author

National Sheet Metal Roofing Co.

A late-19th-century roofing company turned its practical know-how into a surprisingly readable guide for builders and homeowners. Its advice mixes construction basics with a clear salesman's eye for durable materials, ventilation, and the all-important roof.

1 Audiobook

Practical hints to builders and those contemplating building

Practical hints to builders and those contemplating building

by National Sheet Metal Roofing Co.

About the author

National Sheet Metal Roofing Co. was a New York manufacturer rather than a single named writer, and it is credited as the author of Practical Hints to Builders and Those Contemplating Building. Library of Congress records identify the company in New York and date the book to 1888, while Project Gutenberg's edition reflects a later printing copyrighted in 1890.

The book reads like a mix of handbook and trade catalog. It offers practical advice on foundations, cellars, chimneys, mortar, heating, ventilation, and roofing, while also promoting the company's patented metal shingles and siding products.

That blend of instruction and advertising makes the work a useful little time capsule. It shows how building firms of the period marketed expertise alongside their products, speaking both to professional builders and to ordinary people planning homes of their own.