L ay ing Shingles. - 173 



be discarded, unless either of the divided parts is 

 wide enough to be used of itself, in which case 

 it should be turned to account A small space, say 

 J or | an inch must always be left between 

 each shingle, to allow for expansion when wet. 

 The first, or bottom row, should be put on double, 

 each one of the upper tier covering the division 

 between two of the lower. This row may be allowed 

 to extend some 4 or 6 inches beyond the ends of the 

 rafters. Another row may now be commenced, 

 the ends coming down to within 7 inches of the 

 ends of the first, that is, over-lying just 15 inches 

 of the first row, and so on. Arranged in this 

 manner it is calculated that six or seven shingles of 

 ordinary width will be required to cover every 

 superficial foot of roof. 



The cost of making shingles in Ceylon used to be 

 estimated at about 9^. per 1000, and that of putting 

 them on from 3^. to 4$-. ; add to this 4^. for nails, 

 and thus (without allowing for transport charges) a 

 roof may be had at a comparatively small cost, 

 which will require little or no renewal for six or 

 seven years. 



Tiles have been previously referred to ; they 

 should only be used in localities where the best clay 

 is obtainable. Once they are on the less they are 

 interfered with the better, unless water begins to 

 come in. It "will be found necessary, however, to 



