REMODELLING OLD BUILDINGS 47 



and one-half inches to the weather as is often done upon 

 upright walls, shingles become the cheapest and can be 

 laid by less skilled laborers. 



Shingles should never be painted on the outside only, 

 as they will decay more quickly than if not painted at 

 all, for the reason that the rain will work in at the 

 cracks, but will work out less rapidly from a painted 

 roof. If it is desirable to paint shingled surfaces either 

 on the roof or sides the butts should first be dipped into 

 thin paint ' an inch or two above where they lap when 

 laid after which they may be painted with but little or 

 no injury. The majority of shingled roofs and houses 

 are not painted, the natural color of the unpainted 

 shingles being preferred as more in keeping with natural 

 objects like rocks, tree trunks, etc. A shingled house, 

 unpainted, with window frames white or dark green and 

 the sash black, in a setting of ornamental trees, vines, 

 and plants; with more or less color from bright flowers, 

 leaves and fruits, is about as near natural beauty as 

 the hand of man can produce. Fig. 10 shows a shed 

 covered with shingles and vines, and Fig. 1 1 a modern 

 shingled house. 



Painting Old Buildings. 



Nothing adds more to the beauty of old buildings than 

 a good coat of paint of pleasing colors, suited to the 

 surroundings. Painting is one of the best investments 

 one who owns buildings can make. We paint for two 

 reasons to preserve the wood work, and to enhance the 

 beauty of the buildings. To preserve the wood work it 

 is economy to put on a coat of paint every three to five 

 years, according to the weather conditions and the kind 

 of paint used. In seasons of many changes from wet to 

 dry paint will come off of wood work more rapidly than 

 when we have but few changes and little rain. Some 



