The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-12-29
ZINC COPPER SHINGLES
HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES
COST LITTLE MORE THAN WOOD,
BUT LAST PRACTICALLY
FOREVER.

FOREVER.
The use of zinc and copper for
shingles seems to be certain of such
Widespread adoption that the new de-
mand will rapidly clean up the sur
plus stocks of those metals. and per
manently increase the consumption
to an extent that will result in
operating mines now idle and add
many new mines to the productive
list As indicating the advance that
is being made in the adaptation of
these metals for roofing, extracts are
here given from an address by Harold
Blake, of the Washoe smelter of the
Anaconda company, before the Butte
chamber of commerce last week. Az
ter describing in considerable detail
the copper shingles being made by the
Anaconda company Mr. Blake said
that a duplicate of the copper single
is also being made of zinc, the cost of
which is only 10 per cent higher than
that of the ordinary wooden single.
and that there is no doubt that the
adaptation of zinc for siding and other
building purposes would be worked out
successfully. Discussing copper shin
giles, and much of what he said is
equally applicable to zinc Mr. Blake |
said:
Lasting Qualities.
Copper has been used for centuries
for roofing purposes, not only in for
eign countries, but on many public
buildings in the United States our
Mr. Robinson, manager of the metal
roofing department OF the Anaconda
company has within the past month
examined copper roof on the court
house at New Bedford, Conn. on which
a rather inferior type of single was
used. This roof was put on in 1887
ana although it has never required the
expenditure of one cent for repairs, it
was found to be in perfect condition.
Although experiments have been
carried on at more or less intermittent
intervals, an intensive program lead
ing to the use of copper for roofing
purposes has only been in operation
for the past three or four months. The
necessity for finding a use for copper
in order to take up the large surplus
was the main factor in the experiment
tai work leading to the development
Of the copper shingle.
Experimental Work.
During the past three or four b
months of experimental work the Ana t
conda company has produced "a ma t
chine which cuts the shingles to size n
and makes the necessary bends with d
one operation. This machine is a sue O
cess in every detail +
We have been using nine-ounee Z
copper sheeting mine ounces per b
squire FOOT for making the present n
copper shingle which is six inches in Il
width by is inches in length These s
shingles are designed to be laid with G.
the joints staggered, the long side hor- 81
izontal, and they have a one-quarter in
inch butt so that the horizontal lines ii
of the slate or wooden single roof are N
retained is
The copper shingle in place weighs OF
between so and 80 pounds per square al
600 square feeD and is probably the fl
lightest substantial snatesia! which a.
may be used for roofing purposes. to
This weight compares with 200 pounds sa
for wooden single roof; 500 pounds We
for asbestos; 75O to 1000 pounds for hi
slate, and 1900 to 1000 pounds for tile -
Tor the same area. tn
In order to satisfy ourselves Of the Gu
merits of this shingle a portion of lie,
'oof was put on one of our buildings sill
Il Anaconda. This roof has been sub sis
nitted to tests with acids and fumes mi
rom our plant and has withstood both tai
cry successfully. In order to test the is
qualities of these shin bin
les spray from hose was played of
n this roof for 20 minutes, to repre- fac
ent the falling of rain without the gr,
east sign of leakage. The full nozzle VIII
ressure of 40 pounds of water was pul
hen played against the joints of theians
opper shingles for period of 10 min sol
ties. and after one hour this test was ure
gain applied, with the result that not of
drop of water had penetrated VIII
trough the copper shingle roof. the
In order that artistic temperaments is q
ay be satisfied, experiments have al
} been carried on to produce colored
lingles. Through an oxidation pro-
IS these shingles are given a per- Cor
anent color ranging from a very dark
cen to a brownish red, which will II
tisfy the most esthetic taste of any will
chitect. ~
Question of Cost. -,
With regard TO cost, the copper coui
ingle has material advantage when cial
impaired with asbestos, slate or tile men
1fing and costs originally only about road
ice as much as the ordinary wood rate
ngle. Not only this but when the roun
wage value of the other materials is OF n
impaired with that of the copper tees
ngle, the advantage is greatly in tails
or OF copper Approximately 60 per Ross