Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1884 — Coating for a Leaky Roof. [ARTICLE]

Coating for a Leaky Roof.

Dr. Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural College, says: “Some inquiring friends have been experimenting with coal-tar for ‘revamping’ old roofs that begin to leak and extending their usefulness. The difficulty, so far, is to find a cheap and effective ‘dryer,’ as the tar does not ‘sef between the shingles and in cracks, drips from eaves under a hot sun, and during rains washes to cisterns, injuring the water for stock. One correspondent says: ‘I don’t think “body” in paint of this sort and use is of any great account; saturating the shingles with the tar so as to be measurably impervious to water, thus causing the water to run off readily and leave the roof dry, is the idea. The material promising best results in such a case is water-lime. It can be used combined with Coal-tar as paint, or it can be thoroughly dusted over the surface after the coal-tar is applied. I think the best results will be secured by com-' bining both uses as follows: Thin the coal-tar by adding common benzine, one part of benzine to twelve of coal-tar, then stir in good water-lime (entirely freed from lumps by sifting) until you have the consistency of a strong paint, and paint this on the leaky roof, covering every part and filling all cracks. Apply at once a good dusting of waterlime to this painted surface before it dries. The watar-lime retards the running of the tar, forms a hard coating by the action of the water, and conceals the very disagreeable odor of the coaltar. Of course, fire must be kept from this paint, lest the inflammable benzine should start a combustion difficult to control. The benzine reduces the stickiness of the tar, enables it to combine or mix more easily with the waterlime, makes it easier to spread on the shingles, and it soon evaporates, leaving a firm and even covering. The paint can be applied with a mop if it is moderately warm when applied.—Chicago Tivies.