Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-17
MISC LIAM EOUS.
From the New England Farmer.
ON PAINTING ROOFS,
Milford, Sept. %,

Milford, Sept. %, 1888.
Mr.. EDITOR Sir, wish to make
enquiry through your paper respecting
the painting of roofs, and the best paint or
composition for preserving them.
A SUBSCRIBER.
REMARKs-We have seen different
preparations applied for the presel walton
of roofs, and been acquainted with many
recipes for composition for the same pur-
pose yet from our own observation and
experience, we believe there is no great
economy in expanding much upon roof
for paint The object of the greatest i'm
portance is to get good shingles and then
have them we'll laid. There are those,
however, who think differently A mix
ture of black lead and linseed oil is per-
haps as good a mixture as can be used if
it is thought expedient to paint; but it is
very difficult with any paint, to fill every
crevice so that water will not find its way
between the joints to the implanted shin
gle, and here is the trouble; the wet gets
under the single, and in consequence of
their being painted do not dry SO quick,
and of course will decay sooner for being
painted. 1t is sometimes the case when
a man undertakes to build substantially
he paints the shingles as they are laid,
which 10 doubt adds much to the durabil-
| itv of the roof, but then does not the ex-
pense of paint and additional labor and in
terest on the same, amount to as much, or
more, than another shingling! We were
much struck with the appearance of a no.
/ bic barn, which was bulttwo years since
by our friends the Shakers at Shirley
They never do anything by the halves,
but whatever they undertake is done in
the very best style. The barn was I'm
| ished in the most substantial manner, from
the foundation to the rid9e-pole, but we
were forciblv reminded by it of Noah's
| Ark, for it was pitched within and with
out" Our friends informed US that the
shingles were laid in hot pitch, or a mix
ture of pitch and tar, and the building
coated over with the same. This mode
Of laying shingles, has one advantage
certainly; if fire should take hold of it. it
would burn without much trouble.
Since writing The above, a gentleman
of some experience has informed us that
if shingles are dipped in strong alum wa
ter, they will last much longer, and it is
also security against fire. We find in
Vol. IL, page 233 ofthe n. E. Farmer
the following receipt and remarks, which
we copy, as many Of our present subscri
, bers have not taken the work so lar back
For painting the roofs OF buildings
Mr.. Patterson of New Jersey, has, some
years since, given the following directions
j which have been highly approved, as tht
best composition known for preserving
the roofs of houses: as it is found that
! hardens by time. and is an efftctuaI pre-
; sentative against the roof taking fire from
). the sparks of the chimney.
Take three parts of air Stacked lime
two of wood ashes, and one of fine sand
and add as much linseed oil as will brine
it to consstence for working it with !;
painters brush. Great care must be ia
ken to mix it perfectly.
t 1--WE believe grinding it as pain
0 would De an improvement Two coat
: are necessary the first rather thin tn,
: second as thick as can be convenient,
I laid on
d We have not seen an application of tn,
= above composition, and therefore, give
{. as we find it. 1t is no doubt good com
4 position if it could be applied to every par
/, of the single. We have answered ou
e friend & A Subscriber" as we'll as we arr
: able; if any of our correspondents wht
: have more experience, can add ANYTHING
which will meet his case or benefit the
public, we shall be much obliged. J. B.