"Wood Shingles and the Building Code"

TALK DELIVERED BY AiRTHUR BEVAN,RED CEDAR SHINGLE BU'REAU AT PACIFIC COAST BUILDING OFFICIALS' CON-

Practically all wood shingles used on the Pacific Coast are manufactured from Redwood or Western Red Cedar; both of these woods are eminently suitable for the manufacture of shingles on account of their extreme resistance to decay and their ability to stay in place on the roof if properly laid. Therefore, there is no reason to discuss the merits of different woods. but a short discussion on the proper use and place of wood shingles in building construction and building codes might be in order. Most of the complaints against wood shingles are due to a lack of knowledge of grades and their application.

Only non-inflammable roofings should be used in the congested commercial and industrial district of any city and such district should be segregated and fire limits established requiring non-inflammable roofing materials. Our experience is that in most cities such regulations are too loosely drawn or not rigidly enforced, so that all kinds of manufactured roofings, varying in their degree of fire resistancc but most of them inflammable. are used. Roofs in such fire timits should consist of built-up roofs of standard fire resistive specifications-slate, tile, esbestos, cement or other non-burnable materials.

In the non-congested residential sections, the better grades of wood shinglcs and prepared roofings should be permitted but care should be taken that minimum requirements for lay- ing such roofings are provided. To illustrate, $'e do not recommend the use of 6-2 shingle, that is to say, shingles that are not

FETRENCE, SAN

JOSE, CA,LTFORNTA,

not six butts to two inches. Such shingles are too thin for roofing, and if used may cup and curl on the roof, often giving a leaky roof and creating a fire hazard. Such shingles are suitable for use on sidewalls, but should not be permitted on roofs. In the same nranner we believe that cheap grades of roofing and second grades of asphalt shingles should not be permitted.

Your ordinances should call for wood shingles to be not less than 5-3, five shingles to two inches. Wood shingles suitable tbr roofing are made in three lengths-16 in., 18 in., and 24 in. Maximum weather exoosure should he provided for these lengths. 16'in. shingles 5 in. to the weather, 18 in. shingles 5 l-2 to tlre u'eather and 24 in. shingles 7 l-2 to the weather. You will see that these exposures provide three full laps on the rooi with a margin of safety, as there will be some variation in the length of the shingles, and our Grading Rutes permit a variation of I in. over or under in length.

We would draw your attention to the practice of laying new roofing materials over old. This method of re-roofing has become very popular in the last few years. We believe that this is poor construction and one that, in addition to giving a roof of poor service, creates a greater fire hazard than the old roof uncovered. The reason for this rney not at 6rst be apparent: 98 per cent of all fires start inside a building. according to the statistics of the National Board of Fire lJnderwriters. While the old roofing, worn out and dry, may ignite readily, it will immediatety burn through

Shilled Gratd Rapids Craft

Famous Fooing

The woodworlcr of Grrnd Repi& arc lnown thrcugboril thc world. Thcre ere the nen, bred to tte creft, who nrtc "Evcrhrting'f,ooring. The rrnc qudity thrt dirtinguithcr Grrad Repi& furniture, dirtinguirhcr' otrr pto&rc. Even qrr tunbcc ir &ied in the reme kilnr ured in &ying the lurnbcr foc f,nc fur:niture, and by tbc roe ricatiGc mctho& (FvcfLring, f,ooring been thc orrt< of *ilhd cnrftornrhip, end e conrcieltior regrrd Ia evclt! deail of nenufecture. NICHOIS 6g COX LUMBER CO., Gterd R"pid", Michigan. Ccnter ol fnc

%\^'X? HARDVOOD FLOORING the roof, become evident from the outside, and in adtiition, such burning through will ventilate the fire, one of the principles of modern fire fiehtine. Covered with new roofing, the olcl r6of riill ignite just as readily, but the new roofing will blanket the fire which will mushroom ihrough the attic, often involving the whole roof bifore burning through. Such fires are hard to get at and extinguish if not caught in the earliest stages when firemen will oromotlv chop a hole in the roof to ventilate and pteueni the fire mushrooming before attempling to extinguish the flanes. We believe your building codes should not permit re*roo{ing over the old roof.

A matler of great importance is the kind of nail permitted. With roll roofing, the nails recommended by the manufacturer are included, but with wood shingles and asphalt shingles, the kind of nail should be specified. Unfortunately, most roofs are still laid with blue shinele nails. Such nails will rust in from five to tielve years, permitting the shingles to become loose and blow away long before the life of the shingle is gone. Zinc-clad nails, or pure zinc or copper should only be permitted, as such nails will last as long as the shingles. We cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of the nails, and would call this particularly to your attention in securing the health and safety of the people in your city.

The Red Cedar Shingte Bureau is anxious to supply you with information regarding wood shingles, and if you will address us at Seattle, we will see that you are supplied with the

Manufacturers

California White And Sugar Pine

LUMBER BEVELLED SIDING

MOULDINGS BOX SHOOK

CUT SASH AND DOOR STOCK ALSO

DOUGI.A!i FIR AND WHITE FIR

WESTERN SALES OFFICE No. lt2t-t0 Monadrock Butldng ' 6tl Merket St. SAI\I FRANCISCO, CALTF.

W.

G. KAHMAN SALES MANAGER

SOUTIIERN CALIFORNIA AIID ARIZOIIA REPNESENTATTVES FLETCHER & FRA,MBES, INC"

Rlvcr - Stron8 Bdlding LOS ANGELES, CALIF.