A slater is a specialized mason who works with slate, a natural stone used for roofing or cladding. Due to the difficulty of working with slate, it’s usually left to experienced professionals. Slaters may struggle to find work in areas where slate construction isn’t popular. They use basic and special tools to shape and install slate tiles.
A slater is a mason who specializes in working with slate. This natural stone material has been used for centuries as a roofing or cladding material and can also be used as a form of cladding or wall cladding. Due to the high cost of slate and the difficulty of working with this material, slate work is usually left to experienced and qualified professionals. People who are not familiar with slate will likely have a hard time shaping this natural stone into attractive, usable pieces. A cutter can be hired to plan and install a new slate surface or to troubleshoot and maintain an existing roof, floor or patio.
Most tradesmen interested in working with slate will start out in some type of masonry position. This could be because it’s simply easier to find a masonry job than one that deals exclusively with slate. This can also be attributed to the difficulty of working with slate and the need to practice with easier materials first. Some business schools and guilds or apprenticeship programs may also offer training programs for the potential wholesaler. Despite training or experience in other activities, slaters often complete on-the-job training to gain most of their experience with this material.
In many areas, a practitioner may struggle to find enough work to keep busy. Those interested in the slate industry will have the best luck in regions where slate construction is popular or was popular in the past. This includes much of Europe, particularly England, and also the New England states in the United States (USA), where historic preservation projects require experience slat work. Slaters can help market their services by emphasizing the long life of the slate, as well as the cost and difficulty of trying to do this job without the help of a professional. It can also be useful to attract the green market through the use of recycled and repurposed tiles.
Before starting a new project, the participant usually meets with the owner and provides an estimate of the cost of the work. He can take samples or photos, which can allow him to match the existing slate. He may have to visit many different quarries to track down a specific color or style of that stone. He then shapes each tile to the desired shape and size before installing it in its new location.
The slater has four basic tools, as well as several special tools. Each mower uses a punch to create nail holes in stone or trim the edges of a piece of slate. They use a forged steel hammer to drive in nails or split tiles and a ripper or pry bar to remove unwanted tiles. Finally, the slater uses a metal stake as a straight edge when cutting or laying tiles to create smooth, even lines and edges.
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