The modern method of shipping roofing tile in freight cars is a type of
loading and bracing called a "unit (floating) load." (See Photo No. 1) The
unit is banded together with steel bands, fastened to gates made with 6 X 6
ft. uprights and 1 X 4 ft. cross pieces, but there is enough resiliency to
absorb some of the shocks experienced during the freight cars trip from the
factory to final destination. At the present time corrugated paper is laid
laterally between each course of tile to prevent the tile from rubbing
against one another during shipment..
If there are several colors in the shipment, they are separated by
markers and a placard is nailed to the side of the car opposite each color
indicating the number of tile in that color. The special fittings are
usually loaded in boxes or crates and stacked between the doors of the
freight car.
When material leaves the factory, a form called a shipping notice is
sent to the roofing contractor. This form lists the exact number of pieces
that are contained in the shipment, and the man in charge of unloading
should be careful in checking the contents of the car against the shipping
notice. Any discrepancy in count should be called to the attention of the
roofer, and he in turn, should notify the manufacturer.
One of the most important factors in handling a shipment of roofing
tile is the handling of material broken in transit. The general method used is to have a freight agent note on the freight bill the exact number of pieces that have been broken. This freight bill is sent to the home office of the manufacturer (or supplier) who then replaces this breakage as soon as possible. The counting of this breakage is the responsibility of the men unloading the tile and if not done, may result in the roofing contractor being put in a position of paying for additional tile, in order to complete the job concerned.
Material should be handled rather carefully when unloading from the car
into roofers' truck and should be stacked in the truck in the same manner
as it was stacked in the freight car, care being taken not to break special
fittings as well as the field tile.
Before the tiles are unloaded to be stacked at the job, it is necessary
that a good base in the form of a plank on which to start stacking the tile
should be laid over the ground. Any unevenness of the bottom row will
cause the entire stack to fall. Usually, when a building is under construction,
the ground in the vicinity becomes very uneven from digging, freezing, bad
weather, etc.
There are different methods of stacking for the different patterns of
tile at the job site. Following are photographs showing these methods. It
is suggested that these photographs be studied so that the correct method
is always used.
(See Photos 2, 3 and 4.)
Foreman on the job should carefully study construction of the roof and
then distribute the tile in the proper percentages of colors around the
building site so that material is piled at the best locations for hoisting
to the roof. Oftentimes severe damage is caused to tile by piling in
places where it is liable to be backed into by trucks, smashed by lumber, etc.
Material so damaged would have to be replaced at considerable cost to the
roofing contractor. The foreman should carefully plan location for field
tile and various fittings.
With shipping papers (sent from the factory on each job) a roof plan is
generally included that indicates where the various types of cut work are
to be applied. The foreman should have this in his possession and use it to
determine where to place the crates of cut work.
The specially cut pieces manufactured for use at hips and valleys must
be carefully handled and correctly sorted. The cut pieces are made in the
correct angle to fit roof construction. These pieces come in sets, each
piece being number on the back with a certain number, starting with No. 1
and numbered consecutively until the size repeats itself. Some experienced
mechanics prefer sorting these pieces by piling all the largest pieces in
one pile and then the next largest pieces in the next pile, etc. In this
way you will have several piles, all the pieces in each pile being
identical in size and angle of cut. Other mechanics prefer to lay out the cut pieces in complete sets, that is the largest piece on the bottom, next small on
top, and so on, until set is completed. With this method you have all of
the numbers necessary in each complete set of cut pieces. Both methods
have proven satisfactory. (See Photo No. 5)
The various items of fittings should be put in separate piles,
distributed at best locations around the building. Gable rakes should be
separated as to rights and lefts. End bands or half tiles should be piled
where they are convenient for hoisting to points on roofs where they must
be used. Closed ridge ends and terminals are manufactured as both starters
and finishers. It is necessary for the mechanic to know where each of these
items is to be applied, so this should be taken into consideration when
laying them out on the ground around the building site. Under eaves or eave
closures should be so placed, that they are hoisted to the roof before or
at the same time as the field tile is hoisted as they, of course, must be
applied first on each section.
Today roofing tiles travel across oceans in ships and across land by
trucking companies. They are normally delivered to the building site and
unloaded using a forklift.
And In 1999, these items are still very important factors to
remember.
The next article in this series will describe and depict tile roof fittings.
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