Slate roofing Sydney with Premier Slate

What head-lap is correct for any roof is a grey area, advise will be given by your roof slate installer, depending on where in the world they learned their craft will determine what head-lap they recommend.

A 75mm head-lap in the minimum recommended, however this is subject to change due to the pitch of the roof and whether you live in an area that is exposed to sever weather (within approx 20 km of the coast).

Slate quarries supply information on head-laps and recommended pitches the data these quarries recommend dates back from centuries of knowledge, some slate roofers here in Australia will fix roof slate to a 50mm head-lap, by stretching the head-lap the roofer can save on materials and the sarking will hold out the weather for the warranty period.

Roof slate can be fixed to a head-lap of 10mm, 90% of the weather will be held out with 10% entering the property, sign of leaking may not be visible due the sarking but will slowly rot the battens the slates are fixed to and without sarking rotting of the rafters along with mould problems.

Here at Premier Slate we would recommend fixing to a 100mm head-lap for roof pitches under 45 degrees, for roof pitches over 45 degrees 75mm would be acceptable, a quality slate is the best material for any roof 22 degrees and over, when installed correctly and protected from foot traffic will give any building the best life span any material can provide.

It always makes sense to use a licensed slater to carry out the repairs or renewal of a slate roof.