# What Type of Roof Should I Get? Part 1 - Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-type/ - Published: 2022-03-19T13:20:22-04:00 - Author: Ken Roginski Let me tell you now that choosing a roof type and roof color for your house new or old, is NOT a fun project. I don’t know the stats but I am sure that many homeowners have ended up in an insane asylum resulting from the stress of selecting roof colors. I recently recovered from this experience and will try to make the process as easy as I can for you – but don’t get too excited yet. It’s still a difficult process. Old house or new house, choosing a roof color and roof type is a big decision all homeowners are faced with sooner or later. In the 1950s through the 1980s there was not many options for residential roofing. There was one asphalt roof style and roof colors were mostly a boring white or gray asphalt. [⌊cement roof asbestos⌉⌊cement roof asbestos⌉[ Colorful Asbestos composition cement roof 1930’s. Fortunately today there are many roof styles, types and color options to choose from just like there were 100+ years ago. **This topic is divided into two parts.** * **Part 1 **will cover the common types of roofs that were used and what to be aware of when talking to a roofer. * **Part 2** will try to ease the agony of choosing a roof color. I really recommend you read both parts even if you are only concerned about roof color since both topics overlap. [⌊lunatic asylum⌉⌊lunatic asylum⌉[ 1876 Graystone Lunatic Asylum NJ. Many homeowners ended up here after choosing roof colors. ## **A Roof is an Important Feature on a House** Roofs throughout history were an important feature on a building and something to be noticed and admired. After WWII however, houses became smaller with lower pitched, less noticeable roofs as with the Ranch style house. Because of this, roofs became unnoticed and uncared about. Unfortunately, **because of this you see many tan homes with gray clashing roofs** etc. Before this time, metal roofs and wood shingled roofs were painted to not only to extend the life span of the roof but to look pretty. The popular colors were either red or green.  Imagine how pretty that would have looked. A similar view that comes to mind is looking down from a mountain at a European village with bright terra cotta roofs. [⌊scenic red roofs⌉⌊scenic red roofs⌉[ Red roofs create a beautiful scenic look in Europe so why not here? Roofs make a huge contribution to the identity of a house. **A roof on a pre-1940 house can command more than a third of the house.** This large area becomes a broad canvas for an architectural statement made with color and texture so it is very important to get it right and not neglect your roof. ## **What Type of Roof is Right For My House?** There were dozens of types of roofing available in 1900 and even more by 1920. An** entire website** **could be dedicated to roofing options** throughout history and even today. Today you can even duplicate a French Slate, Terra-cotta, etc. roof that is solar and no one would ever tell the difference. So, with all the options and variables I will need to greatly simplify the information here. ## **The Following are the Basic Roof Types:** ### **Wood Shingled Roofs:** ** Wood shingle roofs have been around since Colonial times fading out in the 1930s with the emergence of asphalt roofs. Up to this time the average house had wood shingles. They can be left natural and untouched, aging to a silver color in two years or preserved with a sealer. Many times the wood shingles were painted to add to their lifespan and to provide a better appearance. The life of a new wood shingle roof today is about 20 years.  They may be prohibited in many areas due to fire hazard. Read about Shingle look-a-likes in [The Old House Journal Sep-Oct 1994 by Gordon Bock ](https://books.google.com/books?id=YNSJm5cU7sYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=old+house+journal+sept+oct+1994#v=onepage&q=old%20house%20journal%20sept%20oct%201994&f=false) scroll to page 46. [⌊new wood cedar shingle roof⌉⌊new wood cedar shingle roof⌉[ New wood shingle roof is a new wood color for about one year. [⌊wood shingle roof after a year⌉⌊wood shingle roof after a year⌉[ A wood shingle roof will turn a warm silver color after a year. ### **Metal Roofs:** ** Although Thomas Jefferson installed a tin roof on his house in the 18^(th) century, the widespread use of metal roofs began many years later. Metal roofs were very utilitarian and used for more simple homes. Its popularity began in the mid- 1800s and continued until the metal crunch of World War II. Aside from the popular Standing Seam metal roofs, there were also flat metal and decorative pressed metal roof shingles. Today Standing Seam roofs are more bulky yet very popular. A Standing Seam metal roof is historic roof that made a comeback and provides a contemporary look on new construction today. A FLAT metal roof – NOT a metal standing seam roof, is correct for a roof with a shallow shallow pitch. [ Porch and flat metal roofing is  discussed here along with a paint product for holes and restoration. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/metal-porch-roof/) Beware of overly done seams on a [Standing-seam roof and metal overlapping the edge of the roof. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-flashing/) [⌊red standing seam metal roof⌉⌊red standing seam metal roof⌉[ Old Standing Seam metal roof on small 1900 Folk Queen Anne Victorian. ### **Slate Roofs:** The slate roofing industry began in the 1850s and was at its peak between 1897 and 1914 across the country before losing ground to other less expensive materials like wood shingles. Slate then had a 2nd peak during the 1920s with the construction of Tudor homes. Read about Slate look-a-likes in [The Old House Journal Sep-Oct 1994 by Gordon Bock ](https://books.google.com/books?id=YNSJm5cU7sYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=old+house+journal+sept+oct+1994#v=onepage&q=old%20house%20journal%20sept%20oct%201994&f=false) scroll to page 46. [⌊yankee gutter on slate roof 1915⌉⌊yankee gutter on slate roof 1915⌉[ Slate roof with Yankee gutter circa 1920 is composed of many colors and shades. ### **Composition Cement Roofs – Asbestos:** ** Popular in the 1920s and 30s, these asbestos-cement shingles were hexagonal or diamond shaped. They were called French Style Shingles or just diamond shingles. They are still available in fiber-cement formulations. [⌊composition asbestos cement roof⌉⌊composition asbestos cement roof⌉[ This composition cement roof is from the 1920s. It can be painted red or green for the color has since faded. ### **Asphalt Roofing:** ** First used in 1903, in some regional use by 1911 and by 1939 in full swing. A U.S. National Board of Fire Underwriters campaign to eliminate the use of wood shingles on roofs was a contributing factor in the growth in popularity of asphalt shingles during the 1920s. Red or green was frequently the only two colors offered and sometimes black. [⌊asphalt composition cement asbestos roof ⌉⌊asphalt composition cement asbestos roof ⌉[ This asphalt roof is is a replication of a Composition Cement Asbestos roof of the 1920s-30s. Unfortunately, the diamond shaped shingles above that were manufactured by GAF have since been discontinued. [Pabco Roofing makes a nice diamond shape ](https://roofingmagazine.com/diamond-shaped-shingles-option-historic-homes-buildings/) that is a bit narrower. [IKO Shingles has a great diamond shingle ](https://www.iko.eu/en/products/shingles/diamant-plus) with a fiberglass inlay. They are located in Canada and the US. [Sherriff Goslin ](https://www.sherriffgoslin.com/residential-roofing-parent/shingles/art-loc.html) created a similar shingle that also comes in red. While still different than the original it is an option. I spoke with their VP and was told these shingles are available throughout the USA. This may take some searching and also maybe contacting The Old House Journal Online for who makes them.  Check for fiber-cement and fiberglass compositions. Although not the best option, gray diamond shingles can be painted red. ### Terra-Cotta & Other Roofing. New products are coming out every day and impossible to keep up with them. Terra- Cotta for example. There is real terra cotta that will last at least 100 years and many substitutions that can look close to the original. Here is one example of a house I worked on with [asphalt roofing to resemble terra-cotta. ](https://decra.chameleonpower.com/#/scene/DecraRoof_USER_\397788a5-dcfc-4342-80df-7b943ed93718/products/140605) ### Tesla Solar Roof. [⌊tesla solar roof⌉⌊tesla solar roof⌉[ Tesla Solar Roof No ugly solar panels. Tesla solar roofs offer some real nice options. ## **Roof Styles to Avoid.** While you do have flexibility there are some warnings. I do not recommend a metal roof on a large Queen Anne Victorian or a Craftsman house. First check around for there are always regional exceptions. Metal roofs work well on simple roofs but on a more complex Victorian roof especially that with a turret do not use Standing Seam roofs. Metal roofs stopped being sold with metal rationing during WWII and then made a comeback around 2000 for commercial buildings and residential homes. ## **What You Need to Tell Your Roofer.** ### **Ridge Vent Caution.** A ridge vent for a roof is good however you must make sure they are installed for the best appearance. You MUST discuss this or you will be in for a surprise. [⌊ridge vent wrong ⌉⌊ridge vent wrong ⌉[ This is the wrong way for a Ridge Vent. Wrong for appearance that is. Even though this may provide better ventilation, this is stupid looking. [⌊ridge vent correct⌉⌊ridge vent correct⌉[ This Ridge Vent look nice and neat. ### **Flashing Can Really Mess up the Appearance of Your House.** I am not saying that flashing is bad but it is overly done these days. I recently had a roof installed and told the roofer I did not want any flashing at the edge of my roof. That was fine and they did  good job. A year later my parents who have a Ranch house had a leak on their rear porch roof. This roof had to be replaced. I forgot to say NO FLASHING and this is what I got!! [⌊drip edge flat roof flashing⌉⌊drip edge flat roof flashing⌉[ Notice that on the newly repaired flat roof a drip edge flashing was added that looks like crap. It [completely ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-flashing/)hides the nice trim under the roof. Don’t let this happen to you! [Here is my Flashing Article with more detail. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-flashing/) ### **What is a Valley?** This is an option depending on what you prefer. The roof on the left has a valley and is an older style for asphalt roofing. Copper is frequently used but it will look like brown aluminum in a year or two and a much longer time before turning patina green. Do not get the imitation copper. The valley creates a nice sharp edge creating a neater look. The house on the right does not have a valley but the shingles still create a nice edge. I have seen this where the edge where the two roofs meet is not as defined and does not look good so just discuss what your preferences are and what the roofer can do. [⌊Roof valley⌉⌊Roof valley⌉[ Roof valley separating the gable roof from the main roof. This is brown aluminum, and it intersects Yankee gutters, allowing the water to run onto the porch roof below. A crisp edge is created. [⌊no roof valley⌉⌊no roof valley⌉[ There is no valley between the roof sections, but the asphalt is installed nicely, creating sharpness, which gives the roof a nice appearance. ## **Popular Roofing by Period** Since the time your house was built, it may have had a few different roof types ( wood shingles – slate – asphalt). The best way to start is with a historic photo. Not necessarily a photo from the 1970s but as early as you can find – hopefully from when your house was less than 20 years old. The house style and period of your house is very important. Also the region where you live. Slate for instance was quarried in New England and would need to be transported by rail to other areas increasing the cost. Roofing types and material can get complicated so I want to make it simple and provide some guidelines for there will always be exceptions. Remember a historic photo is best and the region you live will make a difference. The following is my general advice (not prioritized). * **Pre 1850 Metal roof. Natural Wood shingled roof. Asphalt roof to replicate a wood shingled look. Any other replication of the above.   * **1850-1880** Metal roof – painted red or green. Gray is ok. (1 floor Victorians are ok – not large Victorians) Natural Wood shingled roof Asphalt roof to replicate a wood shingled look. Any other replication of the above.   * **1880-1920 Metal roof – painted red or green. Gray is ok. (1 floor Victorians are ok not large Victorians. I would not necessarily recommend a metal roof for a Craftsman-Bungalow house) Slate. Natural or painted wood shingle – red or green. Asphalt roof to replicate slate or wood shingles. Any other replication of the above   * **1920-1940 Painted Wood shingle – red or green. Asphalt roof in red or green. Slate. Composition cement roof. Asphalt roof to replicate composition cement. Any replication of the above.   * **1940-1970 Asphalt or slate ![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/icon1.jpg) **National Park Service – Heritage Preservation Services:**   Preservation Brief #4 – [Roofing for Historic Buildings. ](https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-04-roofing.pdf) Preservation Brief #19 – [The Repair & Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs. ](http://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-19-wood-shingle-roofs.pdf) Preservation Brief #29 – [The Repair, Replacement & Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs. ](https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-29-slate-roofs.pdf) Preservation Brief #30 – [The Preservation, Repair of Historic Tile Roofs. ](https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-30-clay-tile-roofs.pdf) ## Other Important Things You Need to Know ![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/icon1.jpg) [Drip Edge – Roof Flashing ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-flashing/): Tell your roofer before they start you do NOT want this. [Metal Roofs ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/metal-porch-roof/): More information for an informed decision. [Gutter Options ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/historic-gutters/): There are many types of gutters you should know about. ## Choosing Roof Colors – Part 2 [Go to Part 2 – Choosing Roof Colors. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-color/)