patent O »eL artificial slate MANUFACTORY, WOODFORD BRIDGE, ESSEX, F O ly COVERING ROOFS, FRONTS of HOUSES, and RICKS; ALSO WATER PIPES and GUTTERS. Specimens of the above Articles and Models of the Rick Frames may be feen at Mr. Hall’s, Surveyor JtOfSmtK No. 8, Paternofter Row, near Cheapfide $ At Mr. Searles’s, Surveyor, Kent Road, in the Borons 1 * 1 * At Mr. Eddie’s, Scedfman, No. 68, in the Strand ; At Mr. Ball’s, Stationer, No. 318, Corner of Southampton Buildings, Holborn ; At Mr. Hunter’s, Carver and Guilder, No 44, Piccadilly, oppofite St. James’s Church. * At all the above Places may be had, Pamphlets, HSfe* Pence, e?.ch 5 EEimates, gratis 5 and y/hcre Orders are taken in. OlC. / \ \ ♦ I C i 1 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. X HE Artificial Slate is fold at the Manufaftory at Wood- Slate fold ford Bridge, Elfex, for ready money only, to be paid for on de- ^oney^ livery. on ly* The proprietor, folicitous to make the artificial flate as gene- Reduced rally and extenfively ufeful as poffible, and having it now in his power, from fome favourable circumftances, to reduce the price, flate Jhas determined to fell each flate, 24 inches by flg, for one lh.iL ling, which has heretofore been fold for fifteen pence. Each artificial llate meafures 24 inches by 1 5 ; and 42 of them Compara- weigh only 1 cwt. 1 q. 17 lb. and cover a fquare, or 10© fuper- ficial feet of roofing. Pantiles for the fame extent of covering date, weigh 7 cwt. 1 q. S lb. and flat tiles for the fame extent 12 cwt. 2 q. 9 lb. The cement, brafs nails, metallic paint, &c. &c. coft about fix fhillings per fquare for ufe in England, in the Weil Indies fome- thing more. A man and a boy will lay -8&3S® fquares per day $ and any com- mon carpenter, or handy labourer, by carefully attending to the full diredtions that follow, may eafily complete the laying. If the flate is defired to be delivered any where in London, it may be fent there for the accommodation of purchafers, or to any of the quays. If the weight exceeds two cwt. it may be conveyed at fixpence per cwt. ; any leffer quantity at the fame rate would not fufficiently pay the perfon who fhould carry it. Gentlemen may do as they pleafe, and fend for it themfelves. 4 ABSTRACT t I 1« 3 Small coll of the arti- ficial Hate. ABSTRACT from the ESTIMATES. A. Houfe at Streatham, in Surry, late Lord Harrowby’s, 50 feet 6 inches by 41 feet 3 inches on the ground plan, the roof of which completed with lead gutters, and to be covered with common blue Hating, was eftimated by an experienced furreyor * at igzl. 7s,' 4d. is now compleated with the artificial Hate, and amounts only to 90I. 8s. 6d. — See particulars in the eftimates, No. 1 *, and No. x * A houfe on Dartmouth Hill at Lewifham, in Kent, was efti- mated at 99I. 4s. Sjd. if covered with flat titles j but as now completed with the artificial flatc, amounts only to 4SI. 18s. 8|d. —See the particulars in the eftimates, No. 6, and No. 6 *. A variety of other examples of different fized roofs covered with the artificial flate, are to be feen in thefe eftimates ; all which prove it to be on an average from 50 to 100 per cent, cheaper thaa Hat titles, or blue dating. The prefcnt very exorbitant price of ftraw of 40s. per load in- duced the proprietor, who has a very extenfive concern of many hundred loads of hay to make annually, to form pendant frames .covered with the artificial flate, as a fubftitute for thatching, and he has the fatisfaftion to find they anfwer perfe£tly well ; they are produ&ive of many advantages from which ftraw thatching is' precluded, befides the very prevailing one, of proving, within the courfe of a few years, many hundreds per cent, cheaper thaat- ftraw. Thefe frames will cover the largeft ricks in the -Apace cf a couple of hours, and thereby often prove the faving a whole rick from damage in fudden ftiowery and precarious weather. They will effe&ually ferve as temporary coverings for new ticks whilft making, in lieu of fail cloths, and completely pre- * Mr. Sfailss# [ ii' 1 ] vent the rain from penetrating into new-made hay, which is fel- dom the cafe of fail cloths in violent rains ; befides thefe infuffi- cient coverings are often much damaged by the heat of the ricks, when they ought always to be preferved for covering the loads of hay that go to market. But the artificial flate frames are fo contrived with fmall wedges fixed between each flate, that the heat and fleam from new-made ricks compieatly paffes off, and runs down the covering with the greateft eafe: this is no inconfiderable advantage to new-made ricks, efpecialiy in rainy weather, for by thefe frames the water is prevented from entering them, and the heat and vapour at the fame time are freely difeharged. Befides, the part of the frames from which the haybinder cuts his hay for market may with great eafe be fupported with a fmall roll, by which both the hay and himfelf may remain in the dry in rainy weather. There is another advantage from thefe artificial flate frames worthy of notice ; the ricks they cover have all the advantage of the air and weight of the atmofphere, both cf which are neceffary to effe& a complete fettlement of the hay, but which is never the cafe with the hay in Dutch barns, and therefore a ftrong obje&ion to them has always been made by the intelligent farmer, who well knows the hay under them never becomes compaft and firm, like that which is cut from a rick in the open air, and which is con- flantly hard and clofely preffed together. The artificial flate pipes and gutters for the conveyance of wa- ter are above 150 per cent, cheaper than leaden ones of the fame diameter, being fold for twenty-two pence per foot, whereas thofe of lead are fold at five fhillings per foot. It is prefumed alfo from feveral years trial of them, that they will laft as long as thofe of lead, not being liable to crack in the leaft, or to lofe their Ihape. Befides, near large towns there will be no temptation iteal them, as is but too frequently the cafe with lead pipes. N. B. It is earneftly intreated to unpack the artificial flate as foon as it comes from on board the fhip, to feparatethe Hates, and, A 2. C ** 1 let them remain upright on their longeft edge to harden a little be- fore they are ufed. This will be of great fervice, and caufe them to petrify much fooner with the metallic paint and prepared fand. It may be fufficient to have premifed this. More complete in* formation will be given in the courfe of this book. PATENT PATENT ARTIFICIAL SLATE MANUFACTURE FOR ROOFS AND FRONTS of BUILDINGS, and THATCHING of RICKS; ' ALSO FOR PIPES AND GUTTERS for the CONVEYANCE: of WATER, Particularly and refpe&fully recommended TO THE WEST-INDIA GENTLEMEN, ^ ; ** / - TP HE Artificial Slate, for cheapnefs, lightnefs, beauty, and neatnefs, is allowed to equal, if not to excel mod other coverings ; and if due attention is paid to the printed inftru&ions, (efpecially in laying it properly at firft) it is prefumed it will prove equal to them in durability alfo. — See the affidavit and teftimonies at the end of this book. It appears beyond a doubt, by all the comparative eftimates Lefs tim« herewith published of different fized houfes covered with the Ar- t> er > lead, tificial Slate within ten miles of London, that their roofs come cheaper from 50 to 100 per cent, than they would if covered with ^ u ; re j w j t f, common flat tiles, or blue Hating : and thefe great favings (as is the artificial clear from the faid eftimates) proceed from employing a much lefs flate. quantity of timber, lead, and brick-work, than when the roofs are covered with tiles, or blue Hating. — See the printed efti- mates. The perfect ftate in which all the roofs of the Manufa&ory Durability have continued for eight years laft paft, though without the lcaft of the arti- repair, except a flight coat of metallic paint every fourth year, is ficillflatco' • -i ' one [ * 7 fce London. one flriking proof of its great excellence, though many other* will be given hereafter. It mull be obferved alfo, that though the roofs have been thus trivially repaired, the fronts have not at all, but have continued perfect the whole time without any addi* tional painting till this year. Jits re lift- Its being proof, in fo powerful a degree, again!! fire, lightning, ance to fire, wind, water, froft and fnow, and a remedy befides again!! the dry lightning, rot ? w h en placed behind wain foots, or laid under floors, and the great piobability of its anfvvering the purpofe of fire-plates, (not being like them fubjeft to ruft) arefufficient evidences of its un- common merit, and place it above mo!! other materials. It is hoped therefore, that every unprejudiced individual, who means to build with ceconomy, will be induced to ufe it, and candidly, though ftrictly, examine its real properties, and recommend it (if deferving) to as general ufe in Great Britain, as it has experienced for feveral years in the Weft Indies. Artificial It mull be obferved, that the artificial flate, though it poflfefles fiate cannot fo many valuable qualities and advantages, yet cannot be ufed in ifed in London , having been invented fmee the aft of Parliament palled, called 7'be. Builder's Act , in which all materials whatever, that can be ufed in London, are particularly named. Of courfe the arti- ficial flate is excluded ; except neverthelefs that it may be em- ployed in all ifolated fituations, on low Iheds as high as the fir!! floor, !hop windows, or in areas, where wood and any materials arc permitted. — The proprietor thinks it his duty to mention this cir- cumftance as a caution, becaufe fome gentlemen have inadver- tently ufed it in London, and fome have been obliged, by the feve* rity of the diftrift lurvevors, to take it off their roofs. This is the eighth year fince the artificial flate has been efta- blifhed in Eflex ; yet the deiqand for it has been fo great and con- ine artificial ft an t in the Weft indies, that the proprietor has never been able till now (and fince he has erefted a double fet of works) to get a fufficient ftock before hand to advertife it for public fale in England : but gentlemen and artifts may now be fup.plied with any quantity at the fhorteft notice for home or foreign confump- tion. He begs leave alfo to inform the Weft-India merchants (in order to make it known to their correfpondents abroad) that he has re- ceived intelligence from one of his friends at St. Iptt’s, that, in fome few inftances, the artificial flate in that ifland, by the negli- gence of the workmen employed, has been laid with too fmall a lap, contrary to the printed inftruftions. This has been produftivc of fome inconvenience, by the necclfiry of relaying it to its proper lap, which has always effeftually anfwered. This certainly is ‘no defeft in the material itfelf j yet the proprietor, ever anxious to ihew his acknowledgements to his benefaftors in the Weft India trade, chcarfully offers to fupply any of them gratis with what- ever artificial flate may be deficient, where the relaying it be-* comes prudent 3 begging at the fame time they will in future oblige Greet de- mand for t j 3 oblige their workmen ftri&ly to follow the printed InftrucHons, He flatters himfelf alfothe greateft care will be obferved in taking off any of the artificial dates that have been ill laid, that the leaft poflible wafte may happen. The bell method to detach them from a roof, is firft to loofe the Method of cement of the joints ail round each date with a fliarp carpenter’s taking off chiflel, which will a£t as a lever ; then gently raife each nail with the fame tool, which may eafily be done with a little attention, and the date fcarcely ever cracked. When they are relayed, nail them on again in the fame holes where the lap will admit of it, putting firft a little fliflf cement into each hole, and let every other nail be an iron one, with a head to it ; then paint and ce- ment over the heads as ufual, and finifli as the printed directions require. In foine remarkable hot afpcCts in the Wed: Indies, the fun, in Bearded fome few places of a roof, has drawn the nails. But to obviate nails, this in future, half of the nails font out will be bearded, of which every other one muft be driven into the Hate. This will render the covering completely firm. It may not be improper, before the merits of the artificial date, and the inftruCtions concerning it, are more fully entered upon, to inform the gentlemen concerned in Weft India pro- perty, of the uncommon advantage it has in point of freight over any other materials that can be fent for the fame purpofe to our fugar colonies. Every 1000 of pantiles (the commodity chiefly fent out) cdft s' Advantage 30 to 40 drillings freightage ; befides, near one half of thefe, (or °f freight i* fuppofe only one third) on an average, is broken, as every gentle- jj^mificuf man knows, before they are placed on a building in the Weft In- dies, efpecially too if they are fubjeCl to land carriage at any dif- tance from the fea port where they arrive, of courfe 6 or 700 pantiles only coft the whole freightage, and 3 5 or 40 per cent, befides is loft on the capital employed in the firft purchafe of them. Sixty- there artificial dates may be flowed in the fame fpace Sixty-three that is required for 25 pantiles of the general fize, which take up artificial one foot in heighth, two in breath, and one foot four inches in P- lc k depth. But the 25 pantiles will cover little more than a l'pace °f of 2/pan^ fix artificial llates, or about 1 5 or 16 fuperficial feet 3 whereas the tiles. 63 artificial dates will cover 160 fuperficial feet. It is to obferved alfo, that 1000 pantiles will take up more than i“oo pan- the fpace of 12 packing cafes, and will cover only 400 fuperficial ‘-'over feet ; whereas 1800 artificial dates will pack up in the fame fpace, ° ni y 4°o a r oc r feet, but the and cover 4608 feet. artificial Onethoufand pantiles will cover only fix fquare, and take up (\stc^ 6 oS. 47 cube feet of ftowage, or freight; whereas 1 3 oo artificial dates No wafte in (as has juft been obferved) may be flowed in the fame place, but the artificial with this very material difference, that there will not be the leaft ^ tc ’ wafte 3 Difference of weight in the pan- tiles and the date. No difad- vantage from cut- ting the ar- tificial date. Great wafte in flat tiles. Great weight of flat tiles. Packing wafte ; and they will cover 46 fquare, that is 4608 Superficial feet, which is near eight times the fpace the pantiles will cover. This great advantage muft ftrike every gentleman with furprife, efpecially as it proves alfo, that (fuppofing only one third of the pantiles are broke) the remainder of the 1000 will cover only 400 feet; whereas the 1800 artificial flates, being fubjeft to nd wafte, will coyer their full complement of 4608 feet, which is near twelve times the fpace of the pantiles* One fquare of pantiles Weighs 700 cwt. 1 q. 8 lb. j the fame quantity of artificial flate only 1 cwt. 1 q. 1 7 lb. j of courfe near fix times lefs ftrength of timber per fquare is required to fupport the latter; and From this^article of oeconomy proceeds one of the chief advantages of the artificial flate, although it has many others. — See the feparate articles in the roofs of Lord Harrowby’s houfe, No. 1 and 1 *, and Colonel Gvvyn’s, No. 6 and 6 *, and others. Notice has been already taken of the advantage arifing to the ar* tificial flate from its not being fubjeft to any wafte; and the fupe- rior convenience of its carriage by fea or land. It remains to be added, that it is not only very eafy to be cut to any particular form, if neceflary, but almoft the fmalleft ftrip will be found ufe- ful in a variety of inftances where lead muft otherwife be ufed ; as on pediments of doors, flafhings for windows, window fills, ftiop window proje&ions, &c. &c. which is not the cafe of pantiles, nor any other covering — See the windows and doors at the manufac- tory, which, though very numerous, have not a fingle piece of lead employed about them. In ufing the artificial flate in preference to flat or plain tiles* the advantnge is ftill greater; for 4000 flat tiles (which are equal to 1000 pantiles, and much heavier) will take up the fpace of twelve packing cafes, cover only 588 fuperficial feet, and require 87 cubic feet of ftowage ; whereas 1800 artificial flares, being flowed in the fame fpace, will cover, as has been obferved, with- out wafte, its full complement of 4608 feet, or 46 fquare, which is eight times the fpace of covering ; and fuppoftng only one third of the flat tiles are broke, the artificial flate will then cover near eleven times the fpace. The flat tiles will alfo weigh 1 200 cwt. 2 q. 91b. but the ar- tificial flates only 100 cwt. 1 q. 71b. s of courfe eleven times lefs ftrength of timber per fquare is required to fupport them. The packing cafes of the artificial flate for the Weft Indies are fo calculated, that, when broke up, their wood will make headings for hoglheads, or make a very proper boarding for the roofs of the Hate, being three quarters of an inch thick : they may fervf alfo for other purpofes in building, by which a considerable ex- pence is faved. The cafes are, Feet. Inches. In length - x. In breadth - - - % 1 In depth - - - i 4 7 i t J 1 Each cafe will contain 150 Hates, which are equal to 380 feet Difference of covering, though {lowed in fo fmall a fpace, which muft be pi packing very advantageous to every one who exports this kind of material to any diftant part of the world ; but only 25 pantiles can be flowed in the fame fpace. tiles. Since the publication of the firft edition of this treatife, the pro- Method of prictor has confulted feveral gentlemen in the Wefl-India trade packing the relative to the moft oeconomical and defirable manner of packing die artificial flate. Both the following methods have been ap- proved of : in rum puncheons with oats, or in clofe cafes. The rum puncheons muft be feafoned ones, and their circular cavities filled up with oats, when the artificial flate is packed. Thofe gentlemen who wifli to have this method of packing obferved, will be pleafed to exprefs it in their orders. Each rum puncheon will contain in its center 150 artificial What the flates, and about eight bufliels of oats in the fide cavities. As the puncheons proprietor lives chiefly in the country, and near the corn farms of of fire, menfe heat to a calx,, yet lead has been proved to melt vO^th a lefs heat, when the artificial flate has been but immaterially a%e£ted, —See Mr. Dunning’s affidavit. Not long fince a mod extraordinary proof of the refiftance of FxtraorM* the artificial flate to fire happened at a great man ufa&ory near nary refift- London, where the chief roof, a very large one, and all the other ance adjoining offices, were covered with it about eight years ago. One of the buildings, which ferved for the purpofe of boiling oil, within a few yards of the principal part of the manufac- tory, by the over boiling of this inflammable article, was filled (though it had no cieling under it, .but iay upon fmall deal rafters and pantile laths only) was not in the leaft injured either within or without, and perfectly prevented the fire from extending to any of the other buildings. In this inttan.ee it attually ferved the purpofe of iron fire-plates ; for even the deal rafters and laths that fupported it were only blackened by the fire on the fide next it, as is the exaft cafe with fire-plates ; nay, the whole of the ar- tificial flate and wood-work of the roof remains ftill in the fame flate the flames left them, and in fuch perfett ftrength and good condition that the owner of the works did not think it neceffary to remove either. Had this office been covered with lead, blue flating or tiles, the principal building, which nearly adjoined, with all the valuable ^goods it contained, mutt have peiiflied. Any gentleman curious. to infpeft this extraordinary trial, may, by ap- plication to the agent at the artificial flate manufactory, or at the places under mentioned, where orders are taken in, obtain per- miffion to fee the roof, which the owner of the works has been fo obliging as to grant. It is to be obferved neverthelefs, that the artificial flate mutt: Artificial not be confidered complete like the fpecimens fent out, nor able Hate not to to refift the great attacks of fire here related, until it is like them P ut A 0 entirely finifhed on a roof — fanded, painted, and expofed a fhort tr ' a * time to the air, when it foon petrifies : like the examples quoted * in this book, it will then equally refift the force of fire, lightning, y/ind,.ajad water. — One gentleman only in Antigua, not attending B 2 tQ t * 1 S' o the above obiervations, and not duly reflecting on the trial he was about to make, was induced to quarrel with this excellent material; The proprietor, on hearing this, offered to take all his artificial fiate again, though to the value of near three hundred pounds, and return him his money. But the gentleman was convinced of his error before the offer came, and was very well pleafed to keep the flate. He had put a fmall bit of it into the fire juft as it camp from on board ; but it was then incomplete, as it always is till laid on a roof ; befides it wanted the metallic paint and fand : it was alfo in its fermenting ftate, in which it is always found when clofe confined during its raw and green condition, and efpecially in a {hip’s hold : the flate therefore cannot be expelled to refill fire in the ftrong manner here deferibed, until it is finally completed on a roof, and its internal foffil and metallic ingredients are united with the paint aloes and fand. Artific'al From thefe and feveral other authentic teftimonies hereto an- {late fupe- ncxed it manifeftly appears, that fire falling on roofs covered with tiles l< &c ? t ^ e art *^ c * a ^ fl ate c annot penetrate fo eafily as through lead, which • ’ * will melt and fet fire to the timber ; and other flating, as well as tiles, will cnaok, and let in the flames to the wood-work : but the artificial flate will not only not 'communicate fire, but impede its progrefs, and oblige it to go out, as appears from the laft re- cited example. The original teftimonies of thefe fa£ls, and the prefent ftate of perfeCl condition of the artificial flate roofs for eight years, may be feen at the manufactory by applying to the agent . — Vide the accounts at the end of this book, from Gregory Bateman, Efq. the Mayor of Thetford, Mr. Gardener, Mr. Buck, and Mr. Dunning. Artificial That no detriment may in future accrue to the texture of the ar- flate not to tificial flate fent out to the Weft Indies in its incomplete condition, in the holds ( nor can ^ ent * n a more advanced ftate, for then it would pe- bf ftjifs trif y t0 ° f° on ) it i s ftrongly recommended to thofe gentlemen who have the {hipping of the goods, that they will infill on the pack- ages being flowed between the decks, and on no account in the hold of the {hip ; the fait ftench and foul air which often pre- vail there will materially damage the flate, thus green and un- finifhed. preat v>fe The cafes that contain the artificial flate, as well as the pun- of cafes and clieons, will be found very ufeful, firft in defending the flates puncheons, from the leaft wafte pr detriment on the yoyage ; after this the former will ferve perfeClly well for boarding thofe roofs which are intended for the artificial flate, and the latter be of much greater value in the iflands than their firft coft in England will amount to. The cafes are three quarters of an inch deal, and when laid upon the rafters will make a proper boarding for the artificial fiate roofs, and not only be ftrong enough for that pu^- pofc, but alfo to admit walking on the roof, when the flates are finifliecj t 9 ] finifhed on it and hardened; otherwife it would be imprudent, as the cement would be fqueezed from the joints. The packing paper will be found as good as new when taken from the Hates, it being ufed only to -lie fmooth between them to prevent their adhe- fion, which, before this method was adopted, happened but too often in long voyages from the motion of the fhip in rough wea- ther, and when the artificial flate was in its raw ftate. The great fayings in timber and other materials on roofs co- Small rife vered with the artificial date will undoubtedly be very fatisfadtory ( >f artificial to every gentleman engaged in neceffary and ufeful buildings, ^ dte rools * efpecially thofe in the Weft and Eaft Indies, when it is confidered that this covering does not weigh above one twelfth part of flat tiles, and that the pitch or rife of a roof for the artificial flate will perfectly carry off water at only one eighth rife of the fpan or bafe of a roof, which is only four inches perpendicular rife in every foot of the bafe; but flat tiles require one foot perpendicu- lar rife for every foot of the bafe of a roof to carry off water equally well : this is very evident from the great roof at the ma- nufactory, which has a fpan or bafe fcarcely rifes feven. of two feet, and orfi i 7 The [ 10 ] Perhaps in a country much fubje£fc to fnow it may be prudent tc» raife five inches in a foot, and even then it will be flatter than what is called pediment pitchy which is the flatteftat which blue or Welch dating can be laid to carry off the water, and that only on pediments, for they muff have a much higher pitch on roofs to keep out rain and fnow. From thefe obfervations it is clear much timber and other articles are faved in the pitch alone. Artificial The artificial Hate is now made noxious ro rats, mice, and every flate nox - kind of vermin and infe&s, which in hot climates fo often devour oustomice, the wood-work of buildings. It is prefumed too, that neither the ^ c * white ant in the Eaft Indies, nor the wood loufe in the Well In- dies, will approach this material, Befides, no green, not even the mo$ t »» 1 moll minute vegetable, will grow on the artificial Hate to deface its beauty, or injure the texture. This cannot be faid of any other covering. It will not be unacceptable, it is hoped, to the gentlemen con- Great de- cerned in the Weil India property, to be informed of the favour- ™ an d tot able opinion the artificial ilate has long fince obtained in the lla c * Leeward Iflands. It was firft introduced at St. Kitt’s fome years ago fince which commiflions have increafed fo confiderably, not only from that iiland, but from moil of the others, that it has not been poilible till now to get a tolerable flock beforehand. Gentle- men are therefore defired to fend their orders as long as poilible be- fore the goods are wanted. The following abftraCl is copied from a letter communicatd by Mr. Neave to the preient patentee, from a gentleman who has long had the care of a large eilate belonging to the S x tapleton fa- - mily at Bafle-terre in St. Kitt’s, and whofe long refidence and ex- perience in the Weil Indies make him perfeClly acquainted with the great expence, inconvenience, and danger, which attend the conilant ufe of ihingles, and for which the artificial ilate is recom- mended as a fubilitute. St. ChriJlophcr’Sy November 28, 1777. il I have now finifhed the room for a trial of the artificial ilate ts which was fent out, and I muil take the liberty to inform the ** gentleman who is the proprietor of that manufactory, that I “ have every reafon for believing that it will anfwer perfectly ; 4< and if a houfe that is covered with it will bear the intenfe heat u of a houfe on fire that is contiguous to it without catching the * flames, it will prove the moil ufeful difeovery to our Weft “ India towns that ever has been made : it will likevvife be of * f very great confequence, and an additional fafety to the fugar “ works on the eftates. Several of our towns have of late years “ been deftroyed by fire, to which they are much expofed from “ the nature of their inflammable materials, but which might “ have been prevented, had the houfes been roofed and fronted ft with this ufeful and ingenious invention ; inftead of which, all “ our houfes here are covered with Ihingles, which are juft as in- “ flammable as any other part of the wood of the building ; our “ roofs in general being too flight to admit of a heavy covering, “ fuch as the common Hate or tiles. “ You will pleafe alfo to mention that our air is certainly im- e< pregnated with a much Ilronger corrofive quality than the air “ of England, which may be owing to a fuperior degree of moif- “ ture. All kinds erfi iron from this caufe ruft and decay very “ fall in this climate. I therefore fubmit it to him, whether it • 4< would not be better to have the nails that faften the artificial $ See NTr. Dunnmg’s affidavit* « Ilate C «* 3 11 flate, made of fome mixed metal rather than iron, fo as to refjfi: u that quality in our * air ; but care muft be taken at the fama “ time that the compofition be of fuch a nature as to give them ** fufheient ftrength and fubflance for the purpofe they are in- “ tended of fometimes driving into hard wood. “ I am, with the greateft refpe£t, See. &c. (Signed) “ ROBERT THOMPSON.’* More ad- It mull be farther obferved, that this material has a great advan- vantages of ta g e ovcr Singles \ n the Weft Indies in refpect to painting, as llate * l ^ C * al ever y S ent ^ eman > w ^° ^ ee P s His fhingled roofs in perfe£t repair, knows they fliould be painted every other year ; and even with thefe expenfive precautions they feldom laft above fixteen years. This is therefore a rent charge of no inconftderable extent on the eftates. Shingles re- ^efldes the expence of painting wood-work fo as to refill out of quire much doorS) even in England where the Sun is lefs penetrating, cannot artificial* be ^ e ^' s r ^ an f° ur or ^ ve Agings P er fquare ; that is, an hundred flatebut lit- fuperficial feet: but two (hillings and fixpence will purchafe a fuf- tle. ficient quantity of metallic paint to complete the fame meafure- ment on the artificial flate. Again, the artificial flate requires not only to be painted lefs often than fliingles, but when painting becomes neceflary, it takes a much lefs quantity. The reverie is the cafe when Ihingles are painted ; the quantity of colour ufed on them is much greater, their fuftion being much ftronger than that of the artificial flate : befides, the Ihingles, by being frequently painted with common paint, become more and more of an inflammable nature, which is not the cafe with the metallic paint. For thefe and many other reafons that might be advanced, it is ftrongly recommended to the Weft-India gentlemen to make ufe of the metallic paint upon their fliingles, or any wood-work of their buildings ; for it is both more durable and cheaper than what can be purchafed elfe- where. Shinglers It is to be obferved, that thofe Blacks who are employed as fit to lay the fliinglers may eafily learn to lay the artificial flate, by accurately obferving the inftrudlions herein publilhed. And indeed it is on account of the great demand for this material in our fugar colo- nics that thefe copious particular direflions have been principally drawn up. Artificial It is worthy of obfervation, that while other coverings lie in flate be- detached parts, the artificial flate, when completed on a roof, will, romes one * n t ^ e cour f e G f a few weeks, become as it were one united b$>dy, rout. extending over the whole roof of a building, and has the effect of artificial flate, * A method has been found to temper braft nails fo as to take off their brittlcnels, and they have been found to anfwer their purpofe perfectly, in- termixed with the iron and bearded ones. fccrmetica] C n 3 hcrmetical fealing, totally excluding wind, water, fnow, and tvcu air itfelf. The fulleft and moft minute directions that could be thought of for properly laying the artificial flate are herein given, as well as inflruCtions for framing the leaft expenfive roofs. By the affift- ance of thefc and the eftimates, gentlemen as well as artifts may clearly judge whether this material is, or is not a defirable and economical lubftitute for moft others in the generality of houfes. The art of building is become fo expenfive, even in the moft ordinary ereCtions, as to deter moft perfons from engaging in it, iinlefs compelled by neceflity. In this latter cafe, fo much tim- ber and coftly articles are faved by the ufe of the artificial flate, that no one, after the above proofs, can doubt but that it is a very economical material, and therefore well worthy the attention of all who undertake buildings. Notice has been already taken of the impropriety of cenfuring Abufesof the artificial flate, when put to unfair trials, and ufed with care- the artificial' lefsnefs. The following abufes have occafioned its want of per- fe& fuccefs in fome few inftances at its firft eftablifhment. The proprietor therefore mentions them here that they may be avoided in future. Firft, From not repainting the flate every third or fourth year, as recommended in the direClions. Secondly, From the life of common paint inftead of the me- tallic paint, which is prepared on purpofe at the manufadory. Thirdly, From the ufe of all iron nails inftead of brafs ones in- termixed with them. Fourthly, From not allowing the artificial flate to have fufii* cient lap. Fifthly, From not allowing boarding for the artificial flate to lie upon; a more ordinary one than what is ufed for common blue Hates will do; fome is abfolutely neceflary to fupport them during their new and unfettled ftate, as well as to make them lie even. Where this precaution is wanting, the texture is ruined before it hardens, and the artificial flate becomes concave inftead of flat. Sixthly, From allowing too great diftances between the rafters of a roof, which will alfo caufe this concavity. Seventhly, From not giving a common rough cieling to roofs covered with the artificial flate. This is a very material injuftice, and has fometimes happened, efpecially in open flieds and flables. Hence the moift air condensing, and conftantly hanging on the infide of the flates during their green, unpetrified flate, materi- ally injures the texture of the internal furface ; for it is to be re- membered that the internal fide of the artificial flate is not equally prepared to reflft damp and moiflure with that which lies expofed to the open air. On this account it is requefted, as ablolutely neceflary, to put fome fort of cieling under all roofs covered with C the t u 3 the artificial date, inftead of leaving itsinfidefo much ex pofeef to- the penetrating air of fogs, frofls, &c. &c. The mod ordinary deling will effectually prevent the con- denfation of the internal air, which otherwife will collcCt on the in- fide of the dates, and not being able (except by repeated efforts) to penetrate them, will fall down in large drops, like the rain that precedes a thunder fhower. This circumftance has induced fome people to fuppofe a defeCt or leakage in the artificial date ; whereas it is a confirmation of its redding moifture and wet, and being impenetrable to air in foggy and frofty weather, where the neceffary inftructions have been followed. Stables, In dables it is dill more neceffary to have fome fort of common deling, becaufc the animal falts that proceed from the dung will infallibly difunite the vegetable fahs that abound in the artificial date, and which in their unhardened date are not able to redd; the force of the former. Nor is it polfible to fuppofe thefe little expences will not be chearfully fubmitted to, when on the other hand the favings and advantages are fo great that arife from the ufe of the artidcial date, which, it mud be obferyed, was never in- tended to ferve both as a roodng and a cieling too. It is an Another difadvantage to this material has proceeded from the error to lay partiality of fome gentlemen too much prepoffefled in favour of the artificial t j le artificial date. Suppodng it capable of more than ir ever had as lead ^ P reten ^ ons to > they have not only made it ferve both for roodng and cieling, but have laid it as fiat as lead, even when new. Whatever it may be capable of when completely hardened, the proprietor does not pretend to determine j but it is contrary to every wifh of his ever to lay it as flat as lead, or at any other pitch than what is recommended in the printed directions, which is a very low one, and by which it is evident much timber and other materials are faved. — Vide Edimates. Wherever the little attentions and expences herein recom- mended have been attended to, fuccefs has invariably been the re- fult, as is particularly proved by Mr. Buck’s houfe in Norfolk*, and all the buildings at the manufactory at Woodford Bridge. At the former the artificial flate has remained in a pcrfeCt date for fifteen years, and at the latter above eight, without any other care and attention than what is recommended in this book of in- ftruCtions. It may reafonably be allowed farther to expcCt, that when fo much is faved to the purchafers of the flate, in timber, lead, and other materials on roofs and fronts, no gentleman will objeCt to the trifling expences of an ordinary boarding and a common ciel- ing ; and both are neceffary. Confider only the great expcnce of * The buildings belonging to Gregory Bateman, Eiq. ; Mr. Wolf at Saffron Waldon \ that of John Addey, Efq. at Norwich j and others befldes. repairing C *5 3 repairing tiled and flated roofs in the courfe of fifteen or twenty- years, when they have been fubjett to as many winters, to as much froft and rain as the artificial {late. Confider, befides, the danger from fire, and the injury which frequently happens to roofs co- vered with tiles or common ilate, from the overflowing of gutters in heavy rains, or the fudden melting of fnow. When thefe hap- pen they feldom fail to fpoil the cielings under, and frequently the hangings and furniture : nor can the very trifling expence be regretted of giving the flate a light coat of metallic paint now and then by tl^e hands of a common labourer, which not only beauti- fies the roof, but, every time it is renewed, adds to its durabi- lity. In very damp northern climates perhaps it may be pru- dent to paint the roofs a year fooner than is here recommended. It has already been obferved, that the artificial flate has been Dry rot* found a very efficacious remedy behind wainfeots and under floors, againft the ravages of what is called the dry rot . Some extraor- dinary proofs of this were made at Ray Houfe ; at Mr. Towcrs's ;fine room at Weald, in EfTex ; and in Manchefter Square. — For particulars inquire at the manufaflory. This quality of the artificial flate was difeovered by an accident ; and as it feemed at firft to the proprietor to be almofl unaccount- able, his curiofity led him to examine minutely into the caufes of the misfortune which fo frequently ruins the timbers and wood- work of houfes. From what he has obferved, he is induced to .think that the dry rot proceeds from the following caufes, which, if true, account in a great degree why the artificial flate ftiould be a remedy againfl it. He fpeaks neverthelefs with great deference towards the naturalifts, as well as towards thofe gentlemen in the building profeflion, who probably have fearchedwith great pains and ingenuity into the caufe of this common and often dangerous idif}i£er. It has been advanced, and rauA be allowed, that the artificial flate, from its foflil and metallic ingredients and its elaftic nature, £s a perfeft enemy to every kind of vegetation, becaufe, from, jts firft invention, it has not fuffered the leaft green or plant to grow upon it. What is called the dry rot , the proprietor prefumes may with Dry rot err more juftice be called the wet rot\ and its confumption of wood- r °n e °ufly work (if this conjecture is right) proceeds not from the effufion t of drains, or other pestiferous matter, as has been generally fup- pofed, but from the fubtile feed, conveyed perhaps from fuch ef- fluvia, and produced from a moift, humid plant, which plainly appears in the microfcopc to be that white cobweb which always precedes the rot. How the feed of this plant is conveyed intQ thofe parts of the timber where the rot prevails, belongs to the more curious philofopher to afeertain, who has time to invefti- gate its progrefs at large ; but it may not be improbable that the timber has lain, fome time after it has been cut for ufe, in a damp jpf foetid foil which abounds with the feed of this plant, or that C z fome t 3 Tome drain, or other damp place containing the feed, may not be far diftant from the place where the rot commences. Certain foils in different countries may alfo be more pregnant with this feed than others. The hypothcfis then being admitted, that the rot proceeds from a plant, and the artificial flate being, as we have always experi- enced it, noxious to vegetation, it is eafy to determine why it caufes this diforder to ceafe, or not to commence; for as by its nature it prevents the feed from growing, of courfe the matrix for the plant is defe&ive, and becomes abortive as foon as it is begun. DIRECTIONS * Since the printing the directions for laying the artificial late on roofs, a moil excellent method has been difcovered, viz; When a boarding is finilhed on the rafters of a roof, nail on ex- a£tly over each rafter, all the way down, flit deal fillets, about or 2 inches wide, and one third of an inch thick, rounded «ff, or weathered on each angle of the upper fide; lap and nail the artificial flate over the fillets, but let every other nail be a little zig zag, not in a ftraight line, and never drive the nails ftraight, but a little inclining either way. This method will make the artificial flate lie hollow down their centers, which effe&ually prevents any water getting through the cement, even fliould in- tenfe heat or froft crack it. + It has alfo been found that the beft method is to varniA #ver the flate with the prepared oil (after the firft painting and landing) and to finifla with the metalic paint over the oil varnifli? . «- t *>•«•» n ’ • ’ • *... Y y j . v . :v • ... . : Y ; . • ' . . . .1 . . ' ■ j '-',- J ' ' ■ - ' . .. ^ ■ • . ■ < .1 ’ • \ t 17 3 DIRECTIONS for laying ^ ARTIFICIAL, SLATE on RftQFs and Fronts. I N the firft place great care fhould be takeiv to form the roofs Roofs to and fronts of buildings to be covered with artificial flate, toge- theartificiaj ther with every part of the wood-work, of perfect dry feafoned formed fluff’, and the framing lhould be fo contrived for fronts, that a w ith fea- whole date may be placed exa&ly in the center of each alternate foued ftuIF. row of dating, which will always give it a regular finilh at the Tides or ends of the front. The roof is to be formed with rafters made of fir, or any other cheap timber not fubje£t to warp, two inches thick, and four and an half deep, placed at the diftance of one foot four inches from the center of one rafter to the center of the next j the roof is then to ^ n j be clofe boarded with three quarters boarding, and never more an inch of than five inches broad, which is the bed prevention from warp- void be- ing ; in a Ihort bearing, or to a fmall roof, every other rafter may tvveaa each be only of inch deal, but four and half in depth. * Care mud be taken in nailing on the Hates that the nails are Nailing the not driven where there is no wood to receive them. Thofe who dates, nail the date on roofs, and paint it when nailed and cemented, lhould dand and kneel on a board, that their feet and knees may not indent the artificial date while new ; they lhould alfo take care that they are no where broken or bruifed beforehand, or at the time of laying on, which will ruin their texture. Thefe pre- cautions are only necedary in the fird indance, while the date, cement and paint are frelh and unhardened. In a Ihort time the whole will unite and become firm, and may be walked upon. — See the manufa£tory roofs. The joinings of the artificial date where the cement is put, and Joints and the heads of the brafs and iron nails, which will be a little coun- heads of terfunk, mud all be cemented, and be both rubbed over, as Toon na . lls be as done, with a little thin metallic paint, fo that the cement be * left fmooth and even : if this is negle£ted, it will not unite, but crack in drying, and feparate from the covering. Let fmall holes be made in the artificial dates at the given dif- Slates to be tance with the brad-awl, which is fent out for the purpofe, but on bored with no account with a larger indrument, which would not only pre- ^ad- vent the bearded nails from taking a proper hold of the covering, but alfo hinder the plain ones from being fixed clofe. When a roof or front is ready nailed and cemented, and the Method to joints and heads of the nails painted dightly, according to the P a ’ nt roofs rules laid down, let it be painted and fanded the next day, the an< * roof with the blue metallic paint and the front with the white, and of the confidence only of cream. Let fome one follow the painter, and while the paint is wet, fling on it with an even hand from Uemjcly againft the heat cf the artificial Hate in gar- R1S. Ingredients of ihe^me- paint, why lent opt in pow- der. Method of mixing the paint. C «« I from the fanding box fome of the prepared fand, which is fcnt out for this purpofe. In a week, if there is fair weather and no rain, and the firft painting is perfecHy dry, and the fand adheres firmly, firft fweep off with a hair-broom all the fancf' that does not adhere to the paint, then repeat the above painting and fanding in the fame manner. In about ten days more the roof muft be painted over a third time, but without any fanding, as it muff be finifhed with the paint. Obferve that fronts muft be painted with the white metallic paint, and only painted and fanded twice, and be finifhed with the fand. In about three weeks the front will petrify and bleach to the colour cf freeftone. Obferve too that ail the artificial flate muft lap at leaft an inch, both on roofs and fronts, and the cement laid equal, and never be- yond the thicknefs of a crown piece. It lias been noticed, that in remarkably hot expofures in the Weft Indies the artificial flate has been hotter in the garret floors than other coverings where the cieling has been low. But this inconvenience has been eafilv removed, and at a trifling expence. The method has been to fill up clofe the fpaces between the rafters and the laths of the cieling with ftraw, reeds or ftalks of the Guinea corn, and in theEaft Indies with cajan, fmall bamboo, or rice ftraw. An ingenious gentleman from Nevis, well verfed in building in the Weft Indies, having made much ufe of the artificial flate on his own eftate in that illand, and who from conviction of its great economy and fafety to buildings has been a great promoter of it upon many other plantations, has informed the proprietor (among many other ufeful things, for which he is greatly obliged tp him) that the metallic ingredients of the paint have frequently fub- fided to the bottom of the cafks, efpecially during Summer voy? ages, and become fo very hard that it has been found impoffible not only to remix them with the fluid part of*the paint, but even to reduce the fediment to any kind of pulp or povyder, either by heat or levigation. The proprietor therefore, to render this ne- ceffary part of the manufacture as perfeCt as poffible, has contrived to fend out the metallic ingredients in pozuder y which, with the following inftruCHons how to mix them, will anfwer as well as if prepared at home. Let the mixture be made as follows ; To every gallon of paint add eight ounces of the powder of metals taken from the little calk marked Kp, Let the powder be added by little and little, ftirring it well for half an hour; then grind the whole together on a colour ftone with a muller,addingalfo to every gallon of paint five ounces of Barbadoes aloes as finely pulverifed as polfible, which mvjl be well and equally incorporated with the paint ; it is then fit for ufe. It is to be obferved, that the aloes in powder is an indifpenfable ingredient, as it unites to^ §etll?S t *9 3 gether the metallic articles in the paint; it is therefore on no account to be negleCted. If the paint fhould be too thick in the Weft Indies when the powder of metals and aloes is added to it, unite with it a fufSciect quantity of the prepared oil, to make it of the confidence of cream or thin paint. It is a great error to lay on the paint too thick, and much better to do it ilightly and repeat it, than to lay on too much at a time. The fpecics of aloes intended for this mixture in the Weft In- dies is that which is firft boiled and hardened. Obferve it muft afterwards be reduced to a fine powder. It may be had in great plenty in moft of the Weft-India iflands, particularly at Barba- does , where it is principally manufactured, and where a con- fiderable traffic of it is carried on with Europe. In England the paint is prepared with the metals and aloes. The beft method of laying the artificial flate on roofs, as well as fronts, has been found by repeated experience to be where the joints are broken, as in brick work, termed by the builders break- ing bond , as defcribed in fig. i. page i o. This is the method which fhould be followed, and no other does the proprietor re- recommend. It is no inconfiderable advantage that the artificial flate admits roofs covered with it to be laid fo much flatter than they can be with tiles, or common blue dating; as alfo that it is only one twelfth part of the weight of flat tiles. The eftimates will fliew alfo what aflonifhing favings there are in lead, for which the artificial flate ferves in all parts of a build- ing as a perfeCt fubftitute ; as on pediments, hips, ridges, barns, ricks, valley and other gutters, water pipes, bow and fhop win- dows, domes, flifhings of windows, copings of walls and chi/n- nies, and window fills. Let the nails with heads be driven every other one : this will prevent the coverings from being drawn away from the rafters, as has fometimes been the cafe in very hot expofures. The joints of brick work (wherever the edges of the artificial flates are obliged to terminate againft fhafts of chimnies and up- right walls) muft have all their mortar raked out; or a chafing fhould be cut in the brickwork, which muft be painted to receive the edges of the flate. Thefe fhould be inferted an inch and half into the joint or chafing, then filled up with cement, and painted and fanded. On no account fhould the artificial flate be laid upon mortar, or at all communicate with it. The firft year it is neceflary every now and then to examine whether there is any little defeCt in the cement, nailing, or paint- ing, efpecialiy before and after the firft winter ; and it is prudent to walk as little as poflible on a roof, or to load it with weight till the whole is hardened, and the cement runs no rifque of being fqueejed out of the joints. For want of thefe I'm all attentions foaie Sort of aloes. Method of laying the flate. Slate only one twelfth the weight of tiles. Savings in lead. ° r d Nails. Slate not 40 touch mcr* tar. t. 1 fbme roofs have received material damage, and by a continuation of negleft muft come to decay, though they might otherwife have been kept in the moft perfect condition for many years. — See Mr. Garland’s letter, page 26. W W The artificial (late mull be laid, and the joints broken on roofs and fronts of houfes, as in fig. 1. Chalk aline On roofs and fronts, it isneceflaiy to ftrike a ftraight chalked line on each row to lay each row by, as fhewn by the dotted line b. b. of Hales, fig. j. anc | t fii s ffiould b e continued all the way to each row as it is laid. When you have laid the firft row of dates, firike the line t 1 fine on the tipper part of it; this will dire& you to lay the next by; and remember to bring the roofing fquare as you proceed in laying, always beginning at the bottom both on roofs and fronts, as in fig. i. B. B. executing your work always before you. The quarters’ in* fronts fhould be placed at the diftance of Quarters i*j 13 inches from the center of one quarter to the center of the next, fronts, as in fig. 1. a a a a The fcantling and fize of the quarters in front fhould be about four inches deep by two broad, and clofe boarded within half an inch, as on roofs, but the boards not above four or five inches broad, to prevent warping, as has been obferved on roofs. It is belt to fand and paint both roofs and fronts in fine weather. Painting and on no account to attempt either when it is damp or rainy. bc done ‘ n The metallic paint and fand unite beft in a fine day; befides, when there is little or no wind, the prepared fand will not be 1 wafted. The eye of the workmen will eafily diftinguilh where to repeat the fandingthe fecond time, a little more or lefs. Bottom of a Front, Obferve in fronts, and in fronts only, to lay the artificial Hates Method of in fych a manner, that every other one in every row may have its fronting upper fide lapped over at the ufual inch by the flates that are with artifi* above it, its lateral fides by the Hates that are next them ; and Cla * ate * that its under fide may lap in the fame proportion over the flates that are below ‘it- By this method every other Hate will be a Hate’s thicknefs higher than the reft, as in fig. 2. A., and the flates B. with their three fides c c c, will of courfe be a date’s thicknefs lower. Continue to lay the whole front thus, and it will have a beautiful effeft, refembling exactly the joints of ftone work. Remember that the artificial flates intended for the front* of buildings muft be particularly mentioned in the orders, as U r ** i they are differently prepared from thofe employed