Historic Roof Types

As seen here a front gable became the perfect entryway to a suburban garage in the age of the private automobile.

Historic roof types.

Also having a roof that lasts for generations and doesn t have to be peeled off and thrown in a landfill every 20 years is good for the environment. This type of roof shingle can also be used for siding on dormers or other house accents. Awareness of these and other traditions of roofing materials and their detailing will contribute to more sensitive preservation treatments. Early roofs seem picturesque to us today.

Intricate roofs have many parts that incorporate several of the basic roof designs such as a gable roof sitting atop a gambrel or variations of the gable valley roof design using one or a variety of different types of roof trusses also see our very detailed diagrams showing the different parts of a roof truss. Many roofs of asbestos aluminum stainless steel galvanized steel and lead coated copper may soon have historic values as well. Roofing has a long and interesting history which has led us to our great selection of roofing material choices and styles today. Clay roof tiles clay shingles are one of the best types of roofing materials you can install on a home and are also considered a cool roofing type of roof shingle.

The simplest is the lean to or shed which has only one slope a roof with two slopes that form an a or triangle is called a gable or pitched roof this type of roof was used as early as the temples of ancient greece and has been a staple of domestic architecture in northern europe and the americas for many centuries. The form of a roof tells something of the region and its climate local building traditions and even architectural style. Roof materials at the dawn of civilization. May 14 2020 original.

Sloping roofs come in many different varieties. The wall gable is similar to a classical pediment but more simple and functional like a basic element of laugier s primitive hut. Here s a quick look at some of that history. In its massing pitch and material a roof indicates house style.

More typical is the need to furnish a new roof that is to replace the wooden shingles asphalt shingles slate shingles or metal covering the roof. With some exceptions most historic roofing materials are available today. While some of these historic roof types can be quite expensive some are very competitive with quality asphalt shingles. If not an architect or preservation group who has previously worked with the same type material may be able to recommend suppliers.

It s easy to assume that early man slept out in the open under the stars or was protected from the elements inside a cave. Clay roofing tiles are also called architectural terracotta clay tiles. Professional advice will be needed to assess the various aspects of replacing a historic roof. Such extreme intervention however is not usual.

The gable is the wall created from a gable roof when you close up a two planed roof triangular walls result on each end defining the gables.