Daily Archives: Sunday 4th September 2011 @ 11:40pm NZST
A song of shingles.
Over the past week I have spent several happy hours sorting the shingles which came off the roof into some old apple boxes we happened to have. I found it fairly easy to knock out any remaining
nails with a tack hammer and the aid of a pop rivet which was handily on the trailer mudguard. The first photo is of a general collection of wooden Kauri shingles, the boards they were nailed to and how arranged, and in the corner a pile of nails. The nails specified were “wire nails” , sharp with a little cross on top; most of them could be used again, even after all this time.
Below can be seen a typical fragment of shingle; nearly all were broken in some way during removal.The six inch board was the support for the shingles and each tile had at least one nail. the rafters had a coating of oil and white lead and show traces of a reddish painter pink primer also. Sometimes this remained on the shingle, as did grime and dust, traces of smoke and damp and other things. Paul conjectured that there may have been a fire in the lean-to part of the cottage at some time and there may be traces of charing on some. Some had areas of clean and fresh wood.
The two views below show shingles actually still nailed to the rafter board; on the right can be seen a full length shingle and on the left the amount of overlap, which was about a third. The sizes were by no means perfect and the variations gave rise to a pleasing overall appearance.
Below can be seen some shingles from under a finishing board and also a rare complete shingle i.e.. all worn edges with no fresh splitting.
Showing the underside and upside (Top) of typical shingles; the first on the left (Bottom row) and second from right (top row) are full sized.
On average a third of the shingle emerged cleanish, a third soiled and a third weathered.
I have no particular use for the shingles which now occupy about twenty apple boxes. I may try washing some. An artist may have an inspiration for a work in wood. They have been out in the rain for about sixty years and covered by corrugated iron for another eighty; I hope they will get another chance to be in the sun and the rain.
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