Roofing Felt History

Interesting facts about roofing history.

Roofing felt history.

Building codes date from 1859 baltimore md. It is also a requirement under many building codes. For as long as there have been humans we have been building shelters. And even the earliest structures had to incorporate some type of roof in order to protect its inhabitants from rain sun and snow.

Used for decades as waterproof coverings in residential and commercial roofs these bitumen compositional membranes incorporate two layers. 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. I have not found an exact citation but i believe you ll find the discussion of felt underlayment in the earliest roofing codes. Here you can learn everything you need to know about roofing felt.

The roof s necessity has bred its ubiquity and by extension fostered a strong market for roofing materials ranging in performance and physical characteristics. A general guide to their deterioration and assessment is followed by general principles for treatment repair and ongoing care and maintenance. The earliest examples of using tar paper to protect roofing dates to the california gold rush of the 1800 s. The first underside polymer membrane is used as a solid background often reinforced with glass fibers.

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. 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. The history of tar paper or roofing felt goes back to at least the 1800 s.

Those materials have a long history and their evolution has been largely driven by performance. Wood and slate shingles and clay tiles were the predominant roofing choice until the. Here s a quick look at some of that 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.

Roof materials at the dawn of civilization. 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. 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. This chapter begins with a brief history of roof coverings used in england and then summarises how roofs must work to protect the building.