The Portland daily press., 1876-02-28
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Roofing.

NOuiVL o SlCdt AdfOA upOu buo WOIluS anu Sc
cure for himself fame and fortune; by devils
ing some kind Of roofing that will answer the
demands Of modern necessity and civilization.
The larger part of the materials used at the
present day in the construction of roofs, is
expensive, perishable, and unsatisfactory;
furnishing a source of constant annoyance
to the unfortunate owner, and of complaint
against the supposed Shortcomings of the
architect. In fact, the difficulty of deciding
upon the kind of material to be used, and al
SO the cost of the first outlay and subsequent
renewals or repairs, deter many timid people
from venturing upon the uncertainties of
house-building.
Occasionally it is true, We see some vener-
able mansion approaching its centennial peri
cd, whose rooftree and covering have been
untouched by the hand of man, and almost
by the hand of time, during its entire exist
ence. Such instances however are rare; and
their remarkable durability should not be at
tributed to the exercise of somebody's special
care and skill, but rather to the superior
quality of the timber growth used in their
1ceAuSeiOhs LhO PkhO VI Jul AdGhCkS-Oi
the Revolutionary period has passed away;
and the shingles used in covering houses that
are manufactured from the second growth
the sapling of to-day,are but little better than
those made from spruce Or hemlock. hereto
fore regarded as inferior for building pur-
poses. ,--.g - ..t ..-.1t4.q i.
At first sight, the roof of building seems
to be of no more consequence than any other
portion of it; and in the specifications of an
architect, or the estimate of builder, its
superficial area will be computed along side
the calculations for walls, floors, or ceilings;
and yet it is the most important part as well
the most vulnerable part of the entire build
ing. Householders may complain of unre.
liable foundations; of cellars that admit
water, and frost, and rats withal; of rafting
windows, doors ajar, and shaky walls; and
yet all these annoyances together are out
weighed by the invisible spirits OF evil that
come trooping through the crannies and
crevices of roof Most of the little incon-
veniences, and of the great injuries to which
building is exposed enter through the roof.
strength or fury-a gale or hurricane-the
roof is first assailed and the first to yield.
Either through an open window in the gable
or under the projecting caves, the giant
thrusts his hands or shoulders, aud by a
single effort lifts the whole covering from tn
hurls them upon the passers-by, or strips off
an entire roof of tin as one peels the bark
from tree.
Through the same well-known avenues
the rain penetrates the innermost recesses
of dwelling, defacing or destroying the
most valuable and cherished possessions.
Even the slight ridge of ice that the sun of
March day sometimes raises along the base
of single course of shingles, dams up
myriad of little rivulets that flow back into
wall and ceiling, causing almost irreparable
mischief-the hail of summer shower fire.
quently destroys all the glass in roof.windows
and doors.
But worst of all, these coverings of our
buildings are sources of constant solicitude,
and OF the greatest danger from their expo
sure to fire. So near to the chimneys mouth
ordinarily so difficult of access from with
out and within-in time of drouth, single
spark from ones own brisk fire will kindle
roof into blaze of fame almost in mo-
ment, and when general confagraton pre-
walls, the flying embers descend upon old,
messy, crumbling roofs and light up new
and wider desolation.
Steep roofs are an bomination-usurping
the place of walls, and therefore offensive to
the eye-expensive, as the rapid fall of water
and the sliding down of snow plows out
furrow with each descent, dangerous to life
and limb. and betraying men every day to
their Observation-Disclosures yards in the air,
continually inviting the ravages of fire; and
on these accounts deserving the ban of the
public authorities, especially when made of
wood, unless protected by metal or mineral
coverings.
An article upon the general literature of
our subject, from some pens, would be of In
terest; simply referring to the variety of ma
terials used in the construction of roofs
wood, tin, lead, slate, tile, tha.ch, cloth,
cement, tan, earth, gravel; or describing the
fanciful forms they have assumed; such as
shed, curb, hip, gable, ogee, mansard, gain
breI; we wish, however, merely to refer to
The necessities and demands of the present
ime.
1t is our conviction that wooden roofs have
had their day; that they are only used or
rather endured, for lack of something at
present not within reach; and that they will
be universally discarded, whenever the right
substitute appears. To meet and satisfy the
requirements of the times, the new roofing
must be Inexpensive, durable, fireproof and
we'll adapted to exclude wind and storm. and
in its shape and form the new roof must
correspond to the ideas of this century, rath-
er than those that have already passed away.
Flat roofs are especially adapted to the dry
and mild climates where they originated; but
it is not impossible that they may yet be
acclima:ed here-the tendency is in that d.