Roof slates

[del_boy]

We are building a new farn house and will soon be in the market for some roofing slates. Can anybody recommend a type of slate and a supplier. A quick search tells me its a mine field with loads of different makes and colours to choose from. I know the builders wants 4360 slates 500m x 250mm. The spec for the roof just says welsh slate or equivalent look like. . Cheers

 

[Blod]

Don't get the chinese ones. They might seem cheap but they break and don't sit well. The colours are not even either.

 

[del_boy]

Cheers for that. I've been warned off the Brazilian aswell so just leaves the Spanish! I don't want to skimp on the roof as we are up in the air a bit and we have some nasty wind and rain at times. 2nd hand welsh seem a bit hit and miss on quality

 

[Blod]

Spanish look ok and I've not heard complaints about them. Do you need to specify that you want wider ones for the bottom few runs or don't people bother with that any more?

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Eternit make a composite slate and they look fine on a new building.
Traditional slates came in two sizes; Duchess & Countess, with Duchess being the larger. Other szes too but I've never used them.ttp://www.historyhouse.co.uk/articles/roof_slates.htmlzes too;
Westmorland slate has a green colour, Welsh is gray. The choice is down to the palnners/conservation Officer and property owner in the end. Go for quality slate or you will regret the £'s wasted in the long run.
Try and put a sprocket on the rafter feet as this will result in a fine looking roof.
SS

 

[RWG Contracts]

I think it based on budget a lot. Welsh slates are the best but you pay for it. As said avoid chimes and Brazilian other than that I can't really comment

 

[del_boy]

2nd hand welsh look ok but maybe a problem getting them all the same. Most don't seem to be graded so might end up with different sizes and some wastage. A quick look revealed alot of variation in prices

 

[tomlad]

I've used criss Yates . Clitheroe
Yates and Co limited

Seemed to know his stuff
Be wear of whatever the builder's yard is pushing
Criss seemed honest enough to me

Roof been on a few years. No problems .

It is a mine field tho as you say.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

If you are doing a whole new roof, have you considered solar slates?

http://www.building.co.uk/camouflaged-solar-roofing-the-power-slate/3088065.article

 

[neilo]

2nd hand welsh look ok but maybe a problem getting them all the same. Most don't seem to be graded so might end up with different sizes and some wastage. A quick look revealed alot of variation in prices

We had a barn reroofed as a storm damage claim (or rather the estate did). They used secondhand Welsh slate, which apparently has a 10% allowance for wasteage. In reality, almost a third were unusable. I do wonder how much the saving was over using new/better slates.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Brazilian can tend to crack a bit. Apparently Canadian are ok - I think they look a bit blue but nice quality.

These are my locals, they may be able to courier some to you. But I expect your local Jewson can do the same

http://www.slatecentrewales.co.uk/

 

[Bemo]

My father in law may be able to help, he has got a reclamation yard and does a lot of bricks and tiles. Brian Legge Reclamation, He is also in Herefordshire (just outside Bromyard)

 

[jamj]

A better graded slate, although more expensive should cost you less to fit, due to fitter having to reject less.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Second-hand slates will need to be individually inspected. The biggest problem is with the nail holes as if these are too big you can't fix then and each slate needs two nails. The other is sizing hence my original comment on the two main types C & D. Next is the material quality, remembering most second-hand items have already had a fifty to one hundred year use.......
In all seriousness it is down to money in the long run. Take along someone who knows and who will stand buy their work and pay then to look at each individual slate and allow at least 20% extra for s
cutting and wastage.
There is another thought in that you can use Eternit in the out-of sight areas as all you need to do is to keep the rain out!
SS

 

[Grassman]

I have just ordered 20" X 10" grade A Spanish slates for less than 90 each. I have seen two roofs with them on and they are very good.
Quite a few sellers advertise on Ebay.

 

[del_boy]

Thanks for all replies so far. Ive popped around a few merchants today and got a few samples. Visited 2 merchants and between them stock 6 different types of Spanish slate. A budget slate guaranteed for 50 years around the 90p mark and a high grade tile with 100 year guarantee for around 120p. On both occasions the cheaper slate was thicker and heavier which seems wrong way around to me?! Waiting on another for a price and a sample. I like to see the slate for myself before i buy any.

 

[tomlad]

a good supplier / dealer would advise over the phone on quality's / types , even if you didn't deal with them in the end .......

I would not be making decisions with out consulting the guy who's gonna install

 

[del_boy]

They all say that what they sell is the best. Ive got a few samples and prices to compare, if i visited 8000 odd places for samples id soon have enough! ! Ive got an independent slate advisor coming out next week so we'll see what he thinks . Having the right colour is important, i dont want a big new shiny black roof.

 

[tomlad]

I think mine were called lusaval but its a while ago I could be wrong , cant remember the country sorry

name reminded me of Satan

roofer liked them
no problems few years on

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Thanks for all replies so far. Ive popped around a few merchants today and got a few samples. Visited 2 merchants and between them stock 6 different types of Spanish slate. A budget slate guaranteed for 50 years around the 90p mark and a high grade tile with 100 year guarantee for around 120p. On both occasions the cheaper slate was thicker and heavier which seems wrong way around to me?! Waiting on another for a price and a sample. I like to see the slate for myself before i buy any.

That's right. High quality slate can be worked thinner.