Cutting Roof Slates

VA Remodeler

Part of my work includes Slate Repairs and I also run into slate now and then when doing roof repairs. I very rarely need to cut any slate but I had one job where the roof I was working on went up against a copper valley. Not only did I need to cut down on the width of some pieces, I had to angle cut many. I tried a few different ways to get that natural slate "edge", but wasn't getting anywhere fast. I called a slate distributor and he suggested a tile wet saw, which worked great, but I had to settle with smooth edges instead of that ragged natural edge. In this case, the customer didn't mind the smooth edge, which also could not be seen from the ground.

But my question is, how do you get that natural looking edge and make good time cutting them?

Any info would be appreciated.

RooferJim

A slater will use a stake ans slaters hammer but for a carpenter or roofer who only works with slate a little the easiest way is a slate cutter. There are several types available and you can get the chamfered edge. slate work should really be done by those that are trained for it.
http://www.stortz.com/slatecutters.html




RooferJim

dennis

A "slate distributer" suggested a "tile wet saw"????

nixfix

Use a slaters stake and Slate hammer, also a slate cutter, which every you use cut with the backside of the slate facing up and punch holes from this side also.

VA Remodeler

Appreciate the info y'all. Interesting link on some good tools. My Roofing Supplier had very little in stock.

Appreciate the good tips also.

VA Remodeler

Altho I have been doing simple slate repairs for years, this particular job didn't start out that big. But as we found more problems concerning the roof leak, it came to a point where we needed to remove a section of slate and it was up to a copper valley to boot. I recommended to the customer to bring in a slate roofer and she asked me to find one for her. There ain't many around here to start with, but I was able to find 3 good numbers.

1st one: More or less said "we only do big jobs and we charge a lot to do them". Your job is too small.

2nd: It will take 6 months for us to come out just to look at it.

3rd: Left message with answering service (real person). Never got a call back.

Already into the carpentry part of the job, I did the slate myself. Other than some non original edges here and there, the job worked out well and the customer was happy.

tinner666

Where are you located? I'll be servicing Prince Edward and surrounding counties when I finish moving the business.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

Grumpy

Slate guillitine. Very fast and easy, take a wee bit of arm strength... Yeah a wet saw, I agree with dennis.

Tom M

My experience with slate is limited but from what I recall doing we used a gullitine cutter for "pennsylvania" type slate cut upside down for rough edges and a slate hammer for thicker random colored slates. I forget the names of those. Your going to lose alot of the detail look wet cutting all the time. No arguing how much easier it is though.

VA Remodeler

I'm outside of Roanoke