History Of Roofing Felt

A weather tight roof is basic in the preservation of a structure regardless of its age size or design.

History of roofing felt.

Wood and slate shingles and clay tiles were the predominant roofing choice until the. This chapter begins with a brief history of roof coverings used in england and then summarises how roofs must work to protect the building. In the system that allows a building to work as a shelter the roof sheds the rain shades from the sun and buffers the weather. The history of roofing felt the earliest examples of using tar paper to protect roofing dates to the california gold rush of the 1800 s.

A general guide to their deterioration and assessment is followed by general principles for treatment repair and ongoing care and maintenance. Roofing felt is comprised of a base made from natural materials such as wood cellulose or synthetic ones such as fiberglass or polyester and then coated or saturated with a protective coating such as bitumen asphalt which repels water but still allows the product to breathe. During some periods in the history of architecture the roof imparts much of the architectural character. As people flocked west to try to make their fortunes in gold entire towns sprang up overnight and were often considered to be temporary dwellings as they might be abandoned as quickly when the gold was gone.

Roofing felt competed with sheet metal and shingles as a roofing material. Sumerian legend claims that the secret of feltmaking was discovered by urnamman of lagash. The roofing felt industry had started in finland in the 1870s and production capacity grew rapidly as the new century approached. Roofing felt similar to tar paper is the base material used to make roof shingles and roll roofing.

Fire safety regulations added to the popularity of roofing felt at the turn of the century. Many cultures have legends as to the origins of felt making. The story of saint clement and saint christopher relates that the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters while fleeing from persecution. Those materials have a long history and their evolution has been largely driven by performance.

The roof s necessity has bred its ubiquity and by extension fostered a strong market for roofing materials ranging in performance and physical characteristics.