Slate Roofing Nails & Accessories:

Installing or repairing a natural slate roof requires more than craftsmanship—it demands the right tools, fasteners, and accessories to ensure the roof performs for a century or more. Unlike asphalt shingles, which can be installed with basic, widely available tools, natural slate must be handled with precision, accuracy, and respect for the stone’s structure. High-quality tools allow roofers to make clean cuts, secure each slate properly, and perform repairs without damaging neighboring pieces. Likewise, proper nails and accessories are essential for long-term durability, weather resistance, and structural integrity. Understanding the critical role these components play, North Country Slate offers a complete range of professional-grade slate roofing tools, nails, and accessories designed for superior performance, precision, and long-lasting reliability. Our selection supports both seasoned slate craftsmen of “slaters” and roofing contractors expanding their expertise into premium natural slate installations. With the right tools in hand, every part of the job—from trimming slate to fastening tiles—becomes easier, safer, and more efficient.

Slate hammer: This tool performs multiple functions: trimming slate, punching nail holes, driving nails, and making fine adjustments during installation. North Country Slate carries high-quality slate hammers made from hardened steel with optimal balance, giving roofers the control needed for delicate work. The hammer’s pointed end allows installers to punch clean nail holes without cracking the slate, while the hammer head delivers solid striking power. In combination with a sturdy slate anvil or stake, roofers can shape each slate to fit courses, valleys, ridges, and other roof features with remarkable accuracy.

Slate cutter & Slate Trimmer: These are specialized tools designed to produce clean, precise cuts along the grain of the slate. A wet saw or grinder can cut slate, but these tools generate lots of dust and silica. Slate cutters, by contrast, create a natural-looking edge that blends seamlessly with traditionally split slates. North Country Slate offers cutters with hardened blades and integrated anvils, allowing roofers to handle everything from fine detail cuts to larger trimming tasks. Because slate varies in thickness and hardness, using a professional-grade cutter ensures smooth, dependable results for every piece.

Slate ripper: This is another indispensable tool, especially for repairs. This long, flat steel tool slips under existing slates to remove damaged pieces without disturbing the surrounding tiles. The ripper’s notched end hooks onto the nail shanks, allowing the roofer to shear them with a controlled pull. High-quality rippers are essential because inferior ones can bend, dull, or fail to grip the nails properly. North Country Slate supplies rippers forged from hardened steel to withstand years of heavy use, making them a trusted choice for restoration professionals who routinely work on century-old roofs.

Equally critical to the success of any slate roof is the choice of nails. Slate must be fastened with corrosion-resistant nails strong enough to hold the stone in place for decades, yet soft enough to allow future repairs without damaging surrounding tiles. North Country Slate provides copper roofing nails in varying sizes as the industry standard for natural slate. Copper is ideal because it does not rust, weaken, or stain the slate over time. Unlike galvanized nails, which eventually corrode and fail, copper nails continue performing through decades of weather exposure. Stainless steel nails are also available for certain applications, offering excellent resistance to saltwater environments such as coastal regions. Using inferior fasteners can dramatically shorten the life of a slate roof, making proper nail selection essential for long-term success.

Beyond tools and nails, North Country Slate supplies specialized slate roofing accessories that support performance and aesthetics. These include snow guards, snow rail systems, and slate repair hooks. Snow guards—available in copper or stainless steel—help prevent large sheets of snow from sliding off the roof, protecting property and pedestrians below. North Country Slate offers a reliable range of snow guards designed to protect slate roofs and the areas below from sudden snow slides. Copper snow guards feature a distinctive half-round pad design and an 18-inch length, providing effective snow retention by helping distribute snow loads evenly across the roof surface. This prevents large sheets of snow from sliding off unexpectedly and reduces the risk of damage to gutters, landscaping, or walkways. North Country Slate also provides retrofit snow guards, built with heavy-duty construction and engineered for easy installation on both new and existing slate roofs, making them a versatile, long-lasting solution for enhancing winter roof safety.

The right tools, nails, and accessories are essential to ensuring that natural slate roof installations meet the high expectations associated with the material. North Country Slate’s comprehensive lineup of professional-grade equipment—combined with their premium roofing slates—gives roofers everything they need to install, maintain, and repair roofs built to last 100 years or more.