Owning a historic house blends pride, responsibility, and preservation. This beautiful structure is your home, but it’s also a piece of history and an asset to your neighborhood and community. For you, repairing a fence or choosing a paint color has far more implications than for someone in a contemporary tract home, where anything goes.
When it’s time to replace your historic home’s roof, you have to weigh the impact your choices have on your home’s integrity, your family’s comfort and safety, and the building’s historical authenticity. If you are in a preservation district, you must add compliance to that list. All of this makes your decisions more complex. Let’s explore some best practices for roof replacement on historic homes so that you can balance heritage with modern durability.
1. Understand Period Accuracy and Preservation Guidelines
Many historic homes are subject to guidelines put in place by organizations like the National Register of Historic Places. Your local or state housing groups may also have requirements.
These limitations may include approved or disapproved materials, specific techniques to use or avoid, color specifications, or other design aspects you must consider. All these requirements are in place to ensure your home maintains its historic character. Even if your home doesn’t fall under any of these rules, you may still wish to determine what will fit and feel authentic to your building’s heritage.
Consult Local Preservation Authorities
Engage with your local historic preservation commission or authority early in the roof replacement process. Determine what rules apply to your property. You can also enlist their help in determining what choices best fit your home’s history beyond the official requirements. Society members are often enthusiastic about historic homes and happy to discuss materials, colors, and styles.
Research Original Roof Materials and Style
If you have old photographs of your home, you can see how its roof style evolved. Your local library may have documents or photos of your town dating back to your home’s construction. These images can provide insights into original construction methods, color choices, and other stylistic choices relevant to your roof replacement.
2. Choose Your Materials
Now that you are armed with research and understand what rules apply to your home, it’s time to start making choices.
Look at Traditional Materials
The specific roofing materials used when your home was first built will depend on the era and location of your house. Traditional materials include wood shingles, slate, and clay tiles. These materials will likely be the most authentic. However, while they were popular in previous centuries, they can be expensive today. They may also be less energy efficient, higher maintenance, or difficult to source. Finally, they can require specialized installation techniques.
If you decide to use traditional roofing materials because historic preservation rules require them or because you prefer the most authentic roof choice, ensure that your residential roofer is familiar with the material you want to use. You don’t want to be their first or second attempt at these uncommon roofs.
Consider Modern Alternative Materials
Modern alternatives can give the look of their traditional ancestors without being as expensive and high-maintenance. Synthetic slate or composite shingles can look similar to historic materials. If these options comply with preservation requirements for your area, they can offer a historically accurate appearance with all the benefits of modern technology and techniques.
3. Protect Unique Features
Historic homes often benefit from craftsmanship and details no longer used. You may be fortunate enough to have ornate chimneys, decorative gables, or charming dormers. All of these require special attention during roof replacement. They are a critical part of your home’s character and historic appearance. Handle them with care during the roof replacement process.
Document Features Before Work Begins
Photograph and document your home’s special elements and architectural details. Do this before the roof work starts. Share these photos with your roofing contractor.
Don’t hesitate to point out particular areas of concern. If your contractor isn’t willing to note your concerns and work with you to ensure your comfort, they probably aren’t the right company for the job.
These photos also serve as a reference point to ensure the features are restored to their original state after the roofers complete their work. Finally, if there is damage to your home, your pictures and documentation can prove these elements’ condition before the roof replacement.
Discuss Specialized Techniques
If your home’s construction or the guiding preservation rules require special techniques, discuss this with your contractor. Some modern methods like nail guns or certain adhesives may not be appropriate for your historic home. If your contractor has questions, ask them to clarify with the preservation society. That can ensure your project doesn’t stray from the requirements.
4. Modernize Without Compromising History
The modern approaches to roofing that protect our homes and help with energy efficiency may have been decades or centuries away when your home was built. You may be able to add some of these upgrades to your home without compromising the building’s historically accurate appearance.
Consider Underlayment Choices
Ask your roofer about using modern underlayments. These provide better insulation and moisture resistance. This underlayer isn’t visible once your roof materials are applied over it. That means you can usually go modern without changing your home’s appearance or straying outside the preservation rules.
Improve Ventilation as Needed
Your contractor may be able to add ridge or soffit vents hidden from view. Ask your roofer whether your home currently has sufficient ventilation. If not, have them suggest solutions. When in doubt, run these by your historical society for approval. Remember that in some cases, the historic rules only apply to what is visible from the street. That means you may be able to add a vent on the back of your house that would be a no-go on the street-facing side.
Preserving History
Roof Replacement on your historic home means balancing your desire to honor history with your need to protect and modernize your house. Keep in mind all relevant rules and requirements and your personal preferences. On top of that, you likely want to consider improvements to energy efficiency, moisture resistance, and material longevity. Make thoughtful decisions, use skilled residential roofing contractors, and carefully consult history and preservation rules. That way, you will end up with a roof that respects the past and honors the future.