It would seem that the question: how much a sheet of slate weighs can be of interest only to scientists and the most curious users. However, in fact, this is quite significant information for all citizens planning to use asbestos-cement sheets as material for the roof. This characteristic is important in order to accurately and, if necessary, in time to strengthen the structure of the battens. Of course, all this will entail an increase in the load on the foundation and walls of the house, and it is also worth preparing for this in advance. In addition, knowing the mass of the products used, you can easily get an idea of their strength, because the thicker the sheet, the more weight it has, but at the same time a large margin of strength characteristics. So, in general, it becomes clear why knowledge is needed about how much slate weighs, which means you can proceed to the answer to this specific question. But before deciding on this parameter, you should get a more detailed understanding of asbestos-cement sheets.
Slate features
Modern slate is a durable building material that is very popular due to its low cost, good performance properties and a wide variety of types. Asbestos-cement sheets, which can have a flat or wavy profile, are most in demand as a roofing covering. Flat slate is rarely used for roofing. As for wave slate, manufacturers offer three main types of such material.
Corrugated slate differs in the number of waves. This material comes in 5, 6, 7 and 8 waves. Such products are manufactured in accordance with GOST 30340-2012, introduced to replace the standard 30340-95. However, many companies produce similar roofing according to the technical specifications of their own invention. This is not considered a violation of technology, but there may be a dimensional discrepancy with standard products. Therefore, before purchasing a product, it is worth asking what kind of documentation it was produced. Of course, regardless of the standards used, slate has many advantages. 
Benefits of slate
Among the positive aspects of using asbestos-cement roofing material, the following are distinguished:
- low level of thermal conductivity;
- fire resistance;
- excellent frost resistance;
- affordable cost;
- ease of processing and ease of installation;
- long period of operation;
- high strength;
- sound insulating and sound absorbing properties;
- a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors.
Of course, speaking about the positive aspects of using slate sheets, it is worth mentioning a number of possible disadvantages. 
Disadvantages of using slate
There are not so many negative aspects of the material, however, for some users they may be decisive when choosing a roof covering, so it is worth knowing about such qualities in advance. The following characteristics can be named:
- relative environmental friendliness, due to the fact that the product contains asbestos, and such raw materials can have a detrimental effect on health;
- fragility of the material, requiring care during transportation and installation;
- the formation of moss on the surface of the product after long-term operation in a humid environment;
- unpresentable appearance of the material untreated additionally with paints and varnishes.
However, the listed shortcomings are largely fixable, for this, it is recommended to adhere to certain technologies when working with products, as well as to inspect and restore the coating in a timely manner. Having learned detailed information about the products, you can proceed to the question, what is the weight of the slate sheet? 
Slate specifications
The main characteristics of slate sheets are:
- number of waves;
- material thickness;
- ridge height;
- wave step.
It is these indicators that you should pay attention to when choosing. For example, depending on the number of waves, the coverage rate changes. All the characteristics required for the calculation are presented in the table.
| Parameter | Specifications | Note |
| Number of waves | 5; 6; 7; 8. | |
| Profile | 40/150; 54/200. | That is, the slate has a wave height of 40 or 54 mm, and the distance between them is 150 and 200 mm, respectively. |
| Thickness | 0.52; 0.58; 0.6; 0.75 cm. | up to 16 MPa. | This indicator is typical for standard sheets with 7 and 8 waves. Moreover, any such product has a low resistance to point impacts. |
| Density | 1.6 g / cc. | |
| Frost resistance | up to 25 cycles. | A parameter that is determined by the number of complete frosts and defrosts. |
| Temperature range of use | -50 - +80 degrees. | |
| Application period | 30-50 years old. | After 10-15 years, the strength characteristics are noticeably reduced, therefore, the warranty period for many manufacturers is limited to 15 years. |
It should be noted that regardless of the number of waves or the width of the product, the consumer qualities of slate of various brands are quite similar. Of course, you should know that such indicators as sheet thickness and its mechanical strength are directly dependent, that is, with an increase in thickness, strength qualities also increase. The weight of an asbestos-cement sheet varies depending on the thickness of the product, as well as parameters such as the number of waves and overall dimensions. The mass is measured at a relative humidity of the product within 12%. Consider the standard weight of common types of slate, taking into account such a parameter as thickness. 
However, in many cases it is required to know not only the total weight of 8 wave slate or 5, 6 and so on, but also what is the mass of 1 m2 of the coating. This indicator is important when calculating the load exerted by the roofing sheet on the rafter system or the entire roof on the foundation and walls of the building. The calculations should be based on GOST, where the brand of slate, dimensions and weight of the material are clearly spelled out. So, consider the weight of 1 square meter of the most demanded slate sheets with a standard size of 175 × 113 cm, distinguished by their thickness.
It is worth noting that it is not so difficult to calculate the mass of 1 m2 of roofing on the slopes, it is enough to know the weight of 1 sheet, its area, as well as the coefficient of useful area, which is calculated based on the size of the overlap. In general, it can be noted that slate is a durable roofing material that has many positive qualities, among which the main ones are low cost, relatively low weight and a long operating period. In order to know for sure the weight of products before purchasing them, you can always refer to the technical data sheet of products, which each manufacturer or distributor of such material must provide at the user's request.
The weight of the slate must be taken into account even during the construction of the foundation, because the roof exerts considerable pressure on the entire structure. Slate cannot be called lightweight materials, nevertheless, for its merits, builders forgive him for this defect.
Slate weight - what you need to know?
How much slate weighs - this question must be asked before all construction work is carried out. It is quite possible that in a particular case, you will have to pay attention to lighter options, for example, metal tiles. However, none of the modern roofing materials has the full range of advantages inherent in slate, therefore it does not lose its popularity.
During construction, it is important to clearly calculate the amount of material, the specific gravity of the slate and the size of the area covered with the slate. These parameters will answer a more significant question - will the structure withstand the weight, will the installation of the slate entail excessive shrinkage? The slate is quite convenient in transportation, it can be transported, if desired, even by a small-sized vehicle with a trailer. By the way, this is another reason to find out how much 1 sheet of slate weighs, and how many sheets can be loaded into the trailer.
Given the presence of a large number of types of slate, you should understand at least the dimensions of the main ones: 8-wave, 7-wave and 6-wave slate. The fact that sheets produced by manufacturers may differ in thickness, length and width also introduces a certain confusion into the situation. Naturally, the difference in dimensions cannot but affect the final weight of the product.
Parameters according to GOST - country profiles
According to GOST 30340-95, sheets 40/150 of 7-8-wave type are produced, which are most often used in summer cottages and backyard construction. 40/150 are parameters in millimeters, where 40 is the wave height, 150 is the distance between adjacent crests or wave step. The thickness specified in GOST varies between two values - 5.2 mm and 5.8 mm.
With a thickness of 5.8 mm:
- the weight of the eight-wave profile is 26.1 kg;
- the weight of the seven-wave profile is 23.2 kg.
The 5.2 mm thickness makes both profiles almost 4–4.5 kg lighter. The actual area of the 8-wave profile is 1.97 sq. M. However, when installing the roof, 1-2 waves are always overlapped by an adjacent sheet, which reduces the useful area. Its value becomes 1.6 sq.m. for 8 waves, and 1.3 sq.m. for (with an actual area of 1.7 sq.m.)
In order to correctly calculate the required number of sheets for the area that you are going to cover, you need to operate precisely with the numbers of the usable area. However, we will give you a little hint - in order to cover 100 squares with an 8-wave slate, you will need 64 sheets, and in the case of a 7-wave profile, 75.
Knowing these figures, it is not at all difficult to calculate the load per 1 sq. M. We multiply 64 sheets by the weight of 26.1 kg and divide the resulting figure (1670 kg) by 100. The total weight of an 8-wave slate sheet per 1 m 2 is 16.7 kg. In the case of the 7-wave - 17.4 kg. The greater weight is due to the large number of overlaps. That is why the use of an 8-wave profile is recommended for structures on light foundations, since it exerts less pressure on the walls and foundation. In addition to these figures, the design must also take into account the load that may arise during snowfalls or other natural phenomena.
The main characteristics of slate for 5 and 6 waves
Of course, manufacturers traditionally indicate the minimum service life of slate, but its long history in the building materials market allows us to make even more optimistic forecasts. An ordinary 8-wave slate can last all half a century, it turns out that a 6-wave profile will last all 100? And if you paint it periodically? As they say, people don't live that long.
This type of profile is protected from widespread use only by its significant weight. If the 6 mm version of slate weighs about 26 kilograms, then a profile with a sheet thickness of 7.5 - all 35 kg... And this is just one sheet, let alone the specific gravity of the entire roofing structure. Relatively recently, an analogue of an eight-wave 5-wave slate has appeared on the market. Despite the fact that the dimensions of the slate are exactly the same as those of the 8-wave profile, the manufacturer changed the very shape of the profile - there are flat areas between the waves.
However, this type of slate is rather an experimental novelty than an effective replacement for the usual slate sheets. In fact, the builders have not actually had time to test such products. Note that all types of slate are available both in the usual gray color, and in a fairly wide range of colors. If in the first case it is the natural color of the components, then in the second the desired color is achieved in several ways.
The most effective is the addition of color to the mixture when making slate. This version of the product is called colored - not to be confused with the painted one, in which only the front side is covered with paint.
Colored slate has many advantages:
- Whitish spots, the so-called efflorescence, do not form on it.
- Slate practically does not fade over the years.
- When cutting sheets, the edges are the same color as the entire sheet.
- When scratches and scuffs occur, there are no unpainted marks.
Slate cutting and features of work
When starting a workflow, do not even try to cope with everything alone. You need at least 3 helpers. One will feed the sheets on the ground, two on the roof (if we are talking about roofing) receive and install. Choose calm weather for work and be sure to use insurance.
Slate cutting is much easier on the ground. If you are not afraid of noise and dust, use a grinder with a stone disc. In this case, you will also need an assistant who will constantly water the cutting site from a watering can or from a hose. This will reduce the amount of dust, which does not preclude the use of a respirator and goggles. Dust, mixed with water, hardens, but, nevertheless, it is still better to cover it with a layer of earth so that it does not get into the air.
If the grinder was not at hand, you can use the old proven method. For this, you will need a long ruler, a cutter, and a table. Using a ruler cutter, make a deep scratch on the sheet in the right place, and then lay the slate sheet on the table, aligning its edge with the break line. Tap the sheet lightly with a hammer, then push gently. An unnecessary piece of material will break off, and all you have to do is smooth out the bumps on the edge with a file.
8-wave asbestos-cement slate is a popular roofing material. It is a tough and durable coating. It serves for a long time and reliably. Currently, colored sheets of various gamuts are produced. This brings variety to the architectural appearance of buildings with such roofs.
Asbestos cement is not considered an entirely environmentally friendly product. It is recommended for outdoor construction work. But even so, the scope of its use is quite wide.
What is an 8-wave slate? Pros and cons of coverage
Wave slate is a sheet of asbestos cement that has a wavy profile. It differs in the number of waves located along the width of the sheet. In this case, we are interested in a sheet with eight waves.
The composition and characteristics must meet the requirements of standards or TU, otherwise it will be a defective product, devoid of its basic qualities. During production, certain wave sizes must be maintained - its height and step.
The type of slate profile is regulated. One of them has a wave height of 40 mm, its pitch is 150 mm, it is designated 40/150. The sizes of the second type are equal to 54 and 200, designated 54/200.
They also distinguish between the ordinary type - VO or enhanced - VU. The type determines the area of application of the material. The common type is used in private and low-rise construction. The unified view is used for the roofing of industrial facilities.
What are the advantages of 8-wave slate:
- Frost-resistant, easily tolerates temperature changes.
- It is not afraid of high humidity, rain and snow do not leave a trace on the surface.
- It tolerates sunlight well, its long-term exposure.
- Simple installation of the roof, you can do it yourself, having certain skills and ingenuity.
Like any object, slate has disadvantages, namely:
- The sheets are quite heavy, which makes it difficult to climb to the roof.
- Fragile, requires careful handling and handling.
- Asbestos cement, from which slate is made, has a negative effect on humans.
- Respiratory protection must be used when cutting sheets.
Slate production and composition
The main component of slate is a natural mineral - asbestos. When added to the composition of the cement mortar, the asbestos fibers are combined. It turns out a very hard material - asbestos cement. Its properties do not change when exposed to moisture, high and low temperatures, and various physical activities.
Chrysotile asbestos is commonly used. The mineral is fluffed, Portland cement and water, various additives are added to it. The working composition is pulp, during its preparation it is necessary to strictly observe the recipe in order to obtain good quality.
There are various slate production plants. At the first stage, the pulp is kneaded. For this, bucket mixers are used. After thorough mixing, the mixture is removed, the liquid is allowed to drain and sent to a sheet-forming machine.
This is where the material is pressed. The duration of the process depends on the type of equipment and pressure. Typically, slate is pressed from 30 to 90 seconds. A continuous strip moves along a special conveyor, a special drum forms strips of a certain thickness.
Rotary shears cut the strips into sheets of the required length. Next, the drums start to work, forming a wave of slate. Their shape and dimensions determine the geometric characteristics of the finished sheets. Finished sheets move along a conveyor and go through a stage of primary curing.
The next stage is the water saturation of the workpieces. In a special pool, they are kept for a certain time and then sent to drying. This takes place in a warehouse with a constant high temperature. This is where the material gains its ultimate strength.
Currently, the production of colored slate is widespread. This increases the wear resistance of the material, gives it new qualities, a beautiful look to slate roofs. For this, phosphate and acrylic dyes are used.
Use in construction
Its main use is roofing. Roofs in individual and low-rise housing construction. Longitudinal ridges serve as stiffeners and increase the bearing capacity of such a coating. This is facilitated by a thick sheet of at least 5 mm.
8-wave slate has convenient sheet dimensions, which makes it easy to install. It should not be used for complex roof structures, as it generates a lot of waste and the economic feasibility of using it will be low. It is also not suitable for roofs with a slope of less than 12 0. Water will not come off such a coating well, its moisture will increase.
Slate is often used for fencing. Especially good are low corrugated slate fences on personal plots. Painted in different colors, they add a special flavor to the architecture of the garden. Another possibility of using slate is the enclosing structures of outbuildings.
Dimensions and weight of 8-wave slate sheets. Specifications
Table 1 shows the dimensions of 8-wave slate in accordance with GOST 30340-95. The overlapping wave has a height of 32 mm, the overlapping one - 43 mm. Marking includes alphabetic and numeric values. They indicate the brand of the sheet, the number of waves, thickness.
Table 1. Technical characteristics of slate.
Thanks to the material from which it is made, slate has the following properties:
- Able to withstand a load of up to 200 kg, which allows you to walk on the roof during installation work and to take out the pressure of snow.
- The density of the material ensures the durability of the coating.
- The water resistance is up to 24 hours, the use of special treatment compounds lengthens this value.
- Frost resistance.
Installation of slate sheets on the roof. Laying and fastening methods
A good, durable roof is obtained if the base for it is made correctly. The rafter system is used as the base. The cross-sections of the rafters and uprights must correspond to the expected loads.
Eight-wave slate is laid in a scattered manner. Sheets in adjacent rows are shifted, and the longitudinal joints do not coincide, it is not possible to connect 4 elements in one node. To provide this shift, the individual sheets are cut in half lengthwise. They are used as the first extreme for odd rows. Due to this, the displacement occurs.
Docking of sheets is made with an overlap, trying to be located on the leeward side. In the horizontal direction, the stripes overlap by the amount of the wave. In the vertical direction, the overlap of the sheets is required at least 200 mm.
Slate strips are attached to the lathing using special slate nails or screws. They should have an enlarged cap. A rubber gasket is placed under it. Holes for fasteners should be drilled with a drill, and not punched through with nails, so as not to damage the sheets. They are fastened to the crest of the wave, in places of support on the crate, retreating from the edge of the sheet 120 mm.
Fastening of sheets of 8-wave slate in the transverse direction is carried out in 2 and 6 waves. In the longitudinal direction, the sheet rests on the crate in three places, which means that the sheet must be fixed at 6 points. It is better to drill holes for fastening the slate in advance according to the previously applied markings. The hole diameter should be 3 mm larger than the fastener diameter.
Asbestos-cement slate has long been the most demanded roofing coating. With the advent of new materials on the construction market, its consumption has decreased. It is currently being improved. The double-sided protective coating on the asbestos base made the slate environmentally friendly. The production of colored sheets has expanded the scope of use. Undoubtedly, this material remains the cheapest roofing material in terms of performance.
Experts note that the functionality of the roofing will depend on factors such as the characteristics of the base, the structure of the truss structure, the presence of heat and vapor barrier, and the type of roofing material. All described details must meet the specifications. When designing a rafter system, the coating of which is made of asbestos-cement sheets, one should take into account such an important parameter as the weight of the slate. It is the mass of this wave roofing product that our article will be devoted to.
Why do you need to know the mass of a slate roof
The coating is considered one of the main in the creation of the roofs of the master's buildings, therefore, its choice must be approached with special responsibility. With the same overall dimensions, the weight of 1 sheet of the material in question will be unequal. This is especially important when designing a truss structure. But there is one important rule here, the thicker the asbestos-cement products are, the stronger they are. Consequently, with an increase in thickness, the weight of the slate 7 wave also increases.
When choosing such materials, you can make a roof with a particularly durable coating, but this option will put a significant load on the frame. In this regard, when designing rafter structures, the following indicators must be taken into account:
1. How much does a sheet of slate weigh.
2. Maximum loads from wind and snow lying on the surface.
3. Loads during operation of the roof. This takes into account the weight of the building structures and the people who carry out the installation work.
When using a thickened wavy version for the manufacture of a rafter structure, a thick wooden beam is used, as well as thick boards, the sheathing step is reduced. In such a case, the cost of installing the roof increases, as well as its weight. In this regard, at the design stage, it is necessary to calculate the foundation so that it can withstand all the loads. One of the main values that are taken into account is the mass of 8 wave slate or other materials for installing the coating.
At the design stage of the roof, you need to decide on the method of laying asbestos-cement products. The amount of horizontal and vertical overlaps of the sheets will depend on the slope of the roof, wind and snow load. Increased strength requirements are imposed on flat roof structures. Sheets should be stacked with increased overlaps along the reinforced crate. During the calculations, the weight of 1 m2 of slate is determined, and then the weight of the entire coating.
As for the financial costs of roofing, asbestos-cement products are considered one of the cheapest. When building a reinforced roof, the cost of the truss structure will exceed the cost of the covering. In some cases, it is necessary to know the weight of flat slate, and especially if such material is used for lining the ceiling in garages, sheds or other auxiliary structures.
What are they made of
The material in question is made from raw materials such as Portland cement, non-combustible asbestos and water. The proportion of these components is 4 to 84 to 11. In the general composition of the mixture, asbestos-cement fibers perform the function of reinforcement. This feature makes the sheets resistant to tensile forces and other mechanical loads. At the moment, not every manufacturer adheres to the requirements of state standards, therefore, the strength indicators of a particular product will depend not only on the thickness, but also on the size of asbestos fibers, the fraction of cement particles.
Flat slate
Asbestos-cement products are supplied to the construction market in the form of flat and corrugated, and the latter can have from 5 to 8 ridges. The thickness of materials with a flat surface can range from 5 to 40 millimeters, but the most common options are sheets with a thickness of 6 and 8 mm, as well as 10 mm.
Each of the described options has its own scope of use:
1. Asbestos-cement sheets, having a thickness of 6 millimeters, are intended for the construction of the subfloor and the installation of interior partitions, they are also used for finishing the house from the side of the facade. Experts recommend painting the surface of flat slate. A layer of paint will give the product a waterproofing effect.
2. Moisture-proof and fire-resistant asbestos-cement sheets of 8 mm thickness are used for exterior decoration of facades of brick buildings, frame houses and panel buildings. The main property of the described products is considered to be an increased service life.
3. Flat slate sheets with a thickness of 10 millimeters are used for finishing the facades of buildings, installing the roof of country houses, as well as installing fences. In addition, a similar material can be used for the installation of interior partitions.
As you know, the weight of a flat slate will depend on its overall dimensions. Let's get acquainted with this parameter in more detail:
- flat, unpressed, with dimensions of 3 * 1.2 * 0.012 m weighs 83 kilograms;
- the weight of a sheet of slate with dimensions of 3 * 1.5 * 0.01m - 87 kilograms;
- unpressed - with dimensions of 3 * 1.2 * 0.01m and weigh 78 kilograms;
- products 3 * 1.2 * 0.035 meters have a mass of 293 kilograms;
- a similar version with dimensions of 3 * 1.5 * 0.025 m has a mass of 250 kilograms;
- flat pressed 3 * 1.5 * 0.02 m - 180 kilograms.
Corrugated slate
The materials under consideration can be roughly divided into three types:
- VO - sheets with dimensions of 1.12 * 0.68 meters.
- VU - reinforced for industrial construction has dimensions of 2.8 * 1 meter.
- UV - unified wavy for civil construction with dimensions of 1.75 * 1.13 meters.
For the device of the roof of country houses and master's buildings, 7 and 8 wave is mainly used. Such products are of the same size, they are distinguished only by the distance between the tops of the ridges. In 7 wave sheet, the crest has a height of 54 millimeters, the distance between adjacent waves is 200 millimeters. In wave 8, the height of the crest is 40 millimeters, the distance between the tops of the waves is 150 millimeters. And now let's take a look at how much 7-wave slate weighs. The length of such a product is 1.75 meters, the width can have parameters of 0.98 or 1.13 meters, the thickness of the material is 5.2 or 5.8 millimeters. Let's consider specific examples:
- The weight of 7 wave slate with dimensions of 1.75 * 0.98 * 0.0052 meters is 18 kilograms;
- The same version with a thickness of 0.0058 meters weighs 21.8 kilograms;
- The weight of slate 1 seven wave with dimensions 1.75 * 1.13 * 0.0052 meters - 18.7 kilograms;
- Similar - 0.0058 meters thick and weighs 23.2 kilograms.
How much does 8-wave slate weigh? The mass of the described products also depends on the overall dimensions:
- The weight of slate 8 waves 1.75 * 1.13 * 0.0052 meters is 20.6 kilograms;
- Similar - 0.0058 meters thick - 26.1 kilograms;
- The same ones with a thickness of 75 millimeters weigh 35 kilograms.
The weight of a specific product must be taken into account, and especially if the transportation of materials to the roof is carried out manually. One person can handle products weighing in the range of 18-20 kilograms, but if the weight exceeds 25 kilograms, an assistant must be involved in moving.