On Thu, 3 Jan 2002, Becker, Dan wrote:

> We pause for a moment to note the passing of yet another tradition: the
> venerable french method diamond-shaped asphalt shingle roof.

One of my bedroom windows, in the house where I lived in 1964-76, looked
out on the roof of the house next door with those diamond-shaped asphalt
shingles on the roof.  I didn't think of them as diamonds -- I thought of
them as hexagons.

> The last step in installation is the "stitching" of the butt end of the
> diamond to the tabs of the two flanking shingles underneath with a
> copper staple, using the special Acme Staple Company asphalt shingle
> stapler...like an office paper staple, only bigger. 1" throat...a
> beautiful shiny staple.

I don't think they bothered with stapling, up here in non-hurricane
country.  However, I could be wrong.

I do remember seeing Michigan barn roofs with these diamond/hexagon
shingles in two contrasting colors -- with the farmer's name spelled out
in the lighter colored shingles against a background of darker shingles.

One of those things I used to take for granted, but now that I think about
it, I don't think I've seen one of those in years.

                                 Larry

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
Washtenaw County Commissioner, 4th District
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106