Jim Katen Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 I have only passing familiarity with slate roofs, but I've never seen a slate roof system like this. There's plastic interlayment between every course and each slate is held in place by hooks. The overlap between slates is only 1/2" to 1-1/2". Clearly this is some kind of proprietary system, but I'm not familiar with it. Does anyone recognize it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 I've never seen it but if I had to name it, I'd call it Crap slate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 I recently covered this at a couple conferences. This batten track mounted French hook system was developed for a (ceramic) imitation slate roof system. The tiles are square. It has now been adapted to real slate (still square). The advantage is this system significantly reduces the amount of slate (or tile) needed. There is NO headlap. 12" tiles with 10" exposure. I call that negative headlap. That's why the membrane interlain with each course is needed. I know a roofer that installed this on his home. He gave me samples. I kinda know the guy that developed this -- then sold it to GAF. I think they call it TruSlate. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted August 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Any idea how old this system is? The house I saw it on was built in 1992 and there was no sign of a previous roof covering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 5 hours ago, Jim Katen said: Any idea how old this system is? The house I saw it on was built in 1992 and there was no sign of a previous roof covering. The earliest I've seen the product was around 2005. I think it may have been available for maybe a couple years before. I'm pretty sure it wasn't produced before 2002. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted August 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 12 hours ago, Bill Kibbel said: The earliest I've seen the product was around 2005. I think it may have been available for maybe a couple years before. I'm pretty sure it wasn't produced before 2002. So I'm guessing it hasn't been around long enough for it to show any signs of serious failures yet. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 Jim, you found one serious failure - the hooks can let go. There is an opinion out there that the surface of the roof protects the true water barrier which is the underlay. Seems wrong but won't stop them from trying. The underlay will deteriorate at the gaps. Can't have any gaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Amaral Posted August 5, 2022 Report Share Posted August 5, 2022 Silly product... never seen it around BOS (yet)... we have plenty of the 'real stuff'.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted August 6, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2022 On 8/3/2022 at 5:42 PM, John Kogel said: Jim, you found one serious failure - the hooks can let go. There is an opinion out there that the surface of the roof protects the true water barrier which is the underlay. Seems wrong but won't stop them from trying. The underlay will deteriorate at the gaps. Can't have any gaps. In the picture, I slid the slate up and lifted it out. I was unable to dislodge the hooks when I pulled on them with moderate force. They're not about to let go under the weight of a slate - walking on them, though, that could be a problem. As for the underlay being the real water barrier, that's exactly how shakes work. The plastic under these slates was substantially tougher than the 30# underlayment that we put under shakes. There were no gaps, the slates were butted tight to each other. I can see this system performing well for 30-50 years, depending on the quality of the slates, themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epdmcoatings Posted August 31, 2022 Report Share Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/3/2022 at 6:36 AM, Bill Kibbel said: I recently covered this at a couple conferences. This batten track mounted French hook system was developed for a (ceramic) imitation slate roof system. The tiles are square. It has now been adapted to real slate (still square). The advantage is this system significantly reduces the amount of slate (or tile) needed. There is NO headlap. 12" tiles with 10" exposure. I call that negative headlap. That's why the membrane interlain with each course is needed. I know a roofer that installed this on his home. He gave me samples. I kinda know the guy that developed this -- then sold it to GAF. I think they call it TruSlate. You are always so helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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