Victorian Roof Structure

Failure is usually due to the nail fixings becoming corroded causing the slates to slip although with age slates can eventually start to absorb water and become soft.

Victorian roof structure.

These are much heavier than slates and unless the roof structure has been strengthened to accommodate the tiles there can be problems with the. Poorly replaced roof coverings. Carved brackets at the eaves were common. Lightweight hardwearing and long lasting welsh slate was the most common victorian roof covering.

The main factors which influence the shape of roofs are the climate and the materials available for roof structure and the outer covering. The fact that so many historic roofs have survived for centuries is a testimony to the design materials and skills used on traditional roofs even though few would fully. Roof terminology is also not rigidly defined. New siding materials and ornate trim pieces gave way to fancier home designs.

Although the buildings of this 80 year period shared many similarities there were also noticeable differences between victorian era buildings constructed at different times. Usages vary slightly from region to region or from one builder or architect to another. The roof structure is also likely to be the oldest and least altered part of a historic building which can yield important information about its age and significance. The victorian style building dominated architectural design between the 1830s and 1910s.

The most popular materials used for victorian metal roof shingles also changed several times during the period. Complex roof lines became the rage as architects worked to create designs that would pull the eye to the top of the house.