Historic HomeWorks Forum

[KayH]

[johnleeke]

Kay:

Please see Slate Shingle Substitutes, over at the Historic HomeWorks Library:

http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/library/slateimitators/slateimitators.htm

then stop back over here with any questions or comments you may have.


In my work preserving historic buildings I have been able to investigate and compare traditional and modern roofing materials. I apply many of the roofing lessons I have learned from historic buildings to modern roofing needs. Too often roofing decisions are based on the selection of products alone. This is understandable since the building construction industry is driven by product manufacturers and controlled by product marketers and distributors. The skills and methods used in the application of these products have equal, if not greater, importance. Neither the best materials installed poorly nor poor materials installed well result in success. Long lasting roofs that perform well throughout their life are the result of both good materials, good installation and good maintenance methods. A knowledgeable approach to the selection of materials and methods is appropriate because of their expected lifespan. An error in judgment at re-roofing can seriously lower the future value of the major investment made in a building. There are too many examples of failures in new materials and methods to follow a policy of always using the newest, assuming it is the best. Of course, it is the introduction of new products and methods that holds the promise for advancements in roofing. If you are compelled to use new materials, research their application and performance through the manufacturer as well as independent sources of information. Use them on small jobs you can monitor closely over the years to determine their performance and effectiveness. Then use the results of your observations to decide where the new materials and methods can best be used, or if they should be used at all. For critical projects always use materials and methods that have stood the test of time. Is the roof of any building less than critical? This conservative approach reflects my own traditional bias.