Victorian Slate Roof Construction

This chapter begins with a brief history of roof coverings used in england and then summarises how roofs must work to protect the building.

Victorian slate roof construction.

If it is the. The late 1800s and the rise of slate roofing. Many victorian metal roof shingle and tiles made of sheet metal still exist in outstanding condition today. Installing a slate roof on this newly constructed victorian home was no small feat.

Slate tiles began to rise in popularity during the end of the victorian period. We are quite fortunate in that our house still has its original roof built from slates. 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. 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.

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. They used 100 square of roofing tile to complete this project including hand cutting all of the slate at angles for the turret. Slate tiles are extremely durable resistant to fire and environmentally beneficial. Carriage house in georgian brick about 235 per square.

If you want to make sure your victorian roof is 100 historically accurate speak with a historian or victorian home expert. Roofing 6 sep 2013 indd 2 12 09 2013 10 01. But replacing flashing on a slate roof can require substantial removal of surrounding slates. 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.

Since their first use slate roofs have been revered as a pinnacle of roofing style. Lightweight hardwearing and long lasting welsh slate was the most common victorian roof covering. Slate roofing has existed in north america since the 1600s. A victorian slate roof has the traditional look to it in keeping with the age of the property but it does have its problems.

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. Diamonds photo by shutterstock.