What are the slate roofing tools?

Answer 1

Slate clips - Qualcraft is the manufacturer of a slate roof clip commonly used to secure a slate roof. The tongue part is hooked to a roof nail (at least a 16 penny nail, 3 1/2″) and then 2 more are used to secure the bracket. There is a lot of weight hanging from these brackets, so securing them properly is essential. Make sure the lock is secure! These brackets allow a 2″x 10″ shelf to be slid between the brackets and gain access to the roof. Always secure the shelf to the bracket with a nail or screw. Video made available by Joe Jenkins and the Slate Roof Warehouse.

The SLATOR (Secure Ladder And Tie Off Responsibly) is a newer product that allows roofers to easily and safely access slate roofs. Unlike a ridge hook, the SLATOR can be used on hipped roofs and other places where the ridge is not accessible. The SLATOR is screwed into the rafters with approved fasteners, and then a ladder is securely clamped into the SLATOR. The first SLATOR is usually installed at the eaves. The SLATOR has a built-in OSHA-compliant anchor point for fall protection. This process can be repeated on the roof as necessary to reach repair areas or to install fall protection for all workers.

Slate Repair StortzStortz slate ripper - Once you have access to the roof, it's time to remove the broken slates. The slate ripper is the best way to accomplish this. A thin, strong blade are the desired characteristics. If the blade is too thick, it can break neighboring slates. The Stortz ripper is forged in one piece and has higher strength than a welded ripper. The curvature is also important, as a stiff blade can do more harm than good. Once the pliers are pushed under the broken slate, the ears hook on to the nails, and hitting the handle of the pliers back with the hammer removes the nails, allowing the slate to be removed.

Hook - When a piece of slate has been removed, the most common way to replace it is with a slate hook. A hook is connected to the underlying layer and then hammered into the lining. A new piece is then inserted into the slate and slid onto the hook. The materials available are copper and stainless steel. Stainless hooks are stronger and better suited to harder coverings, but the aesthetics of copper may be appealing to some.

Another method of attaching replacement slates is the nail and batten method. Most prefer the slate hook method because nails can damage other slates and slates can fall out or rust. A slate hook also costs much less than a copper slab.

Restoration hammer - A restoration hammer and a slate hammer are two different hammers. A slate hammer is used for cutting, nailing and hammering nails. It is useful when working in valleys, in places where cutting is required, and when laying new layers of slate. For repairs, it is important to have a restoration hammer with you. A heavier hammer is needed to hit the ripper when removing slate. You should NOT use your precious slate hammer. It is used for hitting nails and attaching slate hooks.

Ridge hooksNake hooks - If the roof has a ridge and it can be reached with a portable ladder, the ridge hook is the fastest way to reach a repair site. Once a ridge hook is attached to a ladder, the ladder is rolled onto the roof and then flipped over. The device "hooks" over the ridge and uses gravity to hold the ladder in place while the user climbs the ladder.

Sometimes a piece of slate does not fit exactly into the dimensions of a repair. A slate cutter is lightweight, portable and cuts slate to the right size, making it essential for repair work. A cutter can also be used to make concave and convex cuts for decorative work. The punch can also be used for nailing.

Answer 2

TOOL SETS.

SLATE RIPPERS.

SLATE CUTTERS.

SLATE HAMMERS.

ROOF BRACKETS.

LADDER HOOKS.