Roofing Felt History

Wood and slate shingles and clay tiles were the predominant roofing choice until the.

Roofing felt history.

The history of tar paper or roofing felt goes back to at least the 1800 s. 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 was introduced primarily to act as a secondary barrier against wind driven snow and rain but its use also causes a reduction in air movement within the roof space particularly if the roofing felt is impervious and this effect is often compounded by the introduction of insulation. A general guide to their deterioration and assessment is followed by general principles for treatment repair and ongoing care and maintenance.

We offer a wide range of information including a brief history of the development of this material. Roof materials at the dawn of civilization. For more than 25 years organizations such as the national roofing contractors association nrca and the canadian asphalt shingle manufacturer s association casma have included roofing felt in their roofing and waterproofing recommendations. The roof s necessity has bred its ubiquity and by extension fostered a strong market for roofing materials ranging in performance and physical characteristics.

Roofing 6 sep 2013 indd 2 12 09 2013 10 01. It is also a requirement under many building codes. Used for decades as waterproof coverings in residential and commercial roofs these bitumen compositional membranes incorporate two layers. For as long as there have been humans we have been building shelters.

Here s a quick look at some of that history. The earliest examples of using tar paper to protect roofing dates to the california gold rush of the 1800 s. I have not found an exact citation but i believe you ll find the discussion of felt underlayment in the earliest roofing codes. And even the earliest structures had to incorporate some type of roof in order to protect its inhabitants from rain sun and snow.

Interesting facts about roofing history. It s easy to assume that early man slept out in the open under the stars or was protected from the elements inside a cave. Whether you just need some quick reference for what it is and why you need it or if you re a do it yourself homeowner and want to learn how to install it you have come to the right place. Building codes date from 1859 baltimore md.

Roofing felt similar to tar paper is the base material used to make roof shingles and roll roofing. The history of roofing felt. Roofing has a long and interesting history which has led us to our great selection of roofing material choices and styles today. The first underside polymer membrane is used as a solid background often reinforced with glass fibers.