Construction Channel Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 anyone got a strong opinion on this? Aluminium: -cheaper -supposedly weaker -corrosion resistant copper: - Just bloody expensive -what most people consider the nail for slates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryder72 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 We had fibre cement slates on the garage and the builders used copper spacer type things but I think it was a galvanised steel (or aluminium) nails. Didnt give it any thought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Our roofer, with 40 years experience, insisted on copper nails for the slates on our cabin roof. They were expensive, but so were the slates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Punter Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Copper nails or stainless hooks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Do not go with aluminium as they are really soft and if you hit a knot or even hard bit of wood they bend, you then try and get them out and the heads rip right off...... i got given a load as the local roofers will not use them..... copper every time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 that's pretty much what everyone I have asked has said......... ill just bite the bullet, but they just cost so much more.... and you even get less per kilo so they get worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 FWIW, our roofers were the same, copper over aluminium for the reasons given above. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassanclan Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 sorry it really has got to be copper 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 21 hours ago, Construction Channel said: anyone got a strong opinion on this? Aluminium: -cheaper -supposedly weaker -corrosion resistant copper: - Just bloody expensive -what most people consider the nail for slates Slightly surprised you aren't making your own :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney12 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Just now, Ferdinand said: Slightly surprised you aren't making your own :-) With yours and Fay's initials on each head 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 11 minutes ago, Ferdinand said: Slightly surprised you aren't making your own :-) 10 minutes ago, Barney12 said: With yours and Fay's initials on each head let's not be silly you two. I haven't finished making a solitary brick out of free clay yet, I doubt I'll get these made by the weekend.... but if I was going to press my own nails, yes I would try to put an E&F on the head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Now i am not saying this is a good idea especially as i used copper after all my free aluminium ones drove me mad.... but what is the actual life expectancy of galvanised clout nails when used in a non harsh environment under a good quality slate roof ? Just asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassanclan Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 33 minutes ago, Cpd said: Now i am not saying this is a good idea especially as i used copper after all my free aluminium ones drove me mad.... but what is the actual life expectancy of galvanised clout nails when used in a non harsh environment under a good quality slate roof ? Just asking. You will probably get 50-60 years out of them, but you might see the rust staining before that. That's how bodgit and scarper roofers would do it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Soldier Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 anyone got a good source for copper nails? What size is recommended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 I think I went for roofing superstore in the end. What are you nailing into? Essentially you want as long as possible without piercing the felt. I had 25 mm battens on 10mm counter battens so went for 32mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Soldier Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I'll be nailing directly into 22mm Sarking board interesting point about not piercing the felt the build up is OSB panel, covered in membrane, covered in sarking board, another membrane, slates. so Sarking will be nailed through roofshield that's left by the panel company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpd Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I dont think this sounds right..... should it not be osb and then breather membrane, batten and then cross batten then slates ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tin Soldier Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) not according to the sips company, no, 22mm sarking required. it does seem strange, I'll admit oops, forgot one important thing membrane, with battens at 600mm, then sarking, membrane, slates important thing to forget Edited January 26, 2018 by Tin Soldier 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassanclan Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I used ashbrook roofing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaICF Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Not sure if this is the right place to put this but here goes. I have a SIPS panel roof with a membrane. Battened and counter battened with 25mm yellow battens. The roofer said he would use copper clouts on the slates but has actually used aluminium nails. The warranty provider inspected the roof at the time and said it was acceptable. The next inspector has indicated that he will not warranty the roof with aluminium nails in. I paid for copper nails so I am very disappointed that they weren't used. Am I going to have an issue in the long term with the fact that they used the wrong nails? I wanted a slate roof so that i didn't get a build up of moss and I understand (now) that it is the properties of the copper nails. Any comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 5 hours ago, AndreaICF said: The warranty provider inspected the roof at the time and said it was acceptable. The next inspector has indicated that he will not warranty the roof with aluminium nails in. Got it in writing from the first inspector ..?? 5 hours ago, AndreaICF said: I wanted a slate roof so that i didn't get a build up of moss and I understand (now) that it is the properties of the copper nails. Not sure who’s told you that but copper nails don’t stop moss - you can get it on any roof. Copper nails don’t corrode as quickly which is why they are used with slates. Aluminium nails are fine with tiles as usually tiles are hooked over the battens and therefore if the nail fails then the tile doesn’t move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperJohnG Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 I've got 350m2 of expensive Cupa slates, put on sarking boards (scotland) by my roofers. All done with aluminium nail and looks great. I wouldn't worry at all about aluminium nails. I also have a SIPS roof. Sips panel, breather membrane, 25mm battens, 22mm sarking boards, second breather membrane then slates. I've also got the over fascia vents, and ridge roll to allow airflow underneather the sarking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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