Taking care of your older home can be rewarding but sometimes tireless. Older homes necessitate a lot more upkeep to ensure they’re staying structurally sound and operational, especially if it’s a historic home. You want only the best for it’s unique style, but when it comes time to replace the roof, how can you keep that older feel with newer roofing materials? Here at Roofingclaims.com, we understand how important it is to keep the beauty and grace of your older or historic home alive. 

 

Some Items To Keep In Mind

It’s always a good idea to check your local building codes just to be on the safe side. If you’re living in a planned community or historic district, they may have specific building codes on what materials you can use in replacing your roof, which will significantly reduce the amount of decision making you have. Most roofing materials have been around for years and years, so they may be a safe bet for your new roof, but it never hurts to double check the load limit on your roof and the weight of the new roofing materials. Newer materials may be made of something completely different than when your home was first built, and thus may have extra weight than previously thought. The load limit on your roof may make certain materials impossible as well, since the roof won’t be able to handle some types, like slate or clay tiles. Knowing these key components will help you dramatically when it comes time to pick your roofing material. 

 

Types of Roofs

There are so many styles and types of roofs available, and that can translate for an older or historic home as well. Asphalt and fiberglass shingles are the “tried and true” roofing material, having been around for years and years. Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing type available, making it a ‘classic’ for your older home. Composite shingles are less expensive than other roofing materials, while still thoroughly protecting your historic home. Tile roofs were used quite heavily in colonial and mission style homes. Tile offers great safety ratings, and is highly durable, withstanding high winds, hail, and even fire. The tiles also come in a wide variety of styles and colors, giving you more options to better fit your older home. They may come with added weight, though, so keep that in mind. 

 

Shake is also an excellent traditional roofing option. Whether it’s true wood or composite, shake can protect your home while still showcasing it’s elegance and old style. The composite does tend to work better on older homes as it’s more lightweight, and offers higher fire and weather safety ratings. Metal roofing is also a versatile, durable material that can accent a historic or older home beautifully. Copper and sheet metal roofs have actually been around since the 18th century, and metal roofs can last at least sixty years if not more. Metal is also energy efficient which can lower your utility bills without sacrificing any of your home’s authentic, historic charms. 

 

A Fit For Any Home

You almost can’t go wrong with any roofing material for your older home, as long as you know what you can and can’t use depending on any building codes. Knowing the structural integrity and load limit of your roof can help you avoid any heavy types of material that may end up being too much for your home. But with a wide variety of options available to you, it’s simply a matter of picking which style and color goes best for your home in keeping with its elegant, older roots.

 

Contact Us

Ready to install a new roof onto your historic or older home? Roofing claims is the best roofing inspector Orlando and  can help you navigate the process from start to finish, specializing in restorations and installations of new roofs. We offer an end-to-end client experience, ensuring your roofing job is done professionally and expertly. Call us today!