Roof Shingle History

The ancient egyptians used aluminum and alum compounds to strengthen their roofing.

Roof shingle history.

The size and shape of the shingles as well as the detailing of the shingle roof differed according to regional craft practices. Shingle is a corruption of german schindle schindel meaning a roofing slate. Around 735 ad thatched roofs were developed and used. Cedar shingles commonly topped residential structures through the 19th century but were supplanted in popularity in the 20th century by asphalt.

Shingles are laid in courses usually with each shingle offset from its neighbors. Wood shingles are thin tapered pieces of wood primarily used to cover roofs and walls of buildings to protect them from the weather. Check out this early piece of shingle sales literature from the company. Wooden shingle roofs were prevalent in the north american colonies while in central and southern europe at the same time thatch slate and tile were the prev.

Before the invention of the asphalt shingle a different process known asasphalt prepared roofingwas used. Pretty innovative for the time right. In 1933 the ruberoid co. Shingles historically were called tiles and shingle was a term applied to wood shingles as is still mostly the case outside the us.

Certigrade handbook of red cedar shingles red cedar shingle bureau 1957. Like many things we take for granted today those beautiful architectural multi layered shingles that give your home much of its curb appeal had humble beginnings. The shingle typology has been revived in the 21st century for roofing and siding applications typically in higher end projects. Introduced tite on shingles an inexpensive attractive alternative to older roofing methods and became the model for the success of asphalt shingles to this day.

Wood shingles were introduced 300 years later. 1967 today s most popular shingle. Around 300 bc the loha maha paya temple in sri lanka had a roof made of copper shingles one of the first known instances of this material being used in this way. Asphalt roof shingles were invented around 1901 in grand rapids mi by h m.

Copper was also a popular choice for public buildings in ancient rome. The romans brought variations of the greek clay tiles to england as early as 100 bc. Greece and babylon used flat earthenware roof tiles between 4 000 and 5 000 years ago. Historically shingles were split from straight grained knot free bolts of wood.

Wood shingles were popular throughout the country in all periods of building history. At tamko the popular heritage shingle series features the best roofing colors on the market that are backed by a brand name recognized for its rich history core values of honesty and integrity quality products and processes authority with building professionals and support for its community.