Practical hints to builders and those contemplating building / Facts worth considering relating to foundation, cellar, kitchen, chimney, cistern, brick-work, mortar, heating, ventilation, the roof, and many items of interest to builders.

by National Sheet Metal Roofing Co.

The use of Walter’s and Cooper’s patent in constructing metal shingles does away with the expense, which was a great drawback to their use, and leaves no excuse for the use of cheap, combustible material.

The National Sheet Metal Roofing Co., of New York City, have for the past eight years been manufacturing these shingles, and their use on a vast number of public and private buildings in all parts of the United States and Canada attest their superiority. Thinking that our readers would be pleased to see the process of making these shingles, we illustrate on [pages 65] and [75] views taken from photographs of their paint and store room. The process requires two press operations for each shingle, and each press averages a turn out of 4,000 square feet (which is 40 squares) per day. The dies which give shape and form the corrugations of the shingles are faced with polished steel, which leaves no abrasions where they come in contact with the metal. During the past year they have added four new presses to this department to meet the requirements of the increased demand for their goods. They spare no pains to make their shingles as perfect as the best machinery can make them. All their shingles are carefully inspected before they are boxed and sent to the store room, from which they are shipped to all parts of the country. The machinery room in which the presses are located is 37 feet wide by 80 feet long, the painting department is 80 × 55 feet, and the store room the same size. We give these figures that you may form an opinion of the space required to manufacture and handle their goods.

The process of painting is first dipping the shingles in a vat of pure linseed oil and oxide of iron paint with just enough turpentine to assist in drying. They are then set on edge and left to drain, after which they are gone over with a brush and set in racks to dry, which requires several days, according to the humidity of the atmosphere. They are all air dried, no artificial heat being used. Their customers are cordially invited to call at any time and see the process of manufacturing.

“Why don’t you mend your roof my man?”

He drew him closer to the wall,

And answered with a lazy drawl:

“When ’t rains so hard I never can.”

“Why don’t you mend it when it’s fair?”

“Oh, then it doesn’t need repair!”

He blandly said