SlateSpacer Makes Every Slate A Vent

SlateSpacer is a thin, concealed, stainless steel spacer that allows slates to be slightly separated, yet remain well supported, while preserving the water-shedding function of the roof. Slate roofs are inherently capable of breathing, but in practice, air movement is substantially constricted. Slate roofs are inherently capable of breathing, as they contain many tiny spaces, however, in practice the actual amount of air that can pass through them is very limited.

Consequently, in temperate climates in particular, condensation can accumulate within the roof structure and damage slates, wooden supports (battens or closed decking) and other surfaces. As structures have become more air tight, and as interior water vapour levels have increased, the problem has grown. When slates of different thicknesses are placed next to each other, a small gap is created above the thinner slate that can allow air to pass (conventional overlaps are sufficient to prevent a weather-entry problem).

But this condition occurs sporadically, adding minimally to air circulation. In fact, installers and quarries generally try to minimize the condition because it increases breakage risk, as the slate over-sailing a thin slate is unevenly supported. To reduce breakage risk, when slates are not unusually thick, producers and installers strive for thickness uniformity. The unintended consequence of uniformity is reduced air circulation. So the pursuit of breakage reduction defeats an inherent potential benefit of slate roofs.

SlateSpacer is a simple precaution that allows slates to be slightly separated, yet remain well supported, while preserving the water-shedding function of the roof. SlateSpacer is a thin, concealed, stainless steel spacer placed under the exposed ends of each slate. The inherent potential of slate roofs can be fully realized, resulting in a system that allows virtually the entire surface of the roof to breathe and to do so evenly. Spacers allow air to circulate on closed roofs, as well as open roofs, opening the blocked off spaces beneath slates that are subject to lingering dampness.

And spacing slates lets specifiers and installers improve the performance of their slate roofs in several ways beyond increasing ventilation: Testing conducted by BRE, in accordance with British Standard 5534, shows that by allowing air to be drawn through the assembly, SlateSpacer reduces suction loads on slates, improving wind resistance. Spacing slates frees water trapped by capillary action after a rain event, letting slates dry 8X faster and slowing the rate of aging (the effect of persistent moisture on slates is made plain when one compares exposed (quick-drying) and covered (slow-drying) surfaces of old, high-grade slates).

Spacing slates reduces breakage (by reducing point loads from proud nail heads: spacers provide 30X the bearing surface of nail heads). SlateSpacer is manufactured in the UK for the UK and other roofing markets. For more information, visit the SlateSpacer website.

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