PV roof tile fixing question.

Colin33 · Sep 29, 2019

I have a system to fit to a cement fiber slate roof. The problem is, the roof tiles have been fitted on 19mm battens (instead of 25mm) for some reason. To make matters worse, they've used over large galvanised nails. Any attempt to rip the nails out with a slate ripper tends to split the batten rather than pull the nail out.
Can anyone recommend a better way of doing this, or any type of fittings which don't require quite so many tiles being removed? Cheers

Colin33 · Oct 3, 2019

Surprised no one knows the answer to this one.... oh well...

James · Oct 3, 2019

Colin33 said:
Surprised no one knows the answer to this one.... oh well...

it would be tedious but can you grind the heads of the nails with a cordless angle grinder?
then lift slate off nail stud.
a crow bar or hammer to remove whats left of nail afterwards.

Colin33 · Oct 3, 2019

The nails are under the tiles James, that's why a slate hook is used to try and pull them out.

Zerax · Oct 3, 2019

Have you tried to use the slate hook at more of an angle... so you're pulling with the batten rather than across the batten ? If it's too short... just get some flat bar and make a longer one ?

Colin33 · Oct 4, 2019

Zerax said:
Have you tried to use the slate hook at more of an angle... so you're pulling with the batten rather than across the batten ? If it's too short... just get some flat bar and make a longer one ?

Yes I've tried every angle. The problem is they've fixed the battens with stupidly large galvanised nails ;-(