Roofing for Historic Buildings (Introduction)
A weather-tight roof is basic in the preservation of a structure, regardless of its age, size, or design. In the system that allows a building to work as a shelter, the roof sheds the rain, shades from the sun, and buffers the weather. During ... [... more]
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Types of historic residential roofing
Repairs on this pantile roof were made with new tiles held in place with metal hangers. Photo: NPS files. European settlers used clay tile for roofing as early as the mid-17th century; many pantiles (S-curved tiles), as well as flat roofing ... [... more]
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Assessing problems with older roofs
When trouble occurs with an historic roof, it is important to contact a professional, either an architect, a reputable roofing contractor, or a craftsman familiar with the inherent characteristics of the particular historic roofing system ... [... more]
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Historic Roofs: Repair or Replace?
Understanding potential weaknesses of roofing material also requires knowledge of repair difficulties. Individual slates can be replaced normally without major disruption to the rest of the roof, but replacing flashing on a slate roof can require ... [... more]
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Replacing an historic roof
Professional advice will be needed to assess the various aspects of replacing a historic roof. With some exceptions, most historic roofing materials are available today. If not, an architect or preservation group who has previously worked with ... [... more]
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Maintaining historic roofs
It may be necessary to carry out an immediate and temporary stabilization to prevent further deterioration until research can determine how the roof should be restored or rehabilitated, or until funding can be provided to do a proper job. A ... [... more]
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Historic wooden shingle roofs Maintenance
Regular maintenance will extend the life of a wood shingle roof. The purpose of regular or routine maintenance is to extend thelife of the roof. The roof must be kept clean and inspected for damage both tothe shingles and to the flashing, ... [... more]
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Treated Shingles
But it turns out that manufacturers do offer shingles that have been pressure-treated with a compound called chromated copper arsenate, or CCA for short, to extend the life of this already hardy species. CCA was the dominant wood preservative for ... [... more]
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Treated-Shingle Toxins?
I'll be honest. I had no idea that you could buy pressure-treated cedar shingles. Southern yellow pine, yes, but I thought cedar came to you in its natural form. The heartwood of cedar is highly resistant to decay all by itself. But it turns out ... [... more]
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Finding a Roof Leak
Homeowners can sometimes identify the source of a roof leak by performing a few simple tasks. Roofing contractors probably make their largest profits installing roofs. It's understandable that some might not want to spend their time chasing leaks ... [... more]
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Preserving & restoring historic roofs
These steps are based on guidelines developed by the Department of the Interior. The roof--with its shape; features such as cresting, dormers, cupolas, and chimneys; and the size, color, and patterning of the roofing material--is an important ... [... more]
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Gutters and down spouts
The purpose of gutter and leader (downspout) systems is to collect rainwater from the roof and direct it away from the building foundation by means of leader extensions, splash blocks, or underground drain lines. An improperly functioning gutter ... [... more]
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