SLA
433
SLE
»H(j j|to cover. They are solidly bedded in the putty0n es eir intersecting joints are lapped as those of the slates;l'h e w >s put in each lap, and one in the middle of the fillet.
iig e *® ts > being so laid, are neatly pointed up all round theirof more putty ; and are lastly painted over the colour
^Onti 81ate> Th e hips and ridges of such slating are fre-*>eat j* covered by fillets in a similar way, and have a veryBut lead is the best covering for all hips andby V- ''oofs, and it is not much dearer than covering themy y ; 8 ode.
tigjj e Patent slating may be laid so as to be perfectly water-fb r ’ "ilh an elevation of the rafters considerably less thane, oh r ot ^ er ®l ate or tile covering ; a rise of two inches inN ,i.l °f the length of the rafter being deemed sufficient;
in 'i 8 ’ Por a ra fmr of fifteen feet, would be only two feetfron, „ les > a rise in the pitcli of a roof, which, at any heightSi le ground, would be hardly perceived,i,"!” ’ s done also in several other ways, but the princi-°' e ex pl a-ined embrace the most of them. Somekiricj 0 » en shape and lay their slates in a lozenge-form. This•ite, „ ' v °rk consists in getting all the slates to a uniform'he ? the shape of a geometrical square ; when laid on(which is always boarded for this work,) they arekt t) le an d lapped as in common slating ; observing only to'hat j s e *how, or half of the square, appear above each slateNf. “ nder it) and to be regular in the courses all over the. n e nail or screw only can be used for such slating,W pi a '' s °on becomes dilapidated. It is commonly employedNuir^ 3 near to the eye, or where particular neatness is
kiin,] tools consist of a few only, which are sometimes?Wlej y the master, and sometimes by the men. The tool,'H es , he saixe, is composed of tempered iron, about sixteen' p . n gth, and two inches in width, somewhat bent at* 8 t) 0 , ’ with a beech handle at the other.—This instrumentW‘oj ec ,! ln iike a large knife, except that it has on its back asNa ' t ng piece °f iron, about three inches in length, anda sharp point. With this tool, ground sharp, thetli e IP 3 °r cuts all his slates to the required sizes.
N i/^Ppcr- is of iron, about the same length as the saixe,
I We,, ^ '^in in its blade, which is one inch and three-quarters'PM • led somewhat towards its top, where it has a round) 8 ’ and^ Ct ' n ® over the blade about half an inch on eachtK r "al lav ' n g also two little round notches in the twobl' S tooi ang '-> a ' their intersection. At the handle-end of>jMe, an ," lere is a shoulder, which raises it up above thea ‘*6 a enables the workman to hold it firmly in his hand.” u- . °f this tool
i!
at its intersection, and enables the
ti.v' 8 : “ J ‘s toot is in repairs of old slating, as by forcing."'l i a , under the slates, the projecting head catches the
tli^Wan 16 notcil
it 8 'ate *° pu " out ’ at '' le same Wine that it loosens8 ,Pla Ce ’ and allows him to remove it, and insert another in
lj 1
tlJt| in?^ rS ^ lammer is somewhat different in shape fromIj'Wttg p 011 to °l of that description ; it is on the hammer, ort/' 8 '’ack r *’ a ' )out pve inches in height, bent on the top aen(j £ round to a tolerably sharp point ; its lowerti. 'luito bein g about three-quarters of an inch in diameter,
iVti round -
, f^'act
\ i 0 ; s kSkbS 8ha
S«eti
8 *ti
ii t . 6 s}> 8 ^°^ n!| iis as do not drive satisfactorily.
On the side of the driving part is a smallWith a notch in its centre, which is used as a claw
On
J^ Vln 9't°°l is used for getting the slates to a smoothbl ll( j B lrt i ln gs, floors of balconies, &c. It consists of anopened at one of its ends like a chisel, and
°f ,,,-ough the centre of two round wooden handles,^ 0 f i] C 1 ’ s fi xe< l at one end, and the other about thele klade. The blade is about eleven inches long,
5 s
and two inches wide ; the handles are about ten inches long,so that they project four inches on each side of the blade.In using this tool the workman takes it in both his hands,placing one hand to each side of the handle in the middle oftlie blade, and allowing the other to press against both hiswrists; in this manner he works away all the uneven partsfrom off the surface of the slate, and gets it to a smooth face.
The slater’s other working tools consist of numerous chiselsand gouges, together with files of all sizes, witli whicli hefinishes his slates for the better parts of his work into mould-ings, and other forms.
Tlie strength of slate is very great in comparison of anykind of freestone, as it is ascertained that a slate of one inchin thickness will support, in an horizontal position, as muchin weight as five inches of Portland stone, similarly suspended.Hence, slates are now wrought and used for galleries andother purposes, where strength and lightness combined areessential.
Slates are also fashioned into chimney-pieces, partaking ofthe different varieties of labour applied to marble ; but it isincapable of receiving a polish like it, except by japanning.It makes excellent skirtings of all descriptions, as well ascasings to walls where dilapidations, or great wear and tear,are to be anticipated. It is capable of being fixed, for thesepurposes, with joints equally neat with wood, and may bepainted over if required, to appear like it. Staircases maybe executed in slate, and will have an effect not unlike to.black marble.
Slaters’ work is measured by the surveyors, as most arti-ficers’ work now usually is, and is afterwards reduced intosquares, each square containing 100 feet superficial.
Slaters are allowed, in addition to the nett dimensions oftheir work, (when taking the measure of roofs,) six inches forall the eaves, and four inches for the hips ; this allowance ismade in consequence of the slates being used double in theformer case, and for the waste in cutting away the sides ofthe slates to fit into the latter. Some of these eaves, for in-stance, when rags or imperial slates are used, require an addi-tional allowance of nine inches for the eaves, such kind ofslates being so much larger than the size of most of the otherkinds now in use. All faced work in slate skirtings, stair-cases, galleries, &c. is charged by the foot superficial, withoutany addition. Chimney-pieces are made up and sold at perpiece, by the masons.
The following Table of Comparisons will be found useful:
Weight
Nails required toa square.
Averagegaugewhen laid
1200 willcoversquares.
per thou-sand of1200 intons.
WTOUgllt
at perhundred.
Copper atper lb.
Inches.
H
7
2|
n
10
480
5
280
3
10
320
3J
11
3
254
2 I
SLEEPERS, a row of horizontal timbers, disposed in abuilding, next to the ground, transversely, under walls,ground joists, or the boarding of a floor.
In bad foundations, sleepers are laid upon piles, and plankedover, in order to support the incumbent walls. Sleepersunder ground-joists, either lie upon tlie solid earth, or aresupported in several places of their length by prop-stones :when in the former position, having no rows of timbers below