Historic homes reflect the rich heritage and architectural style of your neighborhood and city. From Victorian mansions to Colonial revival cottages and more, these homes offer a glimpse into your city’s past. However, maintaining the look of your home requires careful planning. Choosing the right roof for your historic home is crucial for preserving its aesthetic appeal and ensuring its structural integrity.
At Lifetime Roofing, we understand how important it is to invest in a reliable roofing material. However, when choosing the right materials for your historic home, there is much more that goes into it. If you are considering investing in a new roof for your historic home but aren’t sure what material is best to maintain its appearance, keep reading to see what our team recommends.
What is Considered a Historic Home?
Historic homes are located within local historic districts as designated by your city. These homes maintain the area’s historic charm and offer residents a glimpse at the earliest homes in the city. Exterior changes to these homes are subject to local design review to ensure the most character-defining elements of your property are maintained.
While each city will have its own rules and regulations regarding what can be considered a historic home, these homes often have to be at least 50 years old, retain some historic integrity, and be significant to the area. Many cities strive to preserve these homes in an attempt to preserve the cultural history of the area and provide residents with a sense of pride.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Roof for Your Historic Home
As you prepare to invest in a new roof for your historic home, there are a few factors you should consider. Many cities have rules and regulations regarding cosmetic work that can be done to historic homes. While you may want a more modern metal roof for your historic home, some cities may not allow this kind of change, as it doesn’t fit with the home’s original features and wouldn’t have been a roofing option at the time.
You may also need to be more lenient with the roof color you’re hoping for. In many cases, your city may require you to choose a roof color that is close to or identical to the home’s first roof. Finally, you should consider the state of the existing roof. Your city may choose to deny any roofing permits if your roof is in good condition and you are simply trying to update the cosmetic appearance of the space.
Ultimately, it may be in your best interest to speak to someone with the city about the changes you plan to make before scheduling a roof replacement. By scheduling a time to discuss roof changes, you can determine whether they align with the city’s design guidelines and if there are any changes you need to make before starting the project.
The Best Roofing Materials
If you are ready to invest in an updated roof for your historic home, there are a few options that you may be able to consider. Some of the best roofing materials for historic homes include:
Wood
Wood was one of the most popular early roofing materials due to its easy accessibility. While wood roofs aren’t as popular for more modern homes, they are a great way to maintain the modern appearance of your historic home. Modern wooden roofing materials are made of cedar, which is more moisture-resistant than early roofing materials.
Asphalt
When choosing a roof for your historic home, you might be able to choose this incredibly popular roofing option. Asphalt roofing gained popularity at the turn of the 20th century. This material became an increasingly popular choice due to its durability and is a great addition to Victorian or Colonial homes.
Metal
While metal wasn’t a popular roofing material, it was still periodically used for homes across the U.S., making them a great choice for your roof for your historic home. Some homes from the 1700s and 1800s featured copper roofs. While copper may be out of budget, some metal roofs can reflect the same color and style these roofs featured.
Clay
Clay roof tiles were an incredibly popular choice among homebuilders in the mid-19th century. If you have a Mediterranian or Spanish-style home, clay tiles are the perfect choice for maintaining its charm. However, you may be able to replace fragile clay tiles with more durable ceramic tiles as long as they maintain the historic appearance of your home.
Reliable Roofs for Homes Across Salt Lake City
Whether you want to invest in a new roof for your historic home or you need to repair your existing roof, it is essential to work with a reliable roofing company like our team at Liberty Restoration. We have been providing reliable roofs to homes across the North Salt Lake City area since 2008, and we’re confident that we can do the same for you.
Whether you want to upgrade to a modern metal roof or you like the existing asphalt shingles, we provide every material you could want to upgrade your space. If you need to invest in a new roof for your historic home or you have questions about each recommended roofing material, don’t hesitate to contact us today.