History Of Roofing In Usa

Metal roofing in america is principally a 19th century phenomenon.

History of roofing in usa.

Much of the slate roofing produced today comes from the state of vermont. As the leading roofing materials company in north america we re proud to help habitat for humanity put roofs over the heads of families in need of decent affordable housing. A roof is part of the building envelope. The characteristics of a roof are dependent upon the purpose of the building that it covers the available roofing.

In the 1800s the spanish began a quarrying process that was efficient enough to produce slate for everyday homes. In the united states it was only in the late 1800s when slate roofing would become available to more than just the elites. During some periods in the history of architecture the roof imparts much of the architectural character. In america slate roofs did appear in the 1600s but the first quarry did not open until 1785.

A roof is the top covering of a building including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights providing protection against rain snow sunlight extremes of temperature and wind. Barrett s hand book on roofing and waterproofing for architects engineers and builders barrett manufacturing co 1896. In the system that allows a building to work as a shelter the roof sheds the rain shades from the sun and buffers the weather. The development of built up roofing comprising alternating layers of asphalt impregnated fabric and bituminous coatings changed the shape of buildings quite literally in the temperate regions of the u s the steep slope roof was no longer necessary for rain.

History of metal roofing. Before then the only metals commonly used were lead and copper. A weather tight roof is basic in the preservation of a structure regardless of its age size or design. For example a lead roof covered rosewell one of the grandest mansions in 18th century virginia.

At gaf we support habitat s philosophy of helping to provide a hand up not a handout to people and families founded in 1976 habitat has more than 1 500 local.