Victorian Roof Structure

New siding materials and ornate trim pieces gave way to fancier home designs.

Victorian roof structure.

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. These are much heavier than slates and unless the roof structure has been strengthened to accommodate the tiles there can be problems with the. 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.

Roof shapes became steeper in victorian homes. Roof shapes differ greatly from region to region. Roof terminology is also not rigidly defined. Usages vary slightly from region to region or from one builder or architect to another.

The main factors which influence the shape of roofs are the climate and the materials available for roof structure and the outer covering. Complex roof lines became the rage as architects worked to create designs that would pull the eye to the top of the house. The most popular materials used for victorian metal roof shingles also changed several times during the period. 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.

Poorly replaced roof coverings. Carved brackets at the eaves were common.