Historic Buildings Metal Roofs

Lead copper zinc tin plate terne plate and galvanized iron.
Historic buildings metal roofs. Historic roofing company specializes in the lost art and craft of slate tile cedar wood and metal roofing gutters downspouts carpentry and more. Recommended a cool or green roof is best installed on a flat roof where it cannot be seen from the public right of way and will not negatively impact the character of the historic building. Flat roofs most rowhouses semi attached residential buildings and commercial buildings have flat roofs. Roofing for historic buildings national park service preservation briefs.
In the late 1800s steel roofs began to be coated with terne metal. Of the inorganic roofing materials used on historic buildings the most common are perhaps the sheet metals. Who care for historic buildings especially places of worship. Time tested and long standing as these materials are they nonetheless can face modern issues in installation restoration or sourcing.
In a historic building if the roof was metal the owners typically want to stay metal details details. Tin coated malleable iron was disappearing at the time. The design of a roof shape is based on a number of considerations including the building s height use wall materials and structural elements. The two primary shapes of roofs on historic buildings in washington are flat and sloped.
In varying degrees each of these sheet metals are likely to deteriorate from chemical action by pitting or streaking. Of the inorganic roofing materials used on historic buildings the most common are perhaps the sheet metals. In the 1860 s the options for metal roofs were copper lead tin coated iron and terne coated steel. Lead copper zinc tin plate terne plate and galvanized iron.
Metal was also formed into ridge caps for wood shingled roofs and used to line built in box gutters. The vegetation on these green roofs has grown too tall and negatively impacts the character of these historic commercial buildings. As well as damage to historic buildings it causes expense distress and frustration. At historic england we recognise the serious impact of metal theft.
We provide consultation with expertise in restoration new residential and commercial construction maintenance repair. As well as damage to historic buildings it. Preventing metal theft especially from roofs is the priority but dealing with an attack appropriately is crucial to protect historic buildings and keep them in use. The majority of niko s work is on existing buildings ranging from new york to michigan to florida.
Metal was laid on bay windows porch roofs and other semi flat roofs. A mixture of around 15 tin and 85 lead.