Year: 1871

Itwould be difficult to point out more
important subject, OF one more beset with
practical difficulties, than the one chosen
Tor the title OF the present article. So far
as cities are concerned, the old-fashioned
shlngle-roofs are things of the past. There
nave been as many inventions for roofs
and roofing as for strect-pavements, yet
there is a want of cheap, permanent and
tight roofs, and there is no better field
than this for inventors to exert their skill
in. In this assertion we do not mean to
cast any odium upon many valuable in
ventions that have done, and ara still do
ing, good service in bridging the gap be-
tween the roof that was and the roof that
we trust is yet to be. We do not see how
the world would have got along, or could
now get along without them. That they
possess imperfectons does not affect their
sale and employment, SO long as they are
the most perfect of anything yet available.
Inventors may rest assured, however, that
the problem Of roofs combining maximum
durability and tightness, with minimum
cost, is not yet solved. We need not
dwell upon the fact that he who shall sue
ceed in solving it satisfactorily, will be
likely to reap a large reward for his in
vention The field is SO enormous. and
the demand SO great, that the roof which
answers to all the conditions required
would be one of the most valuable inven-
tions of the age


We have been led to these remarks by
a conversation with Elder Evans, of the
Shaker settlement at New-Lebanon, in
which he has given us the experience of
that community in the matter of roofing.
The buildings of the Society are extensive





roof area. 1t has given these people very
much trouble to select and apply roofing
materials, such as would give fire-proof,
tight and durable covering to their build


ngs. They have tried nearly everything
in the market, with that thorughness
characteristic of all their work, and have
finally settled upon slate with felt lining
as the only material that combines all the
qualities essential to good fire-proof and
durable root. Their method of laying
this sort of roof is, first, to cover the raf-
tiers with edge boards, putting the latter
close together. They then felt, taking
care to lap and cement well, as upon
this depends the ultimate tightness of the
roof, against drifting SHOWS in high winds.
The states are then put on the roof in the
best manner possible, which can be done
as slowly as may be necessary, the felt
making tight roof, which only needs
protection, from external influence, by
the slate.


1t is the opinion of Mr.. Evans that gray
ell roofs may be made so as to do good
service, but that they are not likely to be
SO laid. The variations in temperature,
damp weather, &C., which ought to in
terfere with the laying Of such roofs, are
not often allowed to interrupt the progress
of a job in hand, and imperfect work is
the result. The Society alluded to has
such roof laid in the most thorough
manner possible, that has been in use
since 1859, and has as yet given no troub-
| lie. Their experience with tin roofs has
been decidedly unfavorable. Plastic slate
has also failed utterly, though they have
done their best to make it a success, trying
it in numerous ways.


| 1t seems that the contraction and expan-
sion of continuous metal roofs will gener-
| ally cause leaks to succeed each other, so
| as to require a constant succession of re-
pairs; and the larger the roof, the greater
is the annoyance for this cause. Such
roofs, to be good, ought to be made of
small pieces, which, while they act to-
gether in shedding rain and keeping out
wind, act individually when expanded by
heat or contracted by cold.


The use of states or shingles for roofing
necessitates greater pitch to roofs than is
given to those Of ordinary city buildings;
and when states are employed, their weight
requires increased strength in the support
ing parts. These are drawbacks which
are seriously felt in cities, where room is
so valuable as to make fat roofs very de-
sirabe.


Such in brief, is the present condition
of the roofing question in this country.
How long it will remain so depends Who'll
ly upon the fertility of inventive genius.-


Scientific american.