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Show Storms Show Need of Good Construction Storms of unusual violence have lashed several areas of. the nation in recent months, causing heavy property damage. Uprooted trees, wrecked utility lines and the destruction de-struction of buildings indicate the great intensity of the winds which have accompanied these disturbances. distur-bances. A study of the storm damage in various sections demonstrates the importance of sound construction more effectively than it could be shown in any other way. Well-constructed Well-constructed buildings generally sustained little damage. This was especially true in the case of roofing. While some roof damage is to be expected when winds rise to hurricane force, properly applied roofs showed little effect of the severe buffeting they received. In fact, storms reveal re-veal that roof damage can be practically eliminated through proper application unless the winds are so strong that they demolish de-molish the building itself. If there are any weak spots in the roof deck or in the application of the roofing material to the deck, high velocity winds are likely to cause trouble. An unsound roof is just as vulnerable to the storm's fury as a poorly-rooted tree or a barn which is insecurely anchored to its foundation. Performance in areas where high winds are prevalent has proved that asphalt roofing which supplies about 90 percent of the nation's roofing requirements require-ments gives good service when properly applied with the tabs cemented down. Construction of a good roof begins be-gins with a sound deck. In applying apply-ing asphalt strip shingles, it is essential that the deck be sound, tight and smooth. Proper preparation prepa-ration in the case of new construction construc-tion includes an underlayment of asphalt saturated felt. When re-roofing, re-roofing, it usually is not necessary to remove the old roofing material providing the existing roof deck is sound and will provide good anchorage for the nails used in applying the new roofing. However, How-ever, the surface of the roof should be carefully prepared to receive the new shingles. Nailing also is important. Six nails should be used in each strip when three-tab, square-butt shingles shin-gles are applied, and the nails should be long enough to penetrate pene-trate the roof deck by at least three-quarters of an inch. To cement down the tabs of strip shingles, recommended in high-wind areas, place a daub of quick-setting cement about the size of a 50-cent piece under the center of the exposed portion of each shingle tab and press the tab down firmly. This will prevent the wind from getting under the tabs. " |