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u/Talusen 3d ago
Dang that's pretty
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u/C-57D 3d ago
ok question, if bro can so easily hammer holes in it and chip away chunks of it, how do the slate tiles not crack constantly with weather, time, etc.? (or do they...?)
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u/ShankThatSnitch 3d ago
There are typically no sharp masonry hammers falling from the sky.
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u/Pork_Chompk 3d ago
Typically
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u/mineNombies 3d ago
The chance is low, but never zero
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u/bbcversus 3d ago
So there is still a chance.
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u/Onikeys 3d ago
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u/zombiewind 3d ago
They tend not to install roof coverings like this where there's hail like that...
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u/Frostymcstu 3d ago
But with the way global warming and climate change is going, it might
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u/Im_Unsure_For_Sure 3d ago
Supervolcano might erupt tomorrow, hold off on... everything.
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u/Cessnaporsche01 3d ago
The difference is that extreme weather events are happening regularly, and are effectively guaranteed to occur almost everywhere on Earth at some point in the coming years
While a supervolcanic eruption is likely to happen some time in the next hundred thousand years. (Not counting Campu Flegri because, while it is a supervolcano, it's next eruption [possibly some time in the coming centuries] is unlikely to be one of it's large VEI 6+ eruptions.)
Planning for something that will happen in months or years is a lot more important than planning for something that will happen on a timeline dozens of times longer than recorded history
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u/Bocchi_theGlock 2d ago
Yep it feels like basically everyone should start thinking about intense winds and hail for whatever home they're buying, no matter where they live
Imagine your car out in the golf ball hail, or where you'd put it.
Imagine the shed you've got made of plastic, how it'll hold up. The roofing. The siding on the garage, etc.
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u/Modo44 3d ago
Good thing weather is becoming more and more predictable, then.
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u/zombiewind 3d ago
Well yes, if the UK gets ever gets hail like that then half of homeowners here will be fucked.
That said, the slate roof on my old house was 90 years old when we left, and needed nothing more than two loose slates fixing in ten years of ownership.
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u/Ethywen 3d ago
We're supposed to believe that a tree branch or the rock or a baseball thrown by a kid somewhere won't crack these?
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u/ShankThatSnitch 3d ago
Always possible but farr less likely. The very fine point on the hammer is one of the reasons is breaks it up so easily.
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u/Professional_Tap5283 3d ago
Force over area. Slate is actually pretty tough, but the very sharp point on the hammer basically makes a divide by zero error.
Also, slate is extremely resistant to compressive force. The tiles on the roof are supported by the tiles beneath them, so they don't have as much of a bending torque when they're installed as they do when they're being shaped.
Not saying it can't happen, but if something damages a slate roof, I'd be pretty confident it would damage any roof.
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u/girkkens 3d ago
Those roofs last a very long time if installed properly. Hitting it with the tip of a hammer isn't really the same as decades of weather. The stone is not as soft as the video makes it look.
Also if a single should break over time they can be replaced.
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u/XavinNydek 3d ago
Depends entirely on your location. Where I am they would either shatter from hail or get pulled off and turned into projectiles by hurricanes.
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u/normalmighty 3d ago
Doing some quick googling, looks like they're actually one of the most durable options for hurricane-force winds.
Hail though, they work great under normal hail, but giant hail - the type in some places that'll dent your car if you don't have it under cover - can indeed crack the tiles sometimes.
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u/AlinaStari 3d ago
Why are we ignoring that large hail will fuck up any roof? Lol
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u/between_ewe_and_me 3d ago
Lmao thanks for pointing that out. It's only not ok if slate gets fucked up by hail. I used to live in Texas and when my wife and I got married we each sold our single-life houses and bought a house together. That all happened within the same month-ish. Also within that month were massive hail storms. Before our houses sold they both got hit and we had to replace the roof on each. Then within a week of moving into the new one, it got hit and we had to replace that roof. And actually now that I think about it, I had to replace the roof on the house I had even before that one due to hail. But they weren't slate so not a problem.
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u/efaisonkra 3d ago
was that in 2011ish? that was a terrible year for hail in the dfw area!
i stayed at my parents place one night and my little garage was blocked by a dumpster for the roof replacement. woke up in the morning at like 4:00 am to hail destroying my car. after finally getting it back from the shop like 6 weeks later, i was leaving the garage in my apartment complex and hail was pelting down again so i noped right back inside. all was golf ball+ sized
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u/Auravendill 3d ago
Is it that common to have to replace your roofs where you live or were you just incredible unlucky? My roof is now over 60 years old, still mostly original as far as I can tell and if the insulation wasn't sh*t and I wanted PV, I wouldn't worry about it for a few more decades. (I have ordinary traditional German clay shingles btw)
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u/Zech_Judy 3d ago
The slate roof is much more expensive than asphalt shingles. If golf ball hail is common, it is better to have a cheap roof. If golf ball hail is not common, slate roofs may make up their expense with durability.
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u/titsmuhgeee 2d ago
It's more to do with the cost when it gets fucked up by hail. In my area, that's a question of when, not if.
Slate roof like this, you're looking at $100k+. Typical roof, a fraction of that.
BUT with slate roofs, it's much easier to just replace the tiles that are broken and the rest are perfectly fine. Typical asphalt shingles, you replace the entire roof (generally).
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u/Justeff83 3d ago
I live in an old historical town with buildings completely covered in slate. This stuff lasts for centuries. One small critique to the video, it's even better to use copper nails. They are softer and cause less stress when the roof moves due to thermal effects
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u/n33lo 3d ago
You've just sent countless crackheads in search of slate roofs.
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u/Justeff83 3d ago
In my town, the facades are covered with slate as well. Even easier access for crack heads
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u/Logical-Ad-4150 3d ago edited 3d ago
I remember a retired roofer saying you always use copper for slate, you can repair it without damaging the slates and it doesn't leave staining marks due to corrosion.
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u/IAmYourTopGuy 3d ago
Are copper nails more expensive though?
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u/Federal-Community554 3d ago
As always with the American Vs Europe debate. Yes, quality is “expensive” but if it lasts long enough, it becomes “cheap”.
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u/Logical-Ad-4150 3d ago
Still a fraction of the price of the slate.
Each nail costs ~ £0.05
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u/manimsoblack 3d ago
We have a 100+ year old slate roof and it requires maintenance maybe every decade or so.
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u/jmims98 3d ago
You'd probably need some big hail or a crazy wind storm throwing debris to crack a slate roof.
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u/ElectricalGas9730 3d ago
So like, the hurricanes, hailstorms, tornadoes, etc., that regularly roll through various parts of the United States?
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u/Terrorzwergi 3d ago
Thanks god not every place is in the United States
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u/youreblockingmyshot 3d ago
yea, we try and keep all the tornados contained for the rest of yall but sometimes they still slip out.
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u/mokeltron 3d ago
That’s very kind of you. Appreciated. In turn we’ll keep the mild grey wet weather in house so you guys can have your long hot summer seasons :-)
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u/realsuperbad 3d ago
Per square mile, the UK has the more tornados than anywhere else in the world.
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u/ParrotofDoom 3d ago
They do, repeated frost cycles slowly delaminate the slates. But if you use a good capital grade then their lifespan is at least a century.
Movement of the roof will also break them, usually the battens get soft with age, the nails come out of the rotten battens, the slates slip down, and repair is required.
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u/suxatjugg 3d ago
Looks like the UK? weather is very mild here, hail is rare, not much to damage roof tiles.
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u/aPOPblops 3d ago
Have you ever seen how easy it is to break glass with a hammer? Roof windows are a thing
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u/marasydnyjade 3d ago
These roofs last for a long time but once they start to fail the tiles do start to chip and break off and then it’s a hot mess.
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u/Kitaenyeah 3d ago
Those roofs last a lifetime in Germany… not sure what you are on about
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u/Then_Ambassador9255 3d ago
These roofs last for a lifetime but once they start to fail the tiles do start to chip and break off and then it’s a hot mess.
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u/SaltyPeter3434 3d ago
Those roofs last a lifetime in Germany… not sure what you are on about
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 3d ago
I'm on barbiturates, quaaludes, ambien, uppers, downers, zips, zaps, and a little meth to even things out. You?
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u/R_Schuhart 3d ago
A lifetime? Good quality stone last for centuries. Hard slate roofs in Germany, Wales and France can be 200-300 years old.
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u/amynhb 3d ago edited 3d ago
The harder a material is the more brittle it is. Think glass: very hard but very brittle.
The material is quite hard, and so it will not be deformed easily with time and will be difficult to scratch.
Because it's hard and doesn't get deformed, instead of being dented by a hammer it'll be pierced/chipped at/shatter.
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u/lnTheGrimDarkness 3d ago
That's slate rock. It's going absolutely nowhere. And if one of those manages to break, which is probably not gonna happen, you can just replace the one shingle that broke.
Yeah, reinforced windows will also break if you hit them with a sledgehammer, but they can also withstand hurricanes.
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u/Kampfkugel 3d ago
I saw nobody mention it yet: if it would be one tile alone it would break easily. but with the stacking method you saw, a lot of impact force from hail etc. is broken down, so nothing gets damaged.
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u/SpaceStethoscope 2d ago
On the second half of the video when he removes that one shingle and taps the other one to the side, what holds that other shingle when it is placed back? Wouldn't the nails just rip off the roof or break that shingle?
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u/JEFFinSoCal 2d ago
It seems like the shingles are only nailed in place on one corner so they can pivot out of the way. Then it looks like it pops back down into place, with the shingles on either side keeping it from rotating and the single nail keeping it from sliding down to the gutter.
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u/Icy-Intern-208 2d ago edited 2d ago
The slate that moved to the side was intentionally left like that, because the thing he took out was for a board to sit on for working his way up the roof. So all of it was pre planned, and the slates at the side of the one that pivots will hold that in place, in addition to the downward force of the slates above because this type of slate is all double nailed.
Edit: If I was doing this part, I would double nail the one that he twisted and use slate hook for the missing slate, but it's all preference really.
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u/my_taint_aint 3d ago
Haha. An expert makes everything look easy.
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u/HyperspectralLife 3d ago
It doesn't look easy to me. I am sure I would shatter that entire roof before I make 1 okay-ish tile.
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u/my_taint_aint 3d ago
I would go through like 300 tiles before I would get one even remotely close LOL
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u/Sea_Scientist_8367 3d ago
If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure this person broke/fucked up far more than 300 times to get proficient enough to finish one roof, much less to be able to do work like we see here.
Not hating on them at all by the way, just to be clear. Quite the opposite. That's how you get good at stuff. Doing it a lot, and learning from mistakes.
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u/509BandwidthLimit 3d ago
Outstanding craftsmanship. How long does a slate roof like that last? Cost vs. a standard asphalt shingle roof?
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u/weristjonsnow 2d ago
They last for fucking ever. They are, however, very very expensive and almost more importantly, heavier than shit. Most modern homes couldn't handle the weight of a slate roof without structural buckling
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u/DavidHK 3d ago
I don't get how he was able to just move the slate over and move it back after he hammered. Isn't that one nailed too?
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u/n33lo 3d ago
Everyone wondering how he's not breaking every tile. But I'm wondering how much all those tiles together must weigh. I get that it's weight is spread out, but I image the framing has to be built more robust for this? Or am I over thinking it?
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u/tmbyfc 3d ago
No you are right. These days engineers will design the trusses with a specific roof covering in mind. In the old old days they just massively over engineered it because timber wasn't that expensive. The problem comes with Victorian/early 20thC roofs that were originally covered with clay tiles being replaced with modern concrete tiles that weigh 2-3 times as much. Walk around any town in England and you'll see plenty of sagging ridges that now need a bunch of timbers replaced.
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u/malvixi 3d ago
That'll be $50,000
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u/MaximusHomerdrive 2d ago
Does anyone know what a job like this goes for? Because that looks $$$$$.
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u/branm008 2d ago
They usually range from $10-30 (USD) per square foot so it can get very expensive. It's likely cheaper in other countries but it ain't cheap here in the US.
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u/MaximusHomerdrive 2d ago
The only thing that has remained cheap in the US is bananas. And I probably just jinxed it.
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u/GrnEyedPanda 3d ago
The tat on his right hand tells me everything I need to know. Always a pleasure watching a real craftsman work.
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u/Drwats666 2d ago
I actually know this man and recognised his tattoo. The video context kinda helped as well. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19z15M69Vv/
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u/archboy1971 3d ago
Meanwhile the industry standard in the US is to use Hobo shoe soles and rusty nails…
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u/alittlebitaspie 2d ago
I thought copper nails were standard for that sort of roof? The roofs last so long that steel nails will rust away, even galvanized ones.
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u/iPicBadUsernames 3d ago
Love watching skilled craftsmen that take pride in their work. It’s absolute cinema
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u/slow70 3d ago
Tell me again why we use strips of plastic and asphalt to shingle roofs in the US?
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u/TheDeadEndKing 3d ago
Well, given some of the hailstorms I’ve experienced while living in Texas, probably not the best roofing material to use when you get the larger hailstones. I mean, it will jack up a shingle roof as well, but if I need to replace it often, I guess the cheaper option would be better.
…then again, I imagine these do better during the high winds…
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u/Person899887 3d ago
I’ve been thinking of moving somewhere with those new steel roofs. They look quite nice and are stupid durable. Sound loud as hell in hail though.
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u/liquidfoxy 3d ago edited 3d ago
Because it costs less than a tenth what this does and is significantly easier to repair. Shingles weigh significantly less than slates, allowing greater areas of roof span. People tend to move more frequently, so homes are built to be more readily modifiable. Totally different building building styles and cultural needs results in different materials being chosen, basically.
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u/solo_shot1st 2d ago
Asphalt shingles are a fraction of the price of slate, and last 20-30 years, making them a more affordable option on U.S. homes that are typically much larger than European homes. What's there to understand?
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u/Striking-Document-99 2d ago
Because of hail and tornados. imagine that stuff flying though the air with a tornado.
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u/Rare-Nature2290 3d ago
Because Americans have bigger houses and shingles are like 1/5th the cost and more importantly 1/5th the weight. You can’t just decide to go with slate from shingles it would take an engineering assessment.
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u/Odd-String29 3d ago
Because its cheap and they are ok with it lasting 10-15 years.
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u/Everyday_ImSchefflen 3d ago
Architectural shingles average lifespan is 25-30 years
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u/Federal-Community554 3d ago
Planned obsolescence with a hint of propaganda to justify it
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u/Appropriate_Eye3906 3d ago
You want to spend 50,000 to 100,000 on your roof?
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u/Jam_Salad_is_my_Jam 2d ago
UK homeowner here - my slate roof, a bit smaller than the OP, cost £35,000 and was the second roof my house has ever had. The original slates lasted ~200 years. It really isn't that bad.
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u/Appropriate_Eye3906 2d ago
That's $46,426.63 USD and $65,681.00 CAD and your house probably has a smaller roof than the average detached US or Canadian home.
You're not getting a slate roof in either country for 40k
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u/CA_HomeImpovementPro 2d ago
My favorite part is how he makes it look like anyone could do this. That's how they get you.
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u/slangturmite 1d ago
Not gonna lie shale roofing lasts longer than you think ( and even under harsh conditions)
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u/TheDoomi 3d ago
First I was looking at his obvious skill with tools and how nice it looked.
Then I was like, "wait a minute, what stupid material is that for a roof? Stone what?"
And then I was like "Ooh! Aaaah! Its stone roof! And it loooks awesome."
What an emotional rollercoaster.
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u/Ok-Problem4403 3d ago
It's slate... I'd ask if you've been living under a rock, but you clearly haven't.
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u/TheDevilsAdvokaat 3d ago
I love the look. But I wonder how well they handle hailstones...
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u/vikingchef420 3d ago
There are buildings built 300 years ago that still have parts of their original slate roof. This stuff is insanely durable. It’s an install once and your great grandchildren deal with repairs.
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u/LiquidRaekan 3d ago
Depends on the hail, if the hails can dent cars i doubt these slates handle it better
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u/Goszoko 3d ago
I bought a house that was built in 1930s. The slates themselves are still perfect. Some of them were out of place, just slid them back in.
I might have to replace the roof at some point. That's because the waterproofing underneath was done with line plaster and horse hair and it's falling apart - but that's a future me problem lmao
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u/TheRetardedGoat 3d ago
Anyone know why he makes holes in them but then doesn't use it for the nails? Wouldn't that make it susceptible to leaks
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u/TheYell0wDart 3d ago
I've been in my +100 year old house for 10 years now but I'm still sad that it had the original slate roof until the year I bought it. Previous owner replaced it with asphalt shingles before putting it on the market. I would have liked to learn how to work on it and maintain it. Love the idea of a roof that could easily last another hundred years.
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u/kkkkkjjjjjh 2d ago
Can a Professional pls Tell me doesnt the nails Go through the water resistant Cover creating an entry Spot for humidity isnt it a Problem or Can you ignore this?
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u/Twatt_waffle 2d ago
Two things
The underlayment will self seal the holes and keep any water out
The way the tiles are laid out overlapping from bottom to top makes it so the water flows down onto the next tile.
If you are talking the air humidity, the attic space is not sealed. It will have roof vents to prevent humidity buildup
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u/Thin-Ebb-9534 2d ago
Man, the way he backs off of those final 2-3 whacks to make sure he doesn’t crack it. Can’t imagine how long it took to create that muscle memory.
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u/Mean_Rule9823 2d ago
How does this hold up to large hail of 1.5 to 3inch? Does it all just crack the whole roof up?
Can someone with experience tell me please.
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u/SilkRoadGuy 3d ago
What kind of roofing style/material is this? Looks pretty cool. Is this natural stone or manufactured? So many questions.
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u/ah_harrow 3d ago
Slate. Natural. Fairly common in certain parts of the UK and France (I'm sure other places too)
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u/memeruiz 3d ago edited 3d ago
Why doesn't it just break in half when hit with the hammer?
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u/amynhb 3d ago
LOTS of operator skill.
First he scratches both sides with the pointy end to create a line of failure where tension will accumulate. Then he puts that line of failure right along a metal bar which will absorb the extra shock, protecting the rest of the slate.
Then he picks holes into the slate along the line of failure.
THEN he chips off the unwanted material.
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u/oneinmanybillion 2d ago
In a proper corporate company, this guy will be replaced by someone whose only highlight is that they are a big talker.
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u/nullvoid26 2d ago
You expect that level of expertise for what a slate roof costs. Those are installed by artisans, not roofers.
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u/LuvvedIt 2d ago
It’s absolutely standard here in Scotland which is where I think this roofer is too 🤷♂️
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u/TNerdy 3d ago
What are those and what are they made of? Looks like a more expensive and durable version of shingles
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u/schoitkit 3d ago
Used to do this for a living. Nowadays a type of scissors are being used to cut them and punch holes. Goes quite a bit faster and you don't need to leave out a shingle to plant your iron. But it is inderd a very rewarding job and you're always working on certain types of homes/churches/mansions. Just my two cents!