ROOF MATERIALS OVER THE CENTURIES

1
ROOF MATERIALS OVER THE CENTURIES
2

• There is a long and interesting history
  associated with roofs over the centuries, and it
  can be fascinating to see how much or how
  little the materials used to make them have
  changed over the years.
• Early roofing materials
• Centuries ago, roofs were constructed from
  whatever materials people could get their hands
  on, most of which would have been found naturally
  in their environment. For example, in tropical
  areas, materials such as palm fronds were a
  practical and lightweight choice that is still
  popular among rudimentary home makers today.In
  the plains, the Indians constructed their homes
  from animal hides and in ancient Africa, mud and
  straw was often the material of choice for both
  the walls and roofs of their homes.

3

• Wood was used too, but never on its own, and
  usually combined with materials such as mud or
  woven fibres that could be placed over the gaps.
• Roofs made of tiles or thatch
• History books tell us that the Chinese were using
  clay tiles way back in 3,000 BC, and they have a
  long and advanced history of architectural
  techniques to their name. In Europe, on the other
  hand, tiles became commonly used only when the
  ancient Greeks and Roman civilisations came
  about. In northern Europe, wooden tiles or slate
  that could be locally sourced were popular, with
  wood being frequently used to make roofs for
  Nordic churches. Even nowadays, slate is still
  widely used in northern Europe and other nearby
  countries such as France and Spain.

4

• In Britain, thatch was commonly used for roofs
  from around 735 AD, but was also popular in
  countries like Hawaii, Bali and Fiji. In Kenya,
  thatch was made from sugarcane leaf, and for
  those who used it, it proved far cheaper than
  other materials like tiles and was more fire
  resistant than wooden shingles.
• In southern Europe, baked clay was the most
  popular roofing material, giving Spain and other
  Mediterranean countries a classic terracotta
  appeal to their homes. However, as time went on,
  concrete tiles were more commonly used since they
  were cheaper, and they were simply painted red to
  resemble terracotta.

5

• Asphalt shingles in the states
• In America in the 1920s, asphalt shingles were
  being developed with a variety of coatings,
  materials and adhesives to aid their durability,
  waterproofing and resistance to changes in
  temperatures. As these were simple to manufacture
  and install and relatively inexpensive, they
  quickly became the most commonly used roofing
  material for many American homes.
• Roofs made of metal
• There is a very good reason why metal roofing has
  been so widely used throughout history, and its
  mainly due to its high levels of durability and
  the fact that it can easily be bent to fit any
  shape.

6

• That said, metal roofs used to be expensive and
  therefor only available to the wealthiest in
  society or were reserved for use on significant
  structures such as temples and museums.
• Copper was widely used for roofs in ancient Rome,
  with the ancient Egyptians preferring aluminium
  and alum compounds to make their roofs stronger.
  In the 1700s, zinc became a popular choice and
  remains a popular alternative to copper even
  today.
• The types of roofing materials in use today are
  heavily influenced by local climates,
  availability and cost, along with cultural
  preferences, too.

7

• While some of the ancient materials remain
  popular today, metal roofing is the one that has
  truly stood the test of time, proving itself to
  be the most versatile, attractive and durable
  choice for todays modern roofs.
• Middle South Systems provide metal roofing in
  Louisiana and Mississippi gulf coast with a
  lifetime warranty at an affordable price. Our
  standing seam metal roofing in louisiana provides
  a clean, contemporary look that is
  architecturally scaled for residential
  applications. Manufactured from heavy-duty,
  rust-free aluminum, ClickLock stands apart from
  most standing seam panels. If you are looking for
  roofers in new orleans or standing seam metal
  roof installation, call us today for a free
  estimate of metal roofing in Mississippi or
  Louisiana!