Roofing over the ages in the UK

The types of roofs our houses have in the UK have changed over the years, it’s hardly surprising as technology developments and new materials have found their way into may products and homes.

So where did we start from and where are we today with our roofs?

If we use more traditional-looking houses as a start point thatched roofs were a common type of roof finish and it’s easy to see why. The materials for a thatched roof were either mainly of a long straw, Water Reed and Combed Wheat Reed as these were readily available. Whilst this type of roof has good environmental credentials its main disadvantage is its flammability. It was this main reason that following the great fire of London it was banned in the capital. Houses that still have this type of roof can expect good performance being able to last up to 50 years before replacement as long as the roof ridge is replaced at least every 10years.

As a result of the ban for new homes, the move was made to other materials such as slate, stone and clay typically laid in a tile format. Again following the natural choice to follow material availability different regions of the UK will have a preference for one particular tile type over another because of this. Good examples of this are the proliferation of slate roofs in the North of England which many Lancaster roofers have to deal with and Wales who had slate mines whilst the Midlands and Southeast of the country saw more clay roofs due to the access to local regional clay deposits.

However, as transport networks improved, especially the rail network this lead to more diversity in roof types in the latter part of the 19th century.

Today slate and clay tile remain a popular choice but man-made concrete tiles provide a variety of styles and colour options, which look like clay. Whilst metal roofs have been popular for many years for commercial buildings they are starting to become used in residential homes as are solar tiles which provide a more natural and discrete way of harnessing the suns energy than solar panels which are fixed on top of an existing roof.

So what can go wrong with a roof and require roofing repair in Lancaster? Most issues will occur following strong winds where tiles can become dislodged or broken, which will need replacing or refitting. However ongoing maintenance is important too and preventing the ingress of water into your home is very important. Maintaining good fascias and soffits along with gutter cleaning Lancaster will ensure that you minimize issues with your roof and home. Visit Roofers in Lancaster.