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Slate Shingles

CHAPTER

he principal difference between slate and other stones is the naturalcleavage in the slate. This cleavage permits it to be split in one direc-tion, forming sheets of various thicknesses. Slate is cut and trimmed,mostly by hand, into the required sizes and thicknesses. A slate roof istypically a custom product and its use gives character to a buildingunlike that of any other covering. Slate quarried for roofing is of dense,sound rock and is exceedingly tough and durable.The minerals that constitute slate were deposited in bodies of watermany years ago. Erosion and deposition account for the different com-positions of successive beds. Other materials then were deposited overthe clays, and the pressure of the superimposed material graduallyunited the clays into shale.Many of these shale beds were then subjected to intense pressureand high temperatures from the crumpling and folding of the earth’scrust. This process turned the shale beds into slate. Slate’s cleavage isthe result of mineral grains being parallel to the extreme pressure forces.The slate industry in the United States started in the mid to latenineteenth century. The first mines, or quarries, were developed in theMettowee Valley, which lies between the Adirondack Mountains of New York and the Green Mountains of Vermont, by immigrants fromWales.

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Huge holes are dug into the ground until the first beds of slate arefound. Often, the top layers of slate, which usually are brown or goldin color, are very soft. These slates are not recommended for roofinguse because they do not afford the same quality offered by the deeper beds. Only the best quality slate can be used to make roofing slate.From hot summer temperatures to the most brutal of cold winters,wind, water, ice, and snow take their toll on any slate that is not madefrom the best quality rock.Today, blocks of slate are removed from quarry walls and driven tomills. Outside the mill, jackhammers cut these huge blocks intosmaller, more manageable blocks. Conveyor systems then move the blocks inside the mill to saws with diamond blades. The diamond blades, one of the few advances in the slate roofing industry since itsinception in the 1800s, can cut through the thickest of blocks. Theprocess cuts the blocks to a size that is approximately two incheslonger and an inch wider than needed.Then the most impressive production step occurs. A craftsperson,known as a

splitter

, using a hammer and chisel and the measurementof his or her own eye, lays the chisel along the natural cleave of thestone and taps the end of the chisel with a hammer. This splits theslate evenly and cleanly. This is truly an art that must be mastered.Those who have the feel for the stone and the natural ability tojudge the thickness of each piece can quickly split the slates to thedesired thickness. It is rather mind-boggling to think that every pieceof roofing slate made today is split by hand. There is simply nomachine available that can eye the slate, spot the cleavage, and gently, but firmly, evenly split the pieces of slate.Once the pieces of slate are split for thickness, they are then trimmedto the ordered size. Trimming machines have a revolving blade thatchops the slate to the desired size. The process leaves a

chamferred

edge,which is a rough edge that allows the texture of the slates to be seen.The final step is to punch nail holes into the slate pieces. This step,done one piece at a time, can be a time-consuming process. It also actsas a type of quality control. As the craftsperson puts these slates throughthe punching process, any piece of slate that is cracked or broken, or notof the desired quality, is discarded. After the slate pieces are punchedfor nail holes, they are loaded onto pallets, and prepared for shipment.

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CHAPTER NINE

The production of roofing slate is truly an art. Because these slatesare a natural stone product, each piece has its own unique qualities.Roofing slate comes in thicknesses from

⁄

to 1 inch and offers roof appearances that range from smooth and uniform to rough and tex-tured. Slate roofs have a service life of 75 to 100 years.

Examining Slate Characteristics

As previously mentioned, slate has a natural cleavage that permits it to be more easily split in one direction than in others. A second directionof fracture or

scallop

, which is usually at right angles to the cleavage,is called the

grain

. Roofing slates are commonly split so that the lengthof the slate runs with the grain.Slate quarried for roofing stock is of dense, sound rock that isexceedingly tough and durable. Slate, like any other stone, becomesharder and tougher upon exposure than it is when first quarried. It ispractically nonabsorptive. Tests show that typical slate has a porosityof 0.15 to 0.4 percent.The nature of the slate surface after splitting is dependent on thecharacter of the rock from which it is quarried. Many slates split to asmooth, practically even and uniform surface, while others are some-what rough and uneven. As a result, a wide range of surface effects isavailable for the finished roof.Slate from certain localities contains comparatively narrow bandsof rock differing to various degrees in chemical composition and colorfrom the main body of the stone. These bands are called

ribbons

. Rib- bons that do not contain injurious constituents and are of desirablecolor are not objectionable. Slates of this type, when trimmed so thatthe ribbons are eliminated, are known as

clear

slate. Slates that con-tain some ribbons are sold as

ribbon stock

Picking Colors

The color of slate is determined by its chemical and mineral composi-tion. Since these factors differ in various localities, it is possible toobtain roofing slates in a variety of colors and shades.It is truly remarkable to find a natural product that possesses, in addi-tion to its other qualities, such unlimited color possibilities. Surface

SLATE SHINGLES

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