The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-01
CEMENT AND GRAVEL ROOFS.

doubt all alleged advantages o
cement or gravel roofs, as in many
cases they leak, and require repairs
often; and the damage done to tht
building. If it be a dwelling, is otter
mor than the expense ola tin roof
which when well put on, and painted
one in five years, will last a century
There are cases, as in building fiat.
rooted out-bouses, when it may do to
put on q cement roof Here is the
manner of making such q roof from
the Agriculturist, as follows: "A
cement roof may very easily be made,
by having en- edge strip all around,
50 as to leave a space two inches
deep all over the surface. The ROOT
should not be more than one-eighth
pitch, and may be very nearly fat.
The cement should be mixed with
four times its bulk OF sand, while dry,
water should then be added, until
sufficiently plastic. The cement is to
he laid on with a plaster's trowel,
and finished smoothly. When dry
and hard, it may be coated with gas
tar and sprinkled with fine sand.n /
know Of no kind Of cement that can
be used on a roof, or anywhere else,
and made a good job with "four times
its bulk of sand.n 1t should be hall
cement and half sand; and / warn nv
readers against attempting to make a
roof, ~cementins a cellar bottom, sub
ject to water upon it, with less ce,
ment. The gas-tar and sand on
such q roof as the Agriculturist de-
scribes, is all there IL about 1t of val
ne, and it would be better alone than
yer such weak and useless cement,
because as soon as the ter becomes
dry, say in two or three years, it
would be liable to crack, then the
cement would become wet, and the
frosts of winter would destroy it.
No ordinary cement, as the 'Ro-
sendale," which is extensively used
in the Middle States, and other
brands from other manufacturers OF
a similar article, can stand the frosts
of winter, when laid in walks, or 10
any other level, or nearly level posi-
ton, out Of doors, unless protected
from becoming wet by something up
on il.
CHEAP AND DURABLE ROOF.
In building q cheap sioop or porti-
co at the real OF q house, the roof
may be made OF well-seasoned, match
ed. pine boards. put on very tightly
having six inches descent 10 six feet,
and painted as soon as laid and
when dry apply another coat, filing
up ell the erevices where the boards
were joined together with paint made
quite thick, AID in q few weeks take
white lead and boiled oil, 10 which
mix about one-quart Of the measure
Of lead and oil Of white sea sand
Apply this mixture, with an old
brush. as thick ss Il will lie, and not
run down from the heat OF the sun,
seeing that where the boards were
matched is made smooth with the
paint, and you viii have q roof that
will never leak, IL the boards are
well seasoned, and arc painted once
in Eve or six years. Any roof not
over twelve feet vide cen be made
Of such bosrds, and they viii give
good satisfaction. Plastic slate may
be safely used for fat roofs on out
houses but for q good dwelling
house it is better to cover the roof
with tin, if il be fat; if not with
shingles. The cost Of tin roofing is
from s to 10 cents per loo square
feet; and . house costing from So, 900
to three 5000 can be rooted With
tin for about $500, while cement, gas
tar and plastic slate would cost
about $l25; consequently, the saving
by making aroofthe oflatter material
is not enough to be of any great OBJ
iect.