How To Cut Slate Roofing Tile

Tip 1 marking the tile edge.

How to cut slate roofing tile.

Score the slate along the marked line with a chisel ensuring you do not cause damage in the process. Score a line on the back of the tile the same way you would to prepare it for a slate cutter. Tip 2 cutting your tile. Your slate tile edges will need to be straight if they are to fit use a straightedge and narrow piece of ou have.

Synthetic slate roofing is a great alternative to the real slate shingles that are cut from stone. Wet cutting with a tile saw cuts dust down to practically zero which is much safer for your lungs. Step 2 trace over the pencil line design with a scratch awl to scratch the final design into the slate so that it will be visible while you are carving. Not only are synthetic slate tiles cheaper they also weigh much less than real slate.

The chisel and hammer method may not be the most accurate. Score the slate along. Wet saws allow you to safely wet cut your slate tile with a greatly reduced risk of electric shock and accidents due to slippage. Chop the slate along the scored line with a mason s trowel.

Place the slate tile flat on a sanding table with the front side facing up. Utilizing a chisel and hammer 1. Line a straightedge up with the line that you drew. The way that slate is formed however makes it nearly impossible to use anything except a tile saw either a wet saw or a dry angle grinder with a tile cutting blade.

Tip 3 use experienced cutters. Since the blade on a tile saw is water cooled you can make deeper cuts and take fewer breaks during cutting. Get the straightedge that you used to mark your line and place it. This reduced weight makes it easier to work with and safer since the roof does not have to support as much weight.

To cut slate you need a diamond tipped cutting wheel for your grinder. Draw the design you plan to carve onto the tile with a pencil. However some people prefer to use masking tape. For a precise marking we suggest using a pencil.

This task becomes easier and you ll make a. How to cut slate roof tiles. Because slate is layered it s difficult to draw an accurate straight line on it.