Ive never had any problems buying welsh slate up here.Maybe its because most or the roofs up here on the older houses are either welsh or buttermere?Also i buy slates of many builders and roofers,always nearly always have a stock pile.I do know there are different grades of spanish,bzailian etc but they are just not in the same league as welsh.TBH i hate working with spanish or brazilian it just makes it a pain in arse.I admit they are a bit better now to what they were when they first hit the market.Blinkered lol maybe a bit or maybe im just a fussy bugger.
I can only talk of my own exp using spanish slate,admittedly its not a great deal as i stear away from them and get my customers to do the same.In the early 90s they were pure crap.I have used them once since then and while they were a bit better they were a bugger to cut,too many breakages and not the strongest of slates once layed.Ill ask you if you had a choice to use welsh or spanish what would it be?i do have that choice.I just dont rate them.Welsh slate i buy them in for a pound each and as a rule i do not sell them bar a couple of roofing pals that do the same for me if needed.Buttermere i buy in for £300 per tonne.Burlington lol not too keen on them,dont buy them but occasionally i do get them if its slates off tiles on.As for buying welsh from a roofing supplier im told they are £1.70 each but as i dont buy from these places i could not be 100% about that price.Im also told buttermere are £700 per tonne to buy(dressed) from roofing suppliers.The reason i dont sell my slates is i have 2 lock ups so not short on space and dont like paying top dollar for them from roofing suppliers and like to have plenty on stock after all they dont need feeding or watered.Also what you have to bear in mind my immediate family,me,dad,grandfather have been roofing in cumbria since 1946 thus we have many contacts within the trade.
I agree random green(buttermere up here) us unrivalled.Availablity in what way?for me to sell?i dont sell them keep them for my own needs,availability for my own needs?no problem.May i point out im not out slating everyday as im do tiles,felt roofing,fascias,gutters,sheeting etc.I guess if i were slating everyday i may run into problems maybe?£1.70 per slate good or standard?as staed not 100% as i never buy from suppliers.Like i said i can only go from my exp with regards to spanish but might i add others i know in the trade do describe them as sh#ite.Now if you have used good quality spanish ill take your word on it.ps,Do the spanish your on about cut ok?are they sound once layed?pps,what do you have to pay for decent quality welsh?do you struggle to get them at that price?also when possible slating i use 2x1 battons.The only time i use 3/4 is if next door have half in laths.When felting i only use icopol hp t/o sbs.Like i said im a bit fussy.
First sorry to o/p for hijacking your thread,datarball-OMG thats totally blew me away £3 and £2500.I would not know about availaility for the quarry.I do know they have started mining green at hoinister again but know not price or quantitys(try calling them?).All the slates i buy are reclaimed without exception.Alot of the buttermere i buy need dressed/holed as many are top holers.The majority of welsh i get are 18x10,then 20x10 and now and again 18-20x12( i do struggle to get large quantitys of this size) and sometimes tonne welsh.
Do you not get many recliamed slates then?slates of tiles on,roofers,builders and dare is say gypoes
.left comment on your profile.Can happily guarantee reclaimed slate if good quality.Needless to say i wont buy crap but off course a certain percentage will not be top drawer,these slates i use for repairs and use only the good stuff for re roofing,ive never had any problems re roofing with reclaimed slate,most roofers i know use reclaimed slate.As for slate of tile on,i tell the customer slate is best but some times people just want the best price which is slate off tiles on.I would rather have a roof with reclaimed slate than spanish of south american.
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