Voila! *PIC*

[Anonymous]

It may be something to do with their Building Regs,
or the manufactures/architects spec.....
or the weather conditions in that area,

or they are not 'heavy' enough......
Like the Eternit slates where they have to use copper rivets to hold them down at the end...
There's probably a good reason

 

[Anonymous]

It all looks extremely regular - rather a contrast to the rest of the buildings - and I doubt stainless is very traditional! Trouble is with stainless it's always going to leap out at the eye.

I'm wondering what Bryan thinks - he's gone very quiet...

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe it will tarnish in time. but I know what you mean..

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know what the metal is but it does not stay bright. It goes a dull slate grey and becomes all but invisible. Zinc perhaps? Jake, you might have a point about not heavy enough. The slates are a bit smaller and thiner than is common here.

 

[Anonymous]

Forriners, with ways very different from our own...

 

[Anonymous]

Worse beer, better wine.

 

[Anonymous]

Here are some slates, prettily hung on a wall without wire.
When brick infill in timber framing is not rendered the pointing is usually flush, sometimes to the extent of leaving little brick visible where the brick is badly worn.
There is a tradition of painting the exterior timber with a brown paint or stainy stuff. Don't know what it is but in this pic it must have been applied many years ago as its pretty much faded or fallen off, but they are still using it. It is very runny and applied with a wide soft brush. Any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

Creosote? No doubt something toxic banned years ago by the EU!

No pic apperaed yet tho!

 

[Anonymous]

It came up on my screen ok.

 

[Anonymous]

I much prefer the appearance of a nailed roof as well. And no, it would probably be impractical to use them on diminishing courses.
As to cost - in labour it is considerably cheaper. Take for instance a roof of 250/500 slates at 75mm headlap. Thats 20 per sq. m - 40 nails or 20 hooks. Not difficult to see how the labour is so much less. There are other time saving elements as well but I won't bother to detail these.
I am not advocating the blanket use of this method. What I am suggesting is that if it allows the fixing of a serviceable roof and frees up money to carry out more important works then system has it's place.
Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

I am always quiet on Sundays Evelyn. Plus there wasn't much I could say really:

Wire hung slating is a relatively modern practice and better suited to the smaller, lighter, standard sized stuff. They are not theoretically ‘fixed’ but ‘hung’ and the ‘hook’ must be set in the perpend below the piece it is holding. If done properly it fashions a good enough roof, if sloppily done then the outcome could perhaps be more disastrous than if nailed in the traditional manner. Nonetheless, it can obviously make a good sound roof if the slate is small enough.

This system isn’t really suited to diminishing courses of slate and completely unsuitable for random work. As Jake says, Eternits (man-made fibre slates) are toe-riveted as well as shoulder nailed, it is so that the corners don’t curl up like British Rail sandwiches did.

We don’t as a rule use little standard slates in this country and the jury (‘my’ jury!) is out on using clips on anything much over 7”x14”, although I understand they are used on larger sizes (!?). I am too long in the tooth to change my ways now, if it came to the crunch, I personally don’t think I could ever bring myself to use clips on our types of roof (but saying that, I have learnt to skate board recently!).

It is all quite a big step away from the more authentically accepted procedures we are accustomed to. Which brings me to the point where I must say I am also in favour of ‘hand-bossing/dressing’ cast lead, rather than this new fangled, unfeeling, prefabricated habit of burning it – although that is now what my son does more and more these days (I think it is only because he knows it makes me cry!).

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

I couldn't sleep last night Evelyn, as I obviously only gave you my own biased opinion on slate clips – having never even used the things!

On talking to my son over a pint or three last night, he tells me that these clips hold the slates quite well (whereas I thought they might not). Robust and sensibly ‘ring-shanked’ at one end, they are driven into the battens to hold the heads firmly, a strong sprung clip holds the tail down (as everybody can see!!). He went on to say he has a ‘love-hate’ attitude towards them because speed and simplicity is not always the answer, although he does like the extra money they can save/earn.

However, during harsh interrogation (I can still arm wrestle a bit!) he did say he much preferred the conventional method of fixing given the choice.

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

Just to say (I've been away and catching up!) our lead was mostly bashed but a bit of burning was required. It was a joy to behold though!

I'll be having our present roof done in the traditional way. I'll continue to do without a great many 'mod cons' because I would rather have a beautiful roof than an expenisve kitchen etc! And I'm afraid I don't think these clip things make a beautiful roof.