Chaf. III.

CARPEXTllY. 623
3te)>.s, whoso joists arc framed into the beam for the support of tlie flooring. This beam is
called the tiproii piece, and that which sustains the rough strings at tlie upper end is callecJ
the pitcfiini, piece. The joists of the half-pace are sometimes turned into the pitcning piece,
and sometimes bridge over it ; but the steps of both flights are always supported by string
pieces, as before. 'I'he upper ends of the string pieces at the landing rest upon an horizontal
piece of timber, called, as above, an apron piece. The scantlings of the strings, of course,
vary with tlie length of the inclined part. The depth given to joists of similar length will
be more than suflicient.
20-'7. The first obvious consideration in constructing a roof is the slope to be given
to it, which depends on the climate against which it is to serve as a protection, and on
the materials to be employed in covering it. In hot countries, rain more rarely falls than
in temperate ones ;
but when it comes, it descends very abundantly, which, added to the
temperature of the air, makes it unnecessary to give a great slope to the roof, from which
the water immediately runs, and the air dries it almost at the instant of the rain's cessation.
In cold countries the rain is more searching, the air is more impregnated with moisture,
and hiiow often lie!: for a long time on a roof; circumstances which require a greater pro-
portional slope to l)e given to it. Again, roofs covered with lead, zinc, or cop|)er, do not
re(|iiire so great a slope as tiiosc covered itli tiles or slates. (See Hoofing, in Cilossaiy.
)
20'i*^. 'Fhough among architects there does not appear to have been any fixed principle
by which the slope should be determined, we find that in dlif'erent climates suitable slopes
have been adopted for similar materials. Thus in the southern parts of Eurojje we find the
roofs very flat; whilst as we proceed into its northern parts the roof ae<|uireK a very con-
siderable elevation. We shall here transfer to our pages the notice of this subject in the
Kiicyc.lopedie MetJiodiquc, which we consider extremely important and interesting, inasmuch
as it shows that necessity was the parent of beauty in the inclination of the roofs of the
ancients ;
and in the times of the middle ages it had some InHueiice even in the production
and developement of the lancet arch.
2029. The researches and observations made respecting the roofs of a great many
ancient and modern buildings, situate in different countries, satisfy us that the slojies ofroofs
v-hich have lasted best are always proportioned to the temperature of the climate. Before
entering into the consideration of any law for determining the slope of a roof, it will be
proper to comprehend the meaning of the word climate as here introduced, which we shall
use in the same way as it is understood by geographers. According to them, the climates
of the globe are comprised under belts or bands, of une(iual size, parallel to the equator. Of
them there are twenty-four between the equator and the polar circle, each of half an hour
;
that is, the length of the longest day of a place situated at the beginning of the climate is
alwavs shorter by half an hour than that of the jilaco situated at the extremity of tiie same
climate, or at the i)eginning of the succeeding one, proceeding from the ecjuator towards the
polar circle. This difference in the length of the day, caused by the greater or less ob-
li(]uity of the troi)ic with the horizon, is one reason of the different degrees of temperature
of countries corresponding to the different climates. We are not, however, to assume that
the temperature will be exactly the same for all places under the same climate, since there
are many circumstances which tend to make a place more or less damp, in which cases the
slo])e of tlie roof should rather have a relation to a more northern spot. In the roof's of
the Continent covered with the hollow tile, as in the south of France for instance, less sloi)e
is re(]iiired than with the Roman tiles (sec the word Tii.e in Glossary), which are in
sectior.s alternately flat and circular; and these, again, recjuire less sh^pe than the conmi(>n
plain tile or slate. From the observations tliat have been inaJe, we find tluit the slope of
roofs coveied with hollow tile,
f\jT\j
thus, of the soutli of France, should be after the
rate of three degrees for every climate, be^iinning from the equator and proceeding north-
ward, and that when the Roman tile is used, an addition of tin ee degrees sliould be made t >
such inclination; an addition of six degrees, if covered >v'lth slates; and of eight degrees,
if coveied with jdain tiks. According to this law, the table which wi:l be piesently sub-
JKMied has been constiuctcd, and a comparison of it with ancient buildings gives a remark-
alile corroboration of its value.
'1
bus, at Athens, situated about tire middle of the sixtii
climate, the sl(>;;e of a pediment would be about ]6^; and that of the Parthenon is
actually about \6; that of the temple of Erectheiis, 15',; of Theseus, I
,').
In Rome,
which is about cue third of the way up the seventh climate, the Roman tile requiies an
inclination of 22. The actual slope of the ))ediment of Septimius Severus is 'i;i ; those
or' the temi)les of Concord and IMars Ullor, 2:>',
; of Fortima N'irllis and the Paiithedii,
24; and, of more modern date, the slope of the roof of St. Paolo tuori le mura was 23".
2030. We shall now give the reader the table above mentioned. This ingenioti.i th;ory
is taken exception to by i'. Waterhou:e in bis Es.say on redni,ents, Sic, ibSti.