Period Property Roofing in England

The English architectural landscape isn’t what it used to be. Newly built housing developments, as needed and welcome as they are, tend to have the same look and feel. They’re like a hodge-podge of styles amalgamated into a “greatest hits” of housing styles; lots of plastic, lots of concrete. They’re amazing materials for construction – so naturally, they’re what we’re building the future with.

But once upon a time in England, there were no cookie-cutter homes.

There were no concrete roofing tiles, or plastic fascias, or composite cladding materials – and in our neck of the woods, clay was king.

England’s historic roofing types are many, and preserving those which remain is an important part of our shared heritage. Period property roofing techniques have been passed down to generation after generation of period roofing specialist – like us here at Tenterden Roofing.

So let’s explore the different roofing types used on heritage properties in England, and how each local environment shaped the way we used to build.

The main types of historic property roofing in southern England

Long before the dawn of modern materials, homes, churches, and properties were built using the best materials available at the time – and that varied based on where you lived.

Kent peg roofing

Kent peg tiles date back to Roman times, but the practice was all but abandoned after the fall of the Roman empire. By the 14th century, ket peg roofing had returned in full force, as industrial uses for clay were ramped up around the country.

Locally, clay was an abundant material, used for bricks, tiles, and other wares. Brickworks in Kent were a common sight, and the abundance of Kent peg tiles in the area reflect the availability of the material.

Learn more about Kent peg tiling

Clay roof tiles were, and remain, ubiquitous in Kent – and the Kent peg method of hanging tiles remains a sought-after skill locally.

Natural slate roof tiles

Slate is a naturally occurring rock. It’s formed from clay that has been transformed several times due to compression and heating, deep within the Earth – so wherever there’s an abundance of clay, you’d expect to find slate in some quantity. But that’s not always the case; slate takes ages (quite literally) to form, and is only exposed by erosion or land upheaval.

Wales is considered the home of UK slate tiling, where deposits are common and exposed. The first recorded use of Welsh slate tiles dates back to the 1300s. By the 1700s, Welsh slate was exported globally at an industrial scale, with much of the material being used domestically and in neighbouring parts of England.

Slate tiles remain hugely popular all around England, because they often last longer than the rest of the building they cover!

Read more about slate roof tiles

Thatched and copper roofing

Although not an area we cover, it’s important to note the historical importance and aesthetic significance of thatch and copper roofing.

Thatching traditions vary significantly in different parts of the country, mostly based on what material was available when the roof was built; water reed, combed wheat reed or long straw. They all have similar results to the untrained eye – and all are susceptible to fire and animal infestations, making maintenance and care extremely important. Thatch is an important historical and heritage marker, and a practice that continues to this day for preserving period property roofing.

Copper roofing was historically reserved for buildings of great importance, owing to its high cost and the work required to fit it. Copper sheeting was commonly used, and grew in popularity around the world for roofing on churches and civic buildings during the 1920s and 1930s, when industrial manufacture was sped up. Copper roofing had many advantages, like a long life of 80 years or more – and the distinct green patina offers additional protection, as well as a unique heritage look.

Period property roofing specialists in Kent since 1984

Tenterden Roofing is a passionate team of period roofing specialists in Kent. See our latest work on Instagram – and contact us for a quote at [email protected].