Dennis Heaphy:

Fourth generation tin-smith Dennis Heaphy will be giving hands-on lessons on the terne tin roof.  Due to the nature (and location) of this class, the number of students we can accept is limited. Be sure to book your lesson early.

Our House at Howard Hall Farm has a Terne Tin roof, so over the years, Reggie has done a lot of research on it. He's been looking for an expert for quite some time now, so when he read an article in the New York Post about THE TIN MAN who is the fourth generation of a line of tinsmiths (dating back to 1892), and Lady Liberty's personal assistant, he couldn't resist getting in touch with him.

Incredible as it seems, Dennis Heaphy has agreed to come work on Howard Hall Farm's tin roof! He was working here for a week in mid-October.

In an interview for "The Tin Man:Metalsmith puts best face on Lady Liberty", by C.J. Sullivan(New York Post) , Mr. Heaphy said, "This truly is my dream job. It's an evolution of everything I've ever done. It's an opportunity to use an esoteric knowledge, combined with an opportunity to display it. And there's nothing like seeing a child fascinated with something they didn't know they'd be fascinated with. They love to hear me tell how hard it was for me, at 11, to hold the tools. They grab them and try and keep them steady.

When I leave for the day, it's a real gift to go home by boat. I always look back at the Statue of Liberty and feel good that I enriched some people's day there. It makes me giggle when I look back. I feel that good."

What is Terne Tin?

For those of you who aren't familiar with Terne Tin, this is from a posting on the Slate Roof Central Message Board:
"Terne is an alloy coating of lead and tin used to cover steel - the terne coated steel is also known as terne metal and often referred to as "tin" (get the Slate Roof Bible). You can still buy terne-coated steel at any roofing supply place. We do not use it because it's better to use terne coated STAINLESS steel (TCS), or copper, when replacing terne metal roofs. Both TCS and copper will outlast terne metal and don't need painted until they reach about 50 years (if ever).

Terne metal needs painted immediately or it will rust and it has to be painted regularly. If it is kept painted, it will last a long time (90 years).

The latest version of terne is called terne II. It is an alloy of zinc and tin (the lead has been removed for environmental reasons). The terne coated stainless is now called TCSII. It's available from Follansbee in Follansbee, WV.

I should add that when ordering terne coated stainless from a roofing supply company make sure you make it very clear that it's STAINLESS steel you're ordering. Numerous times we have been shipped terne coated steel instead of the terne coated stainless steel that we ordered due to salesmen who weren't too bright and didn't know the difference."

Dennis Heaphy was here for a week in mid-October. You can read about his time here in the Times Union by clicking here.

TERNE TIN 2008

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