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Specifications for standard slate roof:

Slate
(a) Slate shall be furnished by Slate International, Inc., 3422 Old Capitol Trail, Wilmington, DE 19808, tel: 301-952-0120, fax: 301-952-0295. Slate shall be of commercial standard quality and thickness (approximately 3/16") or ____. Slate shall be of the following nominal sizes ____.

(b) All slate shall be hard, dense, sound rock, punched (or drilled) for two nails each. No cracked slate shall be used. All exposed corners shall be practically full. No broken corners on covered ends which sacrifice nailing strength or the laying of a watertight roof will be allowed.

Slating
(a) The entire surface of all roofs, unless otherwise specified, and all other surfaces so indicated on the drawings, shall be covered with slate as herein specified, in a proper and watertight manner.
(b) The slate shall project 2" at the eaves and from 1/2" to 1" as directed at all gable ends, and shall be laid in horizontal courses with a 3" headlap (unless otherwise indicated _________), and each course shall break joints with the preceeding one by at least 3". Slates at the eaves or cornice line shall be doubled using same thickness slate for under-eaves at first exposed course. Under-eave slate to be approximately 3" longer than exposure of first course.
(c) Wood cant strip at eaves to be furnished by others.
(d) Slates overlapping sheet metal work shall have the nails so placed as to avoid puncturing the sheet metal. Exposed nails shall be permissable only in top courses where unavoidable.
(e) Neatly fit slate around all pipes, ventilators and other vertical surfaces.
(f) Nails shall not be driven so far as to produce a strain on the slate, nor left proud to stress overlapping slate.
(g) Cover all exposed nailheads with elastic cement. Hip slates and ridge slates shall be laid in elastic cement spread thickly over unexposed surface of under courses of slate, nailed securely in place and carefully pointed with elastic cement.
(h) Build in and place all flashing pieces, snow-guards, etc., furnished by the sheet metal contractor and cooperate with him in doing the work of flashing. (If roofing contractor has the flashing and sheet metal work under his contract, change this paragraph to suit.)

(i) Upon completion, all slate must be sound, whole, clean, and the roof shall be left watertight and neat in every respect, and subject to the architect's approval.

Roofing Felt
(a) On all surfaces to be covered with slate, furnish and lay genuine asphalt saturated rag felt or an approved equal, not less in weight than that commercially known as "30 pound" felt or equal.
(b) Felt shall be laid in horizontal layers with joints lapped towards the eaves at least 2", and well secured along laps and at ends as necessary to properly hold the felt in place and protect the structure until covered with the slate. All felt shall be preserved unbroken, tight, and whole.

(c) Felt shall lap all hips and ridges at least 12" to form double thickness and shall be lapped 2" over the metal of any valleys or built-in gutters.

Nails
(a) All slate shall be fastened with at least two large-head slater's solid copper nails. Use 3d (1 1/4") nails for slates 18" or less in length, 4d (1 1/2") for 20" or longer, and 6d (2") for slates on hips and ridges. (Thicker slates require longer and heavier guage nails. The proper size may be determined by adding 1 inch to twice the thickness of the slate.) All nails should be of sufficient length to adequately penetrate the roof boarding.

(b) (In the event the nailing base is other than wood, change the above paragraph to suit material used.)

Hips

(a) All hips shall be laid to form "Fantail", "Saddle", "Mitred", "Boston", (to be inserted as desired.) -- or -- Install TopSlateTM ridge/hip system (specify model _________) as furnished by Castle Metal Products, tel: 847-806-4540.

Ridges
(a) All ridges to be laid to form "Comb", "Saddle", "Strip Saddle", (to be inserted as desired.) The nails of the combing slate shall pass through the joints of the slate below -- or -- Install TopSlateTM ridge/hip system (specify model _________) as furnished by Castle Metal Products, tel: 847-806-4540.

(b) The combing slate shall be laid with the same exposure as the next course down. (If desired, the combing slate sloping away from the direction of prevailing storms may project 1" above the combing slate on opposite side of ridge.)

Valleys

(a) All valleys shall be laid to form "Closed", "Open", "Round", (to be inserted as desired.)

Flashing and Sheet Metal Work

(Specifications for flashing and sheet metal work to be inserted here if included under this specification.)

Notice: All information is thought to be accurate but is not guaranteed and is subject to change without notice.

©2001 Slate International, Inc. All rights reserved.