investments will be required - about 1,500,000 rubles. This includes the costs of technical equipment for production, the purchase of raw materials and the rental of premises.
Profit is calculated based on production volumes and pricing policy in the region. How much slate costs is influenced by the material it is made of, the type of execution, and the size of the sheets. On average, the wholesale price for asbestos slate with a size of 1750 * 1130 * 5.2 has been established in the region of 250-450 rubles / sheet. Metal slate may cost much less, but here both the technology and the raw materials are cheaper - 150-400 rubles per sheet. Polymer material is more expensive than others - from 300 rubles / sheet. Knowing the cost of selling finished slate and the productivity of the equipment, you can quickly calculate the possible income. For example, if you produce 50 sheets/hour in an 8-hour shift, you can have an income of 3,500,000 rubles. monthly. The net profit of the enterprise will depend on the prices of raw materials, rent of premises and deductions of wages to employees.
How to lift slate sheets onto a roof
To do this, you will need two wooden slats with a cross section of 50x50 mm. Their length is selected experimentally, the main thing is that they are positioned freely at an angle of 60-70° and reach the edge of the roof structure.
They are connected to each other by two boards: below and above. The distance between them is selected so that the slate, with its waves, exactly lies on the slats. For ease of lifting, you can make a special device in the form of a poker. The material is the same slats. A rope is tied to the upper end. You can use a hook made of steel wire or reinforcement, to which a rope is also tied.
One worker places the sheet on the made skid from below and attaches the lifting device to it. The second one from the top pulls the sheet towards itself using a rope. The lower one helps him with his hands.
✅ Are there any disadvantages?
Slate, like any other building material, is not without its drawbacks. The most important among them is environmental friendliness. Asbestos dust used in the manufacture of slate is a carcinogen and therefore poses a danger to human health. For this reason, slate is prohibited from being used as a roofing material in the European Union.
The “disadvantages” of the material also include:
- fragility of sheets and vulnerability to mechanical stress;
- high hygroscopicity of the material.
The first drawback most often appears when installing sheets. They are fixed by nailing nails with a length of 70 to 120 mm. At the moment of impact, cracks and chips often form on the slate. This unpleasant phenomenon can be prevented by first drilling holes in the sheets with a drill in those places where they are supposed to be fixed with nails.
A slate roof absorbs moisture like a sponge. Due to this, it is an ideal environment for the spread of lichens and moss germination. As a result, it loses its attractiveness over time. The easiest way to solve this problem is to coat the roofing material with polymer or silicone-based paint designed specifically for application to slate.
How to cut slate correctly
Before grinders appeared, slate was cut in different ways, which were difficult and ineffective. Eg:
- made holes with nails along the cutting line, and then broke along it;
- the same thing was done with a carpenter's hammer, which has a pointed nose, or they used a chisel with a hammer;
- We used a regular saw, which quickly became dull.
Today the problem has been solved; craftsmen began to use a grinder and diamond cutting discs. The process goes quickly, the cut is smooth. The only negative is a lot of dust. Therefore, some tips:
- moisten the cut area with water;
- lay the slate sheet on a flat surface;
- select the diameter of the disk so that it is twice as large as the wave height of the roofing material;
- rotation of the disk is towards itself, it is clear that dust will be thrown towards the worker, but in the process of jamming the tool will be thrown away from the person, safety is more important;
- wear protective equipment: goggles, respirator and gloves.
Roofing tools
Any master without the necessary tools is not a master. Before starting roofing work, it is necessary to conduct an audit of the existing tools and purchase the missing, but extremely necessary ones. The minimum list of necessary tools for installing a slate roof:
- axe;
- hammer;
- nail puller;
- pliers;
- chisel;
- chisel;
- Screwdriver Set;
- mallet;
- metal scissors;
- wood saw;
- metal saw;
- electric drill;
- drill;
- electric screwdriver;
- hand-held electric 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.
Briefly about the main thing
Now you understand how difficult it is to cover a roof with slate. There are many nuances of this construction process; everyone who decides to carry it out independently must know them all. As practice shows, newcomers to this business are dissatisfied with the final result of their actions, so they are recommended to start with small buildings: a bathhouse, a garage, a barn, etc.
| A little more attention! Write in the comments what you think: is it worth using asbestos corrugated slate to cover your own home, or is it already a material of the last century, and for example, metal tiles or corrugated sheets “rule” today? |
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Subtleties of manufacturing asbestos-cement products ↑
Foreign manufacturers have long been obtaining a wave-like shape through special gaskets. In Russia, this technology was mastered relatively recently, however, at present, in most enterprises, production is organized on modern equipment using the latest technologies. In particular, this concerns innovative methods of coloring finished products using silicate and phosphate dyes.
This measure is aimed at increasing the wear resistance of the material. Moreover, this is a great opportunity to diversify the appearance of roofing, fencing or other options for its use. If wave is used primarily as a roofing material, then flat can be used to finish external walls, install partitions in various rooms and buildings, enclosing structures, and more.
Main product sales channels
Slate production is a good option. Channels for promoting finished products directly depend on the volume of slate production. When running a business on a local scale (serving a city or, at most, a region), it is necessary to establish direct contacts with customers (organizations performing roofing work), as well as with construction stores and market pavilions. A business of regional scale (serving several areas simultaneously), you need several dealer companies that are engaged in wholesale sales of building materials in their region. Cooperation with a network of construction supermarkets will also give a positive result.
Business organization
In order to organize factory production of slate, basic and additional equipment will be needed. The main equipment is an automatic line, which is produced both in our country and imported from abroad. Currently, given the best combination of price and quality, automatic lines made in China from the ChengYang company are the most popular. This company offers many options that differ in maximum productivity, level of automation, power consumption, area and number of workers required for normal maintenance.
| Model | Line XCV-Z20 | Line XCV-Z40 | Line XCV-Z60 |
| Productivity, sheets per month | 16 500 | 33 500 | 50 000 |
| Potential revenue per month (based on the price of 160 rubles per sheet). | 2 640 000 | 5 360 000 | 8 000 000 |
| Required workshop area, sq.m. | 300 | 500 | 660 |
| Number of staff | 11 | 13 | 16 |
In addition to the main equipment, unloading and loading equipment is also necessary:
Investments made in organizing a slate production business will pay off in about 2-2.5 years.
Video: Slate production plant
