Old-house Roofing

Definitions of five common types.

By OHJ Staff

Wooden Shakes
Handsplit along the woodÕs grain lines, shakes have a rough, textured appearance. They curl less than sawn shingles because of the natural grain shaping. Because of unevenness, however, shakes donÕt make a very tight roof. Shakes must be interlaid with 18ý strips of felt and should be installed on open sheathing.

 Wooden Shingles
Unlike shakes, shingles are machine-sawn. Shingles also require proper air circulation and should be laid on open sheathing so the shingles can dry after rain. This allows for maximum roof life.

 Slate
A properly laid slate roof should remain sound for a century or more. Vermont, New York, and Virginia slates last longer than Pennsylvania slates, which tend to delaminate from weathering and pollution.

 Iron and Steel
Ferrous metal coated with tin (tin plate), zinc (galvanized), or tin and lead (terne) was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. With proper maintenance and regular painting, these roofs will last indefinitely.

 Metal Shingles
Embossed tin plate and galvanized, shingles were first used during the late 19th century. Traditional metal shingles required regular painting. As an alternative, you can find authentic patterns made in corrosion-resistant metals. Relatively inexpensive, metal shingles impart a traditional textured look to Victorian and turn-of-the-century houses. Most of the cost of a metal roof is labor, so it makes sense to choose the best material you can afford. Copper, lead, Òself-healing alloys,Ó and factory-finished metals donÕt need maintenance, but other traditional metal roofs will last indefinitely only if painted regularly.

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