How to Replace a Historic Roof

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The roof on a historic home deserves special care and attention when replacement becomes necessary. Beyond protecting the structure from the elements, a historic roof lends beauty, character, and heritage value to a home. 

So, how to replace a historic roof? Matching original roofing materials, patterns, craftsmanship, and details during replacement helps preserve the property's unique architectural integrity. Historic roof restorations require careful planning, sensitive structural adaptations, specialized materials, and artisan techniques. 

Consulting preservation architects, engineers, and experienced roofing contractors is key. By assembling the right team to properly assess and replace a deteriorating historic roof, homeowners can authentically restore the crown jewel, topping their piece of tangible cultural history.

Assessing the Existing Roof

Before roof replacement on a historic building, you'll need to thoroughly assess its current condition. Carefully inspect the roof to identify any damaged or deteriorating areas. Check for loose, cracking, or missing shingles or tiles, as well as signs of water damage like rotting roof deck boards or rafters. Also note the roof's style, materials, and any unique historic features. This will help guide your material selection and replacement approach.

How to Replace a Historic Roof? Choosing Replacement Materials is Key

When selecting replacement roofing materials for a historic building, the goal is to closely match the original roof. Consult historic photos or building records to determine the previous materials. Using modern substitutes that have a similar appearance is also an option, but the materials must be compatible with the existing roof system. 

Asphalt or fiberglass shingles often fail to provide the desired aesthetic. Focus on materials like wood shingles and shakes, slate, clay tile, or even thatch if attempting to recreate the original roof. Also, have a structural engineer evaluate if the building can still support a roof of the original weight.

Developing a Careful Removal Process

Removing the existing damaged historic roof requires great care to avoid destroying sound roof boards and structural members that you’ll want to reuse. Where possible, manually remove individual shingles or tiles intact to be recycled. For attached roof materials like shakes, use pry bars to carefully lift them without breaking the fasteners. 

Remove fasteners when necessary, but catalog their locations, as replacement fastening systems may vary. Also, catalog unique roof details or embellishments for accurate restoration. Set up tarps or canvas protections on the ground to catch falling debris before it damages landscape features below. Place removed historic materials in organized piles by type.

Preparing the Roof for New Materials

After removal, the exposed roof deck and structural members may require repairs or reinforcement to install the new roof. Replace any damaged boards with in-kind materials of the same dimension, species of wood, and grade. Sister new support members or plywood reinforcement to existing rafters if they are undersized or deteriorated per the structural engineer’s assessment. 

Install any updated weatherproofing elements like ice barriers, but use breathable materials to avoid trapped moisture. For clay tile or slate, additional battens and counter battens may be required. Nail off new roof boards and cut any vent openings before installing the new finish materials.

Installing Replacement Shingles or Tiles

Staying consistent with the original roofing pattern, style, and details is key when replacing materials on a historic roof. Set chalk lines to ensure straight coursing, lay shingles and tiles in a consistent revealing pattern, and recreate unique ridge caps and edge flashings. Maintain the original orientation of tiles or multi-layer staggered shingle coursing. 

For slate, use slate hooks to secure while minimizing nail holes. Pre-drill clay tiles to prevent cracking. Allow added overlap for swollen wood shake materials. Use metal flashing finishes that match the original installation. Recreate chimneys in their exact original size and shape, or install historically styled chimney covers if the underlying stack has been rebuilt.

Integrating Modern Elements Sensitively

While matching historic designs is the ultimate goal for preservation, modern building codes or client needs may require some updates During replacement. Sensitively incorporate elements like weather barriers and updated ventilation with vents painted or finished to match the roof. Use compatible metals when adding gutters, snow guards, and chimney caps. Any required structural reinforcement should follow the existing roof structure shape and angles. 

Skylights or solar panels, if allowed, should hug the roofline and use flush or minimal framing. Monitor the roof following completion of installation and make any adjustments needed to address moisture issues or areas losing their attachment, touching up with compatible materials as needed.

Working with Consultants and Authorities

When replacing a roof on a historically designated home, additional oversight helps ensure an appropriate restoration process. Pre-consultation can determine if any permits, reviews, or variances are required. Local historic preservation commissions or architectural review boards may require approval of material samples, color choices, and project work plans. 

A preservation architect can assess the roof and provide material specification consulting while a structural engineer addresses reinforcement needs. Roofing contractors experienced in historic restorations may also prove invaluable. By assembling the right team for your historic roof replacement project, you can achieve lasting results that preserve the heritage embodied in your home’s unique architectural details.

In Conclusion

Replacing the roof on a cherished historic home is a major preservation undertaking. But with careful assessment, planning, material selection, and installation consistent with the original, the heritage embodied in this critical architectural element can be restored. While integrating modern code requirements and enhancements, preservation must remain the priority. 

Specialized replacement approaches help salvage and reuse viable existing materials wherever possible. New finishes aim to match the original roof’s style, patterns, textures, and details as available budget and roof structure allow.

About RC Roofing

RC Roofing has over 15 years of experience specializing in historic roof replacements and is well-versed in the details and preservation requirements of heritage home restorations. Our master roofers develop full-scale assessment reports regarding your existing roof's condition and recommendations for historically accurate material replacements. If you have concerns about the failing roof on your treasured home, please contact us at (401) 298-9936 for an initial complimentary consultation regarding our historically sensitive roof replacement process.

FAQs

Is it OK to put a new roof over an old one?

While it may seem like a cost-saving shortcut, installing a new roof over an existing one is typically not recommended as it adds extra weight that can strain the roof structure over time and hides any leaks or damage occurring underneath until critical failure happens.

Should you tear off old roof?

Tearing off the existing old roof down to the roof deck gives you the opportunity to fully inspect the roof structure, address any issues, properly prepare the surface, and install the new roof correctly according to manufacturer guidelines for proper layering and any required barriers or reinforcements.