18th Century Roofing Materials

Standing seam metal with concealed fasteners.

18th century roofing materials.

Tinplate iron commonly called tin roofing was used extensively in canada in the 18th century but it was not as common in the united states until later. Lead as well as copper covered roof surfaces where wood tile or slate shingles were inappropriate because of the roof s pitch or shape. Some historic roofs were failures from the start based on overambitious and naive use of materials as they were first developed. Clay tiles were seen as early as the 17th century and had largely been used by european settlers in such settlements as jamestown new york and boston.

The search for alternative roofing materials is not new. Roofs of the 17th and 18th centuries typically were covered by cedar or pine shingles. While american settlers imported slate for use in roofing as early as the 1600s quarrying slate on american soil did not begin until 1785 according to east coast builders. Oak or chestnut shingles were also very fashionable in the 14th century and were seen as less of a fi re risk in urban areas than thatch.

The roof so often equals style. For example a lead roof covered rosewell one of the grandest mansions in 18th century virginia. Thomas jefferson was an early advocate of tin roofing and he installed a standingseam tin roof on monticello ca. These clay materials were ideal as a precaution against fires which had engulfed london in 1666 and charred boston in 1679.

Lead as well as copper covered roof surfaces where wood tile or slate shingles were inappropriate because of the roof s pitch or shape. Unlike wood slate is a highly durable inflammable rot and insect resistant material. Depending on the ownership and location of quarries or brickyards stone slates or tiles were also used. Material of choice was lead and to a lesser extent copper.

Copper roofs have a high initial cost but very long lifetime. For example a lead roof covered rosewell one of the grandest mansions in 18th century virginia. Another advantage of copper roofing systems is that they are relatively easy to repair. As early as the 18th century fear of fire caused many wood shingle or board roofs to be replaced by sheet metal or clay tile.

But more often lead was used for protective flashing. The steep gables of gothic revival a pyramid roof broken by dormers on an american foursquare and as here the extravagant complex asymmetry topping a victorian queen anne house.