Victorian Slate Roof Construction

Roofing 6 sep 2013 indd 2 12 09 2013 10 01.

Victorian slate roof construction.

Slate tiles began to rise in popularity during the end of the victorian period. Victorian slate roof slipped slates gaping holes. But replacing flashing on a slate roof can require substantial removal of surrounding slates. This chapter begins with a brief history of roof coverings used in england and then summarises how roofs must work to protect the building.

Slate roofing has existed in north america since the 1600s. Failure is usually due to the nail fixings becoming corroded causing the slates to slip although with age slates can eventually start to absorb water and become soft. Many victorian metal roof shingle and tiles made of sheet metal still exist in outstanding condition today. Second only to wood as a natural traditional roofing material slate is a fine grained sedimentary rock that has topped castles and large buildings for centuries in europe.

Since their first use slate roofs have been revered as a pinnacle of roofing style. Slate tiles are extremely durable resistant to fire and environmentally beneficial. On many victorian country houses the practice of wood shingling survived the technological advances of metal roofing in the 19th century and near the turn of the century enjoyed a full revival in its namesake the shingle style. Imported from wales to colonial america for fire proof roofs in boston philadelphia and new york it was still slow to catch on for houses.

If you want to make sure your victorian roof is 100 historically accurate speak with a historian or victorian home expert. Carriage house in georgian brick about 235 per square. On a steeply pitched roof the clipped corners on these two ply red over black laminated shingles evoke the shape and thickness of american victorian slate. Diamonds photo by shutterstock.

Slate laid in multicolored decorative patterns was particularly well suited to the mansard roofs of the second empire style the steeply pitch roofs of the gothic revival and high victorian gothic styles and the many prominent roof planes and turrets associated with the queen anne style. Lightweight hardwearing and long lasting welsh slate was the most common victorian roof covering. A victorian slate roof has the traditional look to it in keeping with the age of the property but it does have its problems. If it is the.

The late 1800s and the rise of slate roofing. This is a testament to their durability.