If you have a historic home, then aside from making it comfortable for modern living, you want to make sure that you’re able to preserve its time-earned charm, as well. As such, it’s natural to be careful about the many choices you can make regarding its exterior, including your choice of roof.
At Christian Brothers Roofing, we’re glad to help you choose and fit the roof that best fits your desires. But when it comes to a historic home, you might want to think a little more carefully about which is going to fit both your needs and the aesthetic of the home. Here is a Guide To Choosing The Right Roof.
Guide To Choosing The Right Roof
Choosing a material
The most important decision you’re going to make regarding your roofing is in your choice of roofing material. There are various options available from our experienced team of quality roofers, and we can help you pick the style that’s best suited to your home, as well. However, let’s take a look over a few of those options and why they may or may not be suitable for adding to your historic home.
We may even be able to identify the style of roof you had previously, whether Federal Style, Italianate Style, Tudor Revival, or otherwise, and help you source the tiles that best fit the original aesthetic of the roof or at least closely matches it.
Slate Roofing
One of the biggest benefits of slate roofing is the aesthetic. The classic stone appeal with its natural colors can be very attractive indeed. Slate was popular for many historic home types, such as Victorian, Colonial, and French-style homes.
However, this beauty does come with a higher cost than many types. Furthermore, slate roof tiles can be on the heavier side. Some roofs may need reinforcement to their framework, which can make the installation take longer and cost more. However, in exchange for the cost and the weight, when you buy slate tiles, you’re getting a very durable and long-lasting roof.
Wooden Shingles
Wooden shingles are very popular for those who are looking to replace the roof of a historic house because wood is a timeless and classic material that has been used throughout the ages, even for homes that did not originally have wooden roofs. Wood roofs are also very reliable, nowadays, thanks to processes and treatments that make them stronger, more resistant to water, and even fire-resistant.
Wooden roof tiles do require a little extra care to keep them in good condition, to protect them against rot, moisture, and fungus. What’s more, they tend not to last as long as other roofing materials, but they are also the only truly sustainable roof type out there.
Clay Tiles
One of the roofing materials that has been in use for literal millennia, and is used just as readily today as it was back in the time of antiquity. Given its historic lineage, clay tiles have been used in a range of styles, including Mediterranean and Cape Cod-style homes. They come in a wide variety of colors so you want to make sure you’re sourcing the right color and design to go with your home as well.
Clay is highly durable, as resistant as it is to breaks and chips, and will last over a century on your house. What’s more, the material is highly energy-efficient, meaning it can help you reduce your energy bills. Like slate, it’s on the heavier side, so it can be more costly to transport, but many find it worth the cost.
Conduct a roof inspection
If you want a good idea of which roof might be the best for your home, or you want to know whether or not you might have to replace the roof, then a roof inspection can help.
When it comes to historic homes, it makes sense to get a roof inspection before you make the decision to replace it. Even if your roof looks like it’s seen better days, we might be able to fix problems such as leaks, mold, and missing tiles.
Making a few fixes can help you avoid having to think about choosing a new roof for the home for a few years yet. It’s best to get your roof inspected as soon as you suspect there are any issues to prevent further damage.
Choose the right roof for your historic home
If you’re looking for a new roof for your home, whether it’s a historic home and you want a fitting roof or otherwise, get in touch with the team at Christian Brothers Roofing for the help you might need in finding the right kind. We’ve helped tons of customers throughout Atlanta and we’ll be happy to help you, too.