A roof is a most remarkable thing. It freed our primitive ancestors to abandon their caves, and build snug homes in plains where agriculture began. Thus began the march of civilization that brought is to where we are today.
It could not have taken long for our ancestors to agree it’s how they installed a roof that mattered. They battled with the same natural forces we do today in Calgary. Heavy rain, snow packs, and strong winds with insistent fingers continue to test our ingenuity.
Roof materials change, but the challenge remains the same. To do the job properly, because moisture and capillary action will find a way through the tiniest gap. We thought it would be interesting to review roof materials down the ages.
Down the Ages It’s the Way They Installed a Roof That Matters
The earliest roofs were made from natural raw materials our ancestors foraged, like wattle, mud, thatch, and slate. In Greek and Roman times they found ways to make clay tiles to cover over larger structures.
Many of the first North American settlers also relied on clay tiles for roofing, on account of ancestral memories of the Great Fire of London. According to National Parks America these measured ten inches by six, and they had two holes for fastening with wooden pegs.
Sheet metal roofs had become all the rage by the mid-19th century. However, there always seemed to be a yearning for smaller, more picturesque tiles. Slate was also popular among more wealthy folk. Roofers were learning to allow for larger overlaps as they discovered it’s how they installed roofs that mattered.
The discovery of the Alberta oil sands turned Calgary from a frontier settlement into a modern city. From the 1920’s onward, asphalt singles have been the choice of roofing materials for many on account of durability.
Valiant Exteriors Installs Asphalt Roof Shingles That Last
Our clients tell us it’s how we install a roof that matters most to them down the years that follow. They trust us to do their installations because they know we attend to all the details. Despite all that’s changed these details still matter most. Call us on (403)829-1661 to learn more about our waterproofing technology.
More Information
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Turf Roof in Norway: Nick Enge in Public Domain