Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-03
why Tin Roofs Go.

WHAT BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS SAY ABOUT
1.-THE LESSONS OF MONDAYS sroRM-rHE
SUCTION THEORY.
The wholesale destruction OF tin roofs by the
storm OF last Monday evening has attracted the
earnest attention OF builders TO the manner of
laying roofs. Most builders aud architects hold
that the great majority OF roofs that were
blown on were badly constructed, and that tn
remedy is in making roofs strong Some novel
theories have ceen advanced as TO the
action OF the WIND, and what causes the roof TO
60: THE wind as It travels" said Mr.. c. E.
Dutfon, architect. to q STAR reporter, "de-
scribes cyclofdal circle. When the vertex
strikes roof IL is going of. It can't be kept
on. You see, as the wind leaves 1t m axes a
sort OF vacuum. The pressure upwards would
be about as great as the momentum OF the
wind. These roofs are built to stand static
pressure and not upward pressure. The way
TO s6g eao s " sanSa me fat tin
OF about twenty degrees inclination. In
1874 the roofs were blown of a row OF no lses
corner OF 18th and streets. They were built
In the very best and strongest way, with skel>-
ton frames OF wood filled In with brick"
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN THE SUCTION THEORY.
Mr.. Kinderdem, OF Robert Davidson & Co
stated to reporter that the destruction of
roots was due to Dad construction. If roof
was properly put on and cleated the wind
would not get under &c and move It. The idea
OF suction, he said, was absurd The trouble
was that the houses were built by Incompetent
builders People were not willing TO paw
enough for good building.
Mr.. DAVIDSON
OF the same flrrn, saio that a tin roof should b,
cleated 1T least every thre feet Some keople
would pun Sleats in only every cen feet. Ii
taxes TAX c6s, ne. o. course to Pas root down wen
puckeIed up the tin wherss, :. was loose. The
tin would break and the W.nd would then get
under t and roll it on.
of the firm OF Gray Page, architects, said that
the loss OF rOOfS was owing 10 defects In con.
struction. 1t would be found that roofs were
carried on OF cheaply built nouses or old
houses where the material was worn out He
did not believe In the suction theory. The
vino. he said, got under the roof and
MR.. JOHN HENDERSON,
builder, said that 1t was rare tnat GOOD roof
went OIL. He had noUiced some oouses un-
rooted IN the recent storm wrere the rafters
had not teen fastened down as all. sometimes
the tin would be stripped on the wood. II the
roof was properly made, 1t would not go with
the studding. The wind. he thou ght strack
under the corntce projection ana made
opening.
MR.. BRIGBT,
OF the 1rm OF --.suu Humphrey. wheh ap-
preached by STAR reporter, said that the rem
edy was TO make roOIs perfectly tight. He
thodc ht tnat the wind gets under the roo. that
agr.at deal or tne damage charged to =. Q
WIND idss Monday was done hv electricity; that
the electricity started the tia and the wind took
T. OFF, Many of TIC roofs he had found
were nof pr0Derly fastened. In some cases the
rafters were laid on the walls without any
thing to oind. Many OF the buildings that suf-
SPECTATORS. fiat roof. If well made. was apt
to suffer 10 such storm. The suction theory.
ne bought, was aB Old theory revived b1Ssne
did not have much faith la 4