As a resident of Frederick and its surrounding areas, you’re probably familiar with the significance and beauty of historic homes and other buildings. Plenty of residences near downtown are striking examples of well-preserved architecture from bygone years. Just down the road, there’s the Schifferstadt. Though it’s a museum now, it began its existence as a home in 1758.
Due to the passage of time, these buildings have clearly required upkeep and updates over the decades and centuries. Despite this, they’ve maintained their historic charm thanks to thoughtful maintenance. One large part of that is, of course, the roofing. How do you build a roof that’s up to modern standards but manage to keep that old-timey feel? We’ve got some roofing tips in that department!
Understanding the Historical Context
Before you get to work on any historic homes and their roofing, we advise gaining an understanding of the architecture you’re dealing with. This will be a big factor in the materials you use and the techniques you implement. For example, if you’re updating a colonial home, wood shingles might be the right call. Need to update a 19th-century home’s roof? Slate and clay are the way to go.
Of course, it’s essential to strike the right balance between historical and modern. While the colonial home’s wood shingles may be accurate, you probably shouldn’t mimic the techniques and material qualities they used back then. Look for modern materials that share visual similarities with the materials of old, along with an expert roofing company that can help you out.
Inspection and Assessment
No roofing work should be done without a thorough roof inspection. This helps identify issues early on and prevent minor problems from turning into costly repairs. Though an old roof will likely need a replacement, it should still be treated as a last resort.
Since we’re dealing with old homes here, be vigilant when looking for leaks, deterioration, and structural damage. These issues can be compounded by the passing of time as well as previous repairs that might not have followed historic standards.
When it comes to a roof inspection, some things are better left to the professionals. Major water spots and damage may be easy to spot, but a trained eye is required for the more subtle things that could cause chaos down the line.
Choosing the Right Materials
We’ve touched briefly on materials already, but let’s take a deeper dive. Wood, slate, and clay shingles were commonly used in previous eras, and luckily, there are plenty of modern options that fit the visual bill. They look authentic and boast improved durability that’s essential for longevity. These modern versions include synthetic slate and composite shingles.
As with any construction project, every material option offers benefits and drawbacks. Slate may last a while, but it’s heavy and relatively expensive. Wood shingles check off the authenticity box, but they require more frequent maintenance. Finally, clay tiles can provide that authentic look along with resistance to wind, fire, and even hail, but individual tiles are brittle and relatively easy to break during installation.
Repair and Restoration Techniques
Attention to detail is required when it’s time to address coming issues with your roof like patching or shingle replacement. It’s important that you match the look of the old materials when selecting the replacement parts, otherwise the difference will be easy to spot. Using materials and techniques that mimic the original construction of these historic homes is paramount to a successful repair.
The methods you employ to make updates should stick as closely as possible to historical authenticity. This means you may not be able to employ helpful modern shortcuts in order to respect the craftsmanship of the original builders.
Maintenance Tips for Historic Homes
As with any structure, maintenance is key to the longevity of historic roofs. Don’t cut corners on routine inspections, gutter cleaning, and debris removal or you could be facing repairs sooner than you anticipated.
It’s also important to make sure the roof is prepared for the changing of seasons. Check for loose shingles and make sure the home has proper insulation before winter comes knocking. This could be the difference between suffering snow and ice damage and avoiding it altogether.
Small leaks, minor deterioration, and other commonplace housekeeping issues are always possible. We recommend keeping a checklist of things to look for and doing inspection rounds every now and then so no potential issues go unnoticed. Keeping a keen eye on the status of your historic roof will ensure it stays in good shape.
Hiring the Right Professionals
Finding the right contractors to do all this work can be your saving grace, especially when such care needs to be taken to preserve homes that have been around for hundreds of years. Luckily, everyone on our team understands the significance of these buildings and how important it is to keep them standing. Their roofs are a major part of their survival, and we’re happy to make sure they stay intact. We’ll save you time and money in the long run, and make sure the historical integrity of your home is kept intact.
Conclusion
Historic homes are part of American culture. It would be a shame to let something like a leaky roof spell doom for any of them. At PJ’s Roofing, we’re happy to help if you need a little TLC applied to your aging house. We’ll take the proactive steps needed to make sure it lasts for years to come. Get in touch with us and let’s save history!