Victorian Roof Structure

Slate was commonly used to cover the roofs of victorian buildings and it is not uncommon to see roofs where the original slates have been replaced with concrete tiles.

Victorian roof structure. Carved brackets at the eaves were common. Poorly replaced roof coverings. 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. Complex roof lines became the rage as architects worked to create designs that would pull the eye to the top of the house.

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. These are much heavier than slates and unless the roof structure has been strengthened to accommodate the tiles there can be problems with the. Usages vary slightly from region to region or from one builder or architect to another. The victorian style building dominated architectural design between the 1830s and 1910s.

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. Roof shapes differ greatly from region to region. Roof terminology is also not rigidly defined.

Although the buildings of this 80 year period shared many similarities there were also noticeable differences between victorian era buildings constructed at different times. 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.