The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-28
GOOD ROOF BEST
MEANS TO AVERT
DANGER Of FIRES
Most BIazes Start in Houses
That Are Not Covered Prop
erly, Is Verdict.

Every man or woman who considers
the building OF house should give
careful attention to the matter of the
roof. For the roof Is important. not
only as q protection against weather.
but a. q protection against fre. Amer
icas IRE loss Is the greatest In tho
world. We have been burning up
something like $500. 100000 a year.
About 90 per cent of this loss Is more
or less preventable and proportion
Of 1t Is due to the roof-communicated
orally agreed by people who have
given the matter considerable
thought that the roof should nrst OF
all be freproof.
The rooNing material that gives
permanent satisfaction In service year
after year, without costing on cent for
maintenance, Is q cheaper roof when
inquired on q cost-per-year basis than
one whose Initial cost IL considerably
lower but which requires periodical
painting or other rehnishing. For a
roof that demands attention and cost
ly repairs quickly runs up mainte-
nance bills that more than over
shadow the cost of q f1rst-cost-last-
cost roofing material
BEST IS ALWAYS CHEAPEST.
Too often is the choice guided by
precedent and without proper appre-
citation Of the old adA6e that the best
IL really cheapest in the long run.
Because the contemplated home gen
orally represents the contamination
Of years OF planning and saving. the
roof. the most exposed portion of the
building. should assure the maximum
in Arc protection and durability.
1t is not at oil difficult to. determine
the merit. Of roonng material so
long as the choice Is guided by a few
common sense principles. Now the
perfect roofing, according to modern
standards, must combine the follow
ing three qualifications:
I. 1t must be complete shelter.
This means that IL will keep out the
rain, the heat OF midsummer and the
cold of winter. IT must be absolutely
proof against all roof communicated
Are, not only for the beneht OF the
owner Of the particular dwelling but
for the beneft OF everyone. The per-
fet roonng should be nreproof.
2. II should be easy to put on and
not expensive to maintain In good
condition.
). And 1t should, by all means, be
artistic: pleasing to the eye and in
harmony with the general design of
the building.
There is one type OF roofing which
seems to meet all these requirements
and stand out conspicuously as ideal
and that II the asbestos single.
Composed OF asbestos fiber and
Portland cement. the asbestos shin
gle is actually solid slab OF MIN
oral absolutely independent OF sur
facing or coating for it's permanence
md fire protection. Because II Is all
mineral 1t will not rot or burn and 1t
will not warp or split and II Will last
without painting or re-
Of any kind.
The asbestos single Is compare
lively light in weight and does not
require more than the average roof
frame construction. II Is easily APP
piled by any roofer, slater, or carpen-
ter, and once laid gives no trouble
on account of curling or splitting,
" hitch. are the chief causes for re-
placement on a single roof. particu-
lsrly one of wooden shingles.
Furthermore, the asbestos single is
ty no means a novelty or an expert
ment. The first asbestos shingles were
made something over half century
ago, and in Europe there are houses
standing today more than fifty years
{ Id on which are the original asbestos
slab shingles. We must remember
that the asbestos shingle is after all
a Portland cement product, Portland
cement being the binding materials;