The course details the conservation and understanding of slating, moving on to more detailed explanations of slating materials, roofing types and fixing systems. It comprises a mixture of lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises.

Day 1
4pm- 6pm- Registration
Evening- Welcome talk and introduction

Day 2

am

• Conservation and understanding slating: how slate roofs work; evolution from vernacular to modern slates.
• Practical exercises- Making Slate, Slating types single lap, triple lap, patent, diamond pattern etc.
• Fixing systems - pegs, nails, hooks, iron frame etc; other types of slating
• Demonstration of roofing types
• Conservation and understanding of slating: Regional roof types; materials, stone slates, Metamorphic slates, true random slates, roofing guides and code of practice, British/European standards

pm

• Demonstration of slating sticks and slating rods
• Conservation codes and quality
• Demonstration- recording roofs
• Making a marking stick
• Review day with Q&A

Day 3

am

• Detailing slate roofs. Laths and battens, nail, mortar tail and head bedding, torching, flaunches, main and hip ridge, mortar mixes, underlays and leadwork
• Demonstration of a mortar mix
• Basic slating
• Sort slates using marble stick

pm

• Random slating- gauging roof, detailing eaves, verges, abutments, valleys, hips and ridges
• Practical exercises- set out a roof, lath and start slating
• Practical conservation - Survey, what to look for, cause and effect, assessment. Old and new techniques, conserve as found or 'improved', insulation and ventilation. Bats in roofs
• Review day with Q&A

Day 4

am

• Practical conservation, workmanship, choosing a slater, writing/checking a specification
• Practical exercises- stripping and recording the slated work from the previous day
• Sources of advice, further information and reading list

pm

• Practical reports on recorded roofs
• Review day with Q&A
• Issue of Certificates
• Course ends

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