Old House Roof Structure

Along with a thorough understanding of any written history of the building a physical investigation of the roofing and its structure may reveal information about the roof s construction history.

Old house roof structure.

Such roofs are built with mostly timber take a number of different shapes and are covered with a variety of materials. A number of methods were used to form the wooden walls and the types of structural carpentry are often defined by the wall floor and roof construction such as log timber framed balloon framed or stacked plank. The shed roof or lean to is a roof having only one slope or pitch. Old photographs of the building might provide evidence of missing details.

Domestic roof construction is the framing and roof covering which is found on most detached houses in cold and temperate climates. The ceiling joists are laid out turned on edge usually 2x6 or 2x8 tall creating a flat level framework for the rest of the work. This reflects the weatherproofing requirements of older roofing materials like thatch and peg tiles. It is used where large buildings are framed under one roof where hasty or temporary construction is needed and where sheds or additions are erected.

The roof structure as a whole rests on beams the entablature which are in turn supported by the foundation below. A clerestory roof has an interior wall built extending above one section of the roof with this section of wall often lined with several windows or one long window. Some types of historic houses are called plank houses but plank house has several meanings which are discussed below. And with time something that an old house has had plenty of water will reduce the timber to a pathetic crumbled pile of compost.

Install a new roof including repair of any existing rot a major home restoration. Roofing an old house is not a very complicated job as a rule. A composite decking made of solid materials it resembles real wood and particularly strong and stable for bearing heavy load. American historic carpentry is the historic methods with which wooden buildings were built in what is now the united states since european settlement.

The roof is held up by walls or posts where one wall or the posts on one side are at a higher level than those on the. Any sign of moisture should be addressed immediately it could be coming from deteriorated roofing for which the fix is obvious. What tends to muddy the waters is the problem of trying to work out what the house originally had on top and whether the current roof structure is strong enough to carry what is actually now there. A horizontal timber or metal resting at the peak of the roof the rafters and trusses are connected to the ridge board for a cohesive framework.

The finished structure is readily adaptable.