University of Virginia Library

Tin Roofs Considered

Also in November 1818, Jefferson dispatched housejoiner and college contractor James
Dinsmore to the Virginia Shenandoah Valley on a tour to "report on the Eligibility of Tin as
a Covering for Houses as Introduced in Staunton." Dinsmore interviewed a Mr. Smith and a
Mr. Cowan, owners of the two "Principal Houses" that recently had been covered with the
roofing material, as well as A. H. Brooks, the workman who put it on, and who eventually
covered the roofs of seven pavilions.[141] "They all acted with great Candour & were at
Considerable Pains to give me every Information they were in possesion of," Dinsmore said.
Cowan, who assisted in the covering of his roof and at the beginning lacked a "pratical
Knowledge of the evils to be avoided," experienced some leakage when the first side of his
was covered. He thought tongued and grooved sheeting would be an additional security but
was afraid the heat of the sun through the tin would draw up the edges of the sheeting and
thereby render the surface of the tin uneven. Dinsmore, for his part, said he did not have
"any apprehension on that Score with Pine Sheeting Seasoned & well nailed down, without
Groveing." Jefferson's favorite workman also "Suggested the Propriety of Painting the tin
before laying down," a step all three men agreed would be an advantage. Smith in fact
already had painted his roof, a measure that sealed the joints "perfectly tight" and that
eliminated minor leakage from "Suction as heretofor." Smith also warned that the laps at the
lower ends of the courses of tin should not be less than one and one half inches.

With these precautions Dinsmore thought a tin roof may be made as tight as one of any
other metal and claimed to have it on good authority that in Montreal and Quebec tin roofs
had proved their durability by lasting forty or fifty years without painting or loosing any of
their soundness. "The last one executed in Staunton (Mr Cowans)," he added, "has a very
handsome appearance and its lightness is Certainly a great recomendation." As far as cost,
Dinsmore informed Jefferson that "the first Cost of the tin for Covering Mr Smiths House
was about $8 pr Square Say $135 for what Coverd 17½ Square but one eighth additional
may be allowed for Increasing the width of the laps—Mr Brooks price for Cutting and
machineing is $2 per Box—for Putting on $5 per Square—the Cost for nails is very
trifleing." The Staunton men cautioned that a considerable quantity of inferior tin was on the
market and Dinsmore closed by saying that "Zinc Costs 21 Cts the Sup[erfici]al foot and
appears to be a very Solid evenly, Sheet about the thickness of English milld Lead . . . it
Solders very well."[142]

Now that it was known that tin was a viable roofing option at the college, in addition to slate
which had been considered back in the summer, one more material was left to considered,
the traditional wooden shingle. The week following his report on tin, Dinsmore and fellow
undertaker John Perry set about to determine the cost of covering the college's roofs with
this more traditional material. "From the best Calculations Mr Perry & My Self Can make,"
Dinsmore reported, "we find that a Square of Hart Pine Shingling, all expences Included,
viz. timber, getting, Hauling Putting on, Nails &c Cannot at Present be done for less than ten
Dollars."[143] At one third less the cost per square (100 square feet), wood shingling
appeared far cheaper than tin, but considering the limited life span for exposed pine as
compared to the other materials, it ultimately was decided to cover the buildings with slate
or experiment with tin.