How to Set Out a Slate Roof

Roll underlayment out across the roof’s surface and cut it down to the length of the roof. Secure the underlayment at the bottom of the roof next to the eave with a staple every six inches. Cut down additional rows of underlayment, installing them up the roof’s surface with the rows overlapping by four inches.

Cut down metal flashing to the length of all of the vulnerable sections of the roof, including the peak and valleys and at any corners created by roof sections of differing heights. Secure the metal flashing with adhesive and seal the edges of the flashing with roofing cement.

Tap four holes into the top half of each slate shingle with a slate hammer. Set the slates out along the bottom of each section of the roof, such as along the eaves. Drive a slate nail through the nail holes that you made in each slate until the nail head sits level with the surface of the slate.

Set the next row of slate shingles out so that each shingle sits centered over the seam of two shingles below. Overlap the row of shingles below by at least six inches and secure the shingles in place with slate nails. Continue up each section of the roof, overlapping the seams of the shingles below until you reach each peak.

Install slate saddle hips to the peak of each section of the roof. Overlap the hips by four inches and secure them with slate nails. Cover the nail heads with roofing cement.