Before you start putting a roof on your new house, you need to know is it a historic home. This means knowing if the materials you are using are of the right strength and structure for the type of roof you have on your house. So – how to exactly choose roofs for historic homes? Well, you can simply call residential roofing Dallas and let professionals lead your way. By doing this, you won’t make any mistake and put materials that your building construction can’t hold. Of course, there are other important things to consider so let’s see what else you need to do!
How to exactly choose roofs for historic homes
The basic rule you need to follow when you choose roofs for historic homes is to consult with an architect or professional roofer. By contacting our roofing Dallas TX services you can easily know if the material you want to use can be put on your home. You do have to be careful as a lot of the older, original materials are simply not used anymore. Besides this, you can consult the owner of the building and get info on the past materials they used. Also, it would be good to know about the structure and water systems that are serving as the core of the building. In this way, you are minimizing the possibility to make any mistake.
Other solutions that can help
Another good solution is to find old documents and photos from original specifications or blueprints. Photos are really the best solution in this case as they are the most accurate representation of what was actually on your roof. It often happens that people opt for the cheapest option and then building or architectural materials are not followed.
The third option is to look in your attic. Often you can see the original wood shingles in the gaps between the wooden boards that were laid as a basis of the roof construction. You can also look at the place where the roof meets sidewalls and find pieces of original shingles.
One very important thing: you need to comply with the historic guidelines
Complying with historic roofing guidelines is a serious matter and if you live in a registered historic house, you need to contact the official historical commission. Replacing a roof may seem as an easy task to do, but you don’t want to end up breaking a law. The historical commission may need to get an official proposal for your upcoming construction work – even for the slightest alteration.
Besides, these types of institutions will help you with valuable historic resources on your home and they can help you plan your roof renovation. Other than that, you will need to hire professionals that will do the job right and preserve the original value of your house. Keeping the historic integrity is a key here, so plan carefully and look as many resources as you can.
Alternative roofing materials that you can use on historic homes
Here are some of the roofing materials that you can use as an alternative on historic houses:
- Slate
- Clay tiles
- Zinc or tin
- Sculptural roof
All of these materials have their good and bad side. Slate is the cheapest option, and clay or concrete tiles last longer. On the other hand, zinc or tin are perfect for metal roofs that don’t require any repainting while sculptural shingles imitate the classic Victorian look and last very long too. Of course, to use any of these alternatives you first need to consult with the professionals. Know that if you make a wrong decision, you easily may end up replacing your entire roof.
Think about do you even need a roof replacement on your home
Before you even start to think about replacing your roof material, know that if you have clay tile, slate or metal roofing, you may think about keeping it (or repairing it, depending on the state that it is in). These materials last long and can prove to be one of the most sustainable materials. With this, by replacing such quality material, you may lower the value of your property. So check carefully and only change if you have to.
How to know what material to choose
If you do however opt for changing your roof material, try to be as close to the original look as possible. The best solution is to get the same material, but as we already mentioned, sometimes that is not an option. In this case, get something that looks similar or try to find specialized companies that produce the type of tiles you need.
What if you’re not sure what style to use
If a roofing professional, architect or any other method fail to show you the style that was once used on your building, go as simple as possible. Historic houses have their style and you should naturally follow what you already have on your home. A standard three-tab asphalt shingle is something that is relatively safe to use in almost any case. Color should also be neutral so anything that is black, gray, brown or reddish will do. Avoid using colors that stand out from the overall look of the building or the roof in general. Unusual colors should only be used in the case you know 100% that that color was once used on your house. Again, be mindful of the texture and lines. You should also try to match a pattern to the original style or at least try mimicking it.
