One of the most popular coatings so far is asbestos cement slate. We will discuss how the slate crate is made, how to properly lay it and how to attach it - we will discuss in this article.
Slate and its properties
For many years, slate has been used to cover the roofs of houses, outbuildings, as well as for the manufacture of fences, fences and much more.
The material is quite easy to install. It is fireproof, resistant to ultraviolet and temperature extremes.
Well withstands the weight of the snow cover, protects the roof from water. Thanks to the wavy surface, it dampens the sound effects of falling raindrops and hail.
For its fastening, roofing nails or special screws are used, which securely hold the material on the roof.
Certainly, roofing material is not in the forefront in terms of external attractiveness, so large buildings and respectable houses are practically not finished with them now.
But for a medium-sized house, with a not very complex roof, as well as for outbuildings, baths, verandas, pantries and other things, it is perfect.
Slate is cheaper than metal coatings by about a third, and its service life is practically not inferior to the latter. Therefore, if inexpensive cost and practicality are more important to you than the aesthetic side, you will make your choice in favor of asbestos-cement material.
It is processed easily, it is enough to have a good drill and electric saw on hand. For fasteners, a self-tapping screw for slate or ordinary nails is best suited. Standard sheets are gray, but if necessary, you can paint the material yourself in the desired color.
You can use any paint intended for facade work. Thus, you will not only make the roof more attractive, but also create additional protection against moisture. Recently, manufacturers have also begun to produce painted sheets.
Slate has the disadvantage that over time, absorbing moisture, it creates favorable soil for the development of fungi and moss on it. The painted layer will extend the service life of the coating several times, increasing its water resistance.
Lathing installation
Asbestos-cement sheets, although lighter than ceramic tiles, are heavier than many other coatings. Therefore, the device of the crate under the slate must be taken quite carefully.
The optimal thickness of the beam under it is from 50mm to 75mm.A smaller thickness is not recommended for safety reasons, and a larger one can lead to deformation from absorbed moisture.
Advice! It is not necessary to step too often, because the sheets, although heavy, have good intrinsic strength. It is enough that the slate has a support on the timber along its edges and in the middle. But, if you use sheets of non-standard sizes, with a greater length and width, you need to create additional support for them.
Standard sizes are considered to be 120 × 68 cm, and for such a sheet a step of 50 cm is enough. Non-standard sheets are 175 × 112.5 cm in size, and for them a step of 70 - 80 cm will be optimal.
Make sure that the odd bars are located 3 cm below the even ones. This is done in order to prevent deformation of the sheets when laying with an overlap. If you are using flat slate, lay it on a solid crate or crate with a small step.
It is best to mount it from even flat boards or plywood treated with a water-repellent compound. Boards or plywood for this are firmly nailed to the rafters.
How to attach sheets
As mentioned above, slate screws or roofing nails can be used as fasteners.
Slate screws. Their advantage is that they are made of hardened steel, therefore, they are much stronger than ordinary nails. You can choose the most convenient length and the color of the head you need.
The heads are usually hex-shaped for a wrench or a slot for a conventional screwdriver.
The screws are equipped with additional sealing washers that create tightness of the mounting hole.The ends of the screws also have two varieties - sharp and in the form of a drill.
Having purchased screws with a sharp end, you will have to use a drill and drill the slate in the places of future fastening. If the self-tapping screw has an end like a drill drill, then you will no longer need the latter.
It is enough just to screw the screw with a screwdriver or wrench into the right place. Of course, special screws are more expensive than ordinary nails, but it makes sense to purchase them for many reasons.
Self-tapping screws do not rust, reduce installation time and save material, since by driving in a nail, you risk breaking the roofing sheet.
Nails for slate. They differ from the usual large diameter caps, reaching up to 14 mm. The length ranges from 70 mm to 120 mm. Often they are coated with galvanized, which gives anti-corrosion properties.
Since the waves of slate sheets have different standards for the height of the waves, then the nails must be selected of the appropriate length. It is easy to calculate the required nail size - sum up the wave height and the thickness of the crate board, add 10 mm of margin to the sum.
Since the nails are not equipped with rubber seal washers, you can easily fix this problem yourself. Just cut the required number of round or square gaskets from a piece of thin rubber in advance and use them during installation.
Note! Roofing nails are also produced, which have a special shape of the trunk - with serifs on it, in the form of a ruff, with a helical surface, like a self-tapping screw. This form of fasteners will not allow a gust of wind to pull out an already driven nail with a nailed sheet. Many professional roofers use just such nails.
If the question arises - how to drill slate under the nails, it is best to use a conventional drill from a good manufacturer. When driving in nails, be very careful, because slate is a rather fragile material and can crack with a strong blow.
Slate Care
Like every roof covering, asbestos cement sheets need to be looked after. Unlike ideally smooth metal tiles, slate has a slightly rough surface.
Debris, branches and leaves linger on it, which must be periodically cleaned. How to clean slate without harming the coating itself and without much hassle?
- To begin with, it is advisable to climb onto the roof for cleaning and inspection at least once every six months. This is best done before the start of the rainy season, and after it ends. In autumn, a large amount of fallen leaves accumulate on the roof. She, clinging to the coating, retains moisture that can destroy the roof over time. On an uncleaned roof, colonies of moss and lichen can develop, and even grass can grow, using rotted foliage as fertile soil.
- In order for the coating to last longer and not bring a lot of trouble, it is better to paint the sheets before or after installation work. This will extend their service life and increase water resistance several times. You can use either a paint specially designed for this, or any other that has waterproof properties.
- You can also clean the roof manually, using improvised means. But, if you are a happy owner of an electric pump, then it will be very convenient to wash off the dirt with it. Moreover, your neighbors will most likely offer you not to help them for free. The fact is that not everyone has a pump, and it is expensive, so the one who has it can also earn money along the way.
- For lack of a pump, you can not be upset. An ordinary broom will help you, with which you will simply sweep away everything unnecessary. And the roof will be completely washed by heavy rains.
- Snow and ice in winter is also desirable to clean off. This will prevent congestion of the coating and the accumulation of moisture during the thaw. Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and be extremely careful on a slippery roof.
- Not being able to take care of the roof yourself, try to periodically involve assistants for this. It can be either a special team or a friendly neighbor. Do not take this lightly, because repairing the coating due to careless handling will cost you much more.
Many homeowners who have had a roof covered for a long time, over time, begin to think about how to update the slate in order to extend its life.
The most efficient way known slate painting. Now the building materials market offers a wide range of special paints designed specifically for these purposes.
Note! Having bought paint, you can cover the roof with it, and there is not even a need for preliminary puttying and priming the surface. Thus, you will extend the life of the slate at least twice. You can paint not only new, but also enough used material.
Many people are interested in the question - how to use broken slate for economic purposes. There are several ways to use it, because a zealous owner must put everything into action.
- Sufficiently large pieces can be leveled with a hacksaw. They make a wonderful fence.Of course, in this case you will not be able to build a grandiose fence, but a symbolic fence along the paths or to mark the territory will come in handy.
- Smaller pieces, unsuitable for construction, can be broken into very small ones, and then used as drainage.
- Small broken slate is perfect for sprinkling paths, or a platform for a car. Where there is no way to lay asphalt, tiles or gravel, pieces of asbestos cement will fit well.
- For those who like to decorate their garden and build flower beds, slate battle will come in handy as a working material. With pieces, you can protect a flower garden or a clearing, strengthen them and paint them in different colors.
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