Storing roofing slates

[rwa.martin]

I've got a few hundred welsh slate roofing tiles I want to store outside. Is there a recommended way for doing this? i.e. should they be stacked off the ground? Should they be covered?
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks

 

[Moo]

Nothing useful to contribute, just that it seems odd that nobody else on the forum has, either.

So I thought I'd bump the message up to the top.

 

[Ian Bond]

Not sure what it's like where you are, but one of my major concerns is security.

 

[michael]

I managed to salvage 1000 welsh slates when I had a roof done two years ago. These were stored outside and used with other reclaimed slates on an adjacent roof this year. It was the roofer who salvaged the slates and stacked them for me. These were stacked against each other sideways on with the long edge to the ground. At one end there was a wall to hold them up and all were leaning slightly towards the wall. A second row of slates was then stacked on top of these only this time flat face down and to the same depth as the lower row. I guess stacking them this way reduces the compressive weight and the potential of cracked slates. I wouldn’t go above two rows in height and I would only bother putting a board underneath them if (a) you’re worried about damaging the ground (b) if the ground is uneven or (c) if the ground is soft enough for the slates to sink in.(they’re very heavy)
I wouldn’t bother covering them. They’re designed to be outside, some with an outside lifespan of 80 years +, unless of course you want to hide them from prying eyes. With welsh, you can pay anything up to £3 a slate nowadays. Second thoughts store them indoors under lock and key.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Ours were also stacked in the way described above, so it looks like it is standard practice.

 

[bower1]

I wouldn’t bother covering them. They’re designed to be outside

But if they are stacked they will not dry out, whereas on a roof they will. Is this a problem?