Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23
LIFE OF SHINGLES
PROCESS FOR PRESERVING
ROOFING MATERIAL.

Curled and warped shingles on roofs of
suburban and country houses are COM
NOR but not pleasing sight in all parts
of the country where buildings are COW
cred with wood. Shingles warp and curl
because after wetting-and they get
many-the upper side dries first. In a
must come off Many years ago farmers
made what they called their Everlasting
roofs of white pine cedar and black wal
nut shingles, free from sap, rived with a
frow and shaved with a drawing knife.
Such shingles cannot now be had. for
the fine, straight-grained timber neces-
sary for their manufacture is scarce and
very expensive.
Formerly good wood was plentiful and
shingles cheap. 1t costs more to replace
leaky roof now, and earnest search has
been made for ways to check the warp
ing and decay of shingles and make the
roof last longer.
The forest service has studied the shin
gle problem along with that of the preser-
walton of farm timber. 1t is found that
shingles treated with creosote by spe-
cial process which the service has in
vented warp but little and decay slowly,
because water is kept out of the tissues
Of the wood One such roof will outlast
two or three left in the natural state to
curl. spring leaks and fall to pieces. The
creosote used is nothing more than dead
oil of coal tar, but it keeps water from
entering the pores of the wood and rem
ders it immune to decay for long time.
\ roof of that kind costs little more at
first, but IT is cheaper in the long run.
Woods which are usually claSSed as In
ferior. such as loblolly pine, beech, syca-
more and others which are quick decay
ing, readily take the preventative treat
ment and are given largely increased
value.
Not Hard to Operate.
The preserving apparatus is neither ex-
pensive nor hard to operate. One such
outfit will serve several farmers. The
main items are an iron tank Gan old en-
CINE boiler will do with preventative fluid
in it and fire under it. and another tank
of cold preservative. The shingles or other
Gods to be treated are immersed for a
sufficient time in the hot creosote and
then in the cold.
Shingles are one of the most important
lumber products in this country. Last
year nearly twelve billion We're made.
Even this enormous number was heavy
falling off from the total of the year be-
fore. 1t is a significant fact that the
chief source of shingle supply is now the
forests Of the far northwest. from which
The eastern sources of supply are not
able 10 meet the eastern demand. 1t is
therefore fortunate that shingles are SO
easily given a preventative treatment by
which their life is heightened.
Many handsome residences in all parts
of the country have their sides and gables
covered with shingles. This architectural
use often calls for staining or painting
in harmonious colors Such cooring is
less frequently seen on roofs. where il
does la long hpra1lSp rain washes
1t off.
The forest service has been experiment.
ing in this field also. and has found that
stains may be carried into the shingles
along with the personalities by the new
process. The coloring matter is mixed
with the creosote, reaches every fiber
which the creosote touches. and lasts as
long as the creosote lasts-an1 that is a
long time. Such a stain does not easily
weather out, whether on walls, gables or
roof. 1t is expected to prove much SUI
perior TO the old way of staining or paint
ing the surface only.