To replace a broken slate, the nails that fix it to the batten must be broken or drawn by means of the slate ripper. The old pieces of slate will then easily slip out. A strip of lead about Sin. long by 1 1/2 in. wide must then be nailed to the batten that is near the bottom of the space to be covered by the new slate, and will be seen through the joint of the two slates immediately under, and then the new slate can be slipped upwards until it reaches the proper position, when the end of the lead strip can be bent upwards and will hold the slate in place. The strip of lead is fixed to batten as at A and turned up as at B, Figs. 1 and 2; C, Fig. 2, is the place the new slate has to fill, and the top end has to pass upwards under D D. Fig. 1 is a section and Fig. 2 a plan. Slates are fixed on to the battens by nailing with two copper or zinc nails, the former preferred. The slate immediately above the one that is nailed covers the nail heads, as shown by Fig. 3.

Fig. I.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3. Method of Replacing Broken Roof Slate.