SHINGLES AND THATCH 313 



through that touch of nature that "makes the whole world kin," and 

 to my mind far outshone expensive pillared, beamed and paneled 

 entrance halls. 



The "Over" in Building. 



The "over" in building is a familiar reef to the enthusiast. An 

 over-windowed house, aside from its appearance of frail wall area, 

 blows hot or cold as temperature dictates. Over decoration, as seen 

 in the lavish use of gold and silver, red, green, and yellow, in wall, 

 ceiling and colored cornice anything and everything to detract from 

 expressive paintings, fine etchings, rare tapestry, and century framed 

 oak, often plunge the new house into the mire of mediocrity. Accen- 

 tuate door, window, wainscoting and mantel, but avoid the "over." 



Shingles vs. Thatch. 



If buildings are shingled, shingles must be stain-dipped, not 

 painted, for paint dries in ridges, dams back water, and quickly rots 

 the shingles. Do not be persuaded to thatch barns and outbuildings 

 in reaching for the picturesque ; vermin and fire are risks, to say noth- 

 ing of possible leaks. I've seen more than one thatched building con- 

 demned and re-roofed with shingles or tile. England, recognizing 

 the extra fire hazard in some sections, has passed laws against build- 

 ing thatched roofs. A coat of whitewash gives fair thatch protection 

 and is a short job with a whitewash gun. Avoid as you would a 

 pestilence the diamond panel in shingle work and the grosser outrage 

 of a colored design on a slate roof. Odd modes of roof and side 

 shingling can be introduced along pleasing lines, but, like many an 

 innovation, it requires thought to avoid the grotesque. 



The best artistic result to be obtained from shingles is the 

 rounded thatch on dormer and eaves, expensive, but unparalleled for 

 effect. Six or seven lappings of shingles laid in curving lines across 

 the entire roof give the nearest approach to a thatch effect in wood. 



The upper mullion in a gable, if inset three feet, with sides 

 rounded and covered with tooth-edged shingles, with straight header 

 and base, is about the best shingle gable effect I ever tried. The 

 Boston hip takes the place of the old ridge board, but shingles split 

 and blow off if carelessly nailed, some splitting more readily than 

 others, therefore care must be taken in their selection. While narrow 

 shingles take longer to lay they make a tighter and better roof than 

 the extra wide. None over six inches wide should be laid on a roof 

 unless they are the hand rived shakes of Colonial days. Cut nails 

 hold a shingle in place better than a wire nail and prolong the life 

 of .the roof. The wire nail is a good friend of the shingle merchant. 

 Single nailing of shingles has advantages. 



In a high house a double banded shingle or cement belt gives 

 relief to the surface and picturesquely shadows and lowers the house, 

 while the gable end that bulges six or eight inches to a point three 



