Zax
A zax is a type of axe or hatchet used by a roofer, more specifically a slater, who covers roofs with slate. It might also be called a slate cleaver, slate trimmer or pronounced as saxe and comes from the old English word seax, meaning knife, which in turn is from the word for cut of Germanic origin.
The tool is designed with a blade on one side, off-set from the handle to trim or cut slates to size and is therefore a handed tool left or right depending on the user. It also has a sharp point normally in the centre of the blade but pointing in the opposite direction, which is used to make punctuations for the nails and fixings. The tool is often used together with a slater’s anvil, bench iron or any solid surface, as a working surface to trim the sheets of natural slate to size. Other tools commonly used by slater's, but also other types of roofers are a slater's hammer, a slate ripper and a slate guilotine.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Bituminous mixing and laying plant.
- Cold roof
- Conical roof slating
- Crow-stepped gable
- Domestic roof
- Flat roof.
- Gambrel roof.
- Green roof.
- Ladder.
- Metal roofing.
- Mansard roof.
- Mono pitch roof.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Pitched roof.
- Plumb level.
- Purlin roof.
- Rubble chute.
- Shell roof.
- Shingle roofing.
- Scaffolding.
- Tool and equipment care and maintenance.
- Tool theft.
- Types of nails.
- Thatch roofing.
- Vault.
- Vesting certificate for construction goods plant or materials.
- Warm roof.
Featured articles and news
Homes England creates largest housing-led site in the North
Successful, 34 hectare land acquisition with the residential allocation now completed.
Scottish apprenticeship training proposals
General support although better accountability and transparency is sought.
The history of building regulations
A story of belated action in response to crisis.
Moisture, fire safety and emerging trends in living walls
How wet is your wall?
Current policy explained and newly published consultation by the UK and Welsh Governments.
British architecture 1919–39. Book review.
Conservation of listed prefabs in Moseley.
Energy industry calls for urgent reform.
Heritage staff wellbeing at work survey.
A five minute introduction.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson apprentice award
Showcasing the very best electrotechnical and engineering services for half a century.
Welsh government consults on HRBs and reg changes
Seeking feedback on a new regulatory regime and a broad range of issues.
CIOB Client Guide (2nd edition) March 2025
Free download covering statutory dutyholder roles under the Building Safety Act and much more.
Minister quizzed, as responsibility transfers to MHCLG and BSR publishes new building control guidance.
UK environmental regulations reform 2025
Amid wider new approaches to ensure regulators and regulation support growth.
BSRIA Statutory Compliance Inspection Checklist
BG80/2025 now significantly updated to include requirements related to important changes in legislation.