Curling Roof Slates

[CADjockey]

A friend of mine has just finished a build and covered it in mid range Spanish slate roof tiles.

It is noticeable that a number of the slates are no longer laying flat on the slate below at the 

leading edge. That they have curled up a bit like the pages of a book as they have dried out?

It may obviously be an issue under driving rain, but how common is this as I've never seen it

before and I am planning a slate roof on our project? 

[Construction Channel]

I have never heard of slates curling from drying out. We’re they definitely flat when they were laid? 

 

You would normally get a kicker from nailing them on too hard or the previous slate having a thick top, 

 

worst case is the slate has actually snapped so you would need to pull it out with a slate rip then relay a new one on a lead or copper tingle. 

( assuming this is standard slating not nulock or fake slates) 

[Mr Punter]

More likely the battens or rafters have shrunk or twisted or a fixing or slate is broken.

 

When you buy your slate, make sure that they are consistent thickness and straight grain.  Get a stack of about 12 and see if they wobble when you press the corners.

[CADjockey]

None of them have snapped yet, and they all went on flat, it's just happened over a short time post fit.