Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1886 — Coating for Buildings. [ARTICLE]

Coating for Buildings.

As a building material, says a contemporary, asphaltum is fast growing in popular favor, and is used principally as a prevention against damp cellar walls and mason-work underground, water-tight cellar floors, coating for rain-water cisterns, covering for undergroundvaults, etc. efficiency is fairly proved upon the first trial if applied properly. It has no equal for the purpose we have named, and needs only fairly to be introduced to make its own lasting reputation for reliability. The usual method of applying it is as follows: Reduce to a semi-liquid state, in an iron pot as large as can conveniently be obtained, over a good fire, sufficient asphalt to about tw*o-thirds fill it. Use caution that the flame does not rise over the top of the pot to ignite the asphalt. Have the wall as nearly dry as possible, and the joints somewhat rough—not smooth-pointed—to admit of the asphalt penetrating the pores and securing a hold. Cover the wall with the asphalt, applied with a long-handled brush, while the material is hot, and brush it in well. The asphalt will cool readily when applied to the cold surface of the wall. It is all sufficient if the mason-work is thoroughly covered, for a coating one-half inch thick is as perfect a protection as a thicker one. On the rpof of vaults, tops of cisterns, or the like, where a settlement is likely to occur and produce rupture, mix a little air-slaked lime or dean, fine sand with the material while hot. This will tend to preserve its proper elasticity, and destroy its brittleness and liability to fracture. For vault Coverings, or floors to cellars, basements, etc., the coating should be about one-half inch thick, and thoroughly worked into the joints and smoothed with a trowel. A barrel asphalt as found in the market, heated and applied to vertical brick walls as we have described, will ordinarily cover alxmt 250 square feet of surface, and in point of cost compare favoralilyi with other methods of damp proofing, and produces better and more lasting results. Some men are not made to he scholars, afid may be very worthy citizens and gentlemen in spite of thejp ignorance. -t-' "* i >;■ ** ’' ' . ft. . -