Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-02
ROOFS MADE OUT OF CLAY
Burned Tile Costs More, but Adds
Much to Homes Attraction.
COVERING MUST BE PLIABLE
Texture of Materials should ne such
ns 60 stand Contraction and EH-
Dansion Under Cold and
Heat Influence.
By n. 2. SUNDERLAND.


With the advent OF more permanent con-
struction for houses. which has brought
into general use such materials as stucco
and brick for the outside walls, attention
has naturally been directed TO the de-
velopment Of suitable. permanent. dur
able roof covering. For beauty and dura-
biity nothing approaches burned clay
roofing tile, with It's peculiarly attractive
architectural lines and It's richness Of
colors. But tile roofs are for those who
are not seriously limited in the matter
of building cost. for the added invest
ment Is very considerable. No one, how
ever, will question the advisability of
using genuine tile, II possible to afford II. |
For a time sheet metal manufacturers |
undertook TO furnish metal shingles made |
in design 20 initiate real tile, but this |
was not successful venture for several
reasons. The imitation was very apparent |
and sheet metal. even though galvanized, |
was found TO be corrosive and the ma
terial Of insufficient thickness to endure |
Metal being a rapid conductor OF heat
and cold. failed 10 provide adequate in
Bulatlon.
Covering Must Ne Plinb1e.
Solid, stiff, thin shingles, or slabs. made |
the market ten or fifteen years ago. in |
cost such material is somewhat lower
than clay tile. A very serious difficulty |
in connection with all solid, hard. UNI
yielding roofing materials is that when
nailed tightly 20 the roof serious damage
is apt 20 result from expansion and con-
traction OF the roof structure.
The roof OF a house undergoes excep-
tional and oftentimes sudden changes OF
temperature. with the result that the
problem of contraction and expansion be-
comes serious one. 1t is evident that
no roofing material, n tightly nailed,
which IL not sufficiently pliabie and
elastic 20 Ego and come" as the roof
structure contracts and expands. will
suffer damage.
Shingles made of Portland cement have
been manufactured in a more or less ex-
perimental way but it has seemed Inn
possible 10 provide in them the necessary
resllIency or elasticity. Recent develop
rnents, however. indicate that this prob
lem may soon be solved and a new use
for cement thus created.
Use f. Limited.
with cement shingles. as with those
made of asbestos, the architectural or
decorative possibilities are limited. be-
cause OF their gray color, which Is not
usually considered attractive from the
architectural standpoint.
Relief from the expense and dlsadvan-
tage of wood shingles will not come, how.
ever, from tile or slate or any OF the high
cost roofing materials. because most folks
cannot afford TO make the necessary addi-
tional investment
The latest development in this line of
activity Is asphalt rock-faced shingles.
Asphalt IL one OF the old time-tried roof
ing materials. The process OF saturating
felts with asphalt was the beginning of
the "built-up" or sheet roofing business.
Then came the process by which such
roofing could be surfaced with finely
ground materials. such as Stag, flint,
granite, slate, etc. So serviceeble did this
material prove that an enterprising man
ufacturer decided 10 cut II up in the size
OF shingles. That was ton years ago. and
during tho interim high-grade asphalt
shingles have come into general use, add
ing greatly to the beauty OF residences,
because OF the rich green and red colors
and at the same time providing the other
OF serviceability which have been
so distinctly lacking in wood shingles.
In many cities fire ordinances prohibit
the use OF wood shingles. except in out
lying districts where the houses may be
widely separated
In Grand Rapids, Mich. for instance
Is per cent of the residence roofs are now
covered with asphalt shingles. Such roofs
possess beauty OF color, insulation against
fire, freedom from cost OF repainting.
greatly Increased insulation against heat
and cold and probably double tho lessth
Of service.