The new South-news., 1908-04-18

Preeess for Preserving Roofing Ma
teriAl

Process for Preserving Neoare Ms
teriaL
Curled and warped shingles on roofs
OF suburban and country houses are 4
common but not pleasing sight In
AL parts OF the country where build.
ings are covered with wood ShinSles
warp and curl because after a wetting
and they &c, many--she upper side
dries 6rss- In few years the roof
leaks, decays and must come on
Many years ago farmers made what
they called their everlasting roofs
OF white pine. cedar and black walnut
shingles. free from sap. rived with a
frow and shaved with 4 drawing knife.
Such shingles cannot now be had. for
the fne. straightgraned timber nac-
essary for their manufacture is scarce
and very expensive.
Formerly good wood was plentiful
and shingles cheap. II costs more to
replace leaky roof now. and earnest
search has been made for ways to
check the varying and decay OF shia-
giles and make the roof last longer.
The forest service has studied the
shinele problem along with that of the
preservation OF farm timber. 1t is
found that shingles treated with creo-
sose by special process which the
service has invented warp but little
and decay slowly, because water is
kept out OF the tissues OF the wood.
One such roof will outast 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 1t keeps wat.
er from entering the pores OF the
wood and renders II immune to decay
for long time. A roof OF that kind
costs a little more at first. but IL is
cheaper in the long run. Woods which
are usually classed as inferior. such
as loblolly pine. beech. sycamore and
others which are quick decaying. read
ily take the preservative treatment,
and are given largely increased val
ue.
The preserving apparatus Is neither
expensive nor hard to operate. One
such OUTFIT will serve several farmers.
The main items are an iron tank ian
old engine boiler will do) with pres
ervation fluid in 1t and a fire under It,
and another tank OF cold preservative.
The shingles or other woods to be
treated are immersed for a sufficient
time In the hot creosote and then in
the cold.
Shingles are one OF the most impor-
tant lumber products in this country.
Last year nearly twelve billion we're
made. Even this enormous number
was heavy falling on from the total
OF the year before. 1t is a significant
fact that the chief source Of chingle
supply Is now the forests OF the far
northwest, from which shingles are
brought even to New York. The east
ern sources Of supply are not able to
meet the eastern demand 1t IL there
ore fortunate that shingles are SO cas-
lily given q preventative treatment by
which their life Is heightened.
Many handsome feo1dGnooo n Al
parts Of the country have their sides
and gables covered with shingles. This
architectural use often calls for stain
ing or painting in harmonious colors.
Such coloring is less frequently seen
on roofs, where 1t does not last long.
because rain washes II on.
The forest service has been exper-
imentiug In this field also. and has
found that stains may be carried into
the shingles along with the preserva-
tives by the new process. The color
ing matter is mixed with the creosote,
reaches every fibre which the creosote
touches, and .4sts as long as the ere
osote lasts and that is long time
Such stain does not easily weather
out, whether on walls. gables or roof.
II is expected to prove much superior
to the old way OF staining or painting