Q 01/05

Henry Reynolds of which city invented asphalt shingles, North America's most common roofing?

A) Grand Rapids, Michigan

B) Toledo, Ohio

C) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

D) Akron, Ohio

Answer · why

A) Grand Rapids, Michigan

First used in 1903, they were in general use in parts of the US by 1911; by 1939 America was making 11 million squares a year.

Q 02/05

In what year were asphalt shingles first used on a roof?

A) 1875

B) 1903

C) 1889

D) 1896

Answer · why

B) 1903

A National Board of Fire Underwriters campaign against wood shingles helped push them into the mainstream.

Q 03/05

In 1897, what was first added to the surface of asphalt roofing to make it more durable?

A) Slate granules

B) Sand and tar

C) Ground glass

D) Copper flakes

Answer · why

A) Slate granules

Later granule experiments included mica, oyster shells, dolomite and fly ash; the underside gets talc or sand so shingles don't stick together in the ...

Q 04/05

By 1882, what share of Britain's slate came from Wales?

A) 78%

B) 63%

C) 45%

D) 92%

Answer · why

D) 92%

The Penrhyn and Dinorwic quarries alone produced half of it, and the men worked in partnerships called 'bargains'.

Q 05/05

Large-scale Welsh slate mining began in 1782 with the opening of which quarry near Bethesda?

A) Dinorwic

B) Oakeley

C) Penrhyn

D) Llechwedd

Answer · why

C) Penrhyn

It started as the Cae Braich y Cafn quarry in the Ogwen Valley and grew into one of the largest slate quarries in the world.