Old House Roof Material

Interlocking ceramic tiles create a stunningly beautiful roof that can last for 100 years or more.

Old house roof material.

Wood shingles are the oldest type of natural roofing material in the u s. Many roofs of asbestos aluminum stainless steel galvanized steel and lead coated copper may soon have historic values as well. It s also by far the most expensive as a thousand square feet of slate roofing costs over 40 000. Lightweight tiles can weigh six pounds per square foot while heftier types weigh in at up to 18 pounds per square foot.

By the 1920s lightweight no rust aluminum entered the market as did paint coatings that added color and longevity to both aluminum and steel roofs. As this material is out of most homeowners budgets there are fake slate options with the look. However these roofs have been reported to last over two centuries. Most often they are cut and dressed or sawn smooth.

Probably the most long lasting roof material for an old house is slate. But this type of roofing requires a beefy support structure. By the mid 1800s metal roofing became more common as mass produced steel began covering ordinary homes and barns. Originally hand split from local woods oak and pine in the northeast to cypress in the south wood shingles were typically shaved smooth for high style and garden variety houses.

Awareness of these and other traditions of roofing materials and their detailing will contribute to more sensitive preservation treatments.