Restoring the Roof on Your Heritage Building
Are you planning a heritage restoration? From churches to shops and even older homes, there are buildings all over the country that have fallen into a state of disrepair. Every day, investors purchase these homes to rebuild them and bring them back to their former glory. It’s a wonderful task that results in historical buildings being rebuilt and shown off to the public.
If you want to restore a piece of history and a bit of the heritage of the area, you need to consider a number of factors. For example, if the original building was built of stone, you’ll need to find a stone mason who can rework the walls. The same goes for brick and other materials, including roofing.
Heritage roofing is a complicated process, since the original roofing is often in very poor condition. If it can be restored, all the better, but most buildings will require brand new roofing . . . which needs to look original. That means the roofer must be familiar with the various types of roofing and be able to redo it in an authentic manner.
In some cases, the original tiles or roofing pieces will be reused and this can be very delicate work. However, the end result is incredible, with a truly historic look.
Finding a Heritage Roofer
When looking for a heritage roofer, it’s important to look at the experience the roofer has. They should be able to direct you to several projects they’ve worked on and should have photos to look at. The ability to roof an older building is essential if you want a good job done.
The roofer should also be accomplished in designing roofs, since the originals may be in such bad repair that they need to be redesigned and built from the bottom up. Even existing roofs can require some planning and design. Many will need to be stripped down anyway and rebuilt, at least in some areas. The ability to work with the existing structure while improving and rebuilding is the mark of a true heritage roofer.
Further, there needs to be experience in working with the various roofing materials. Historical buildings use everything from slate tiles to cedar shake shingles and many other options. In order to truly restore the building, it’s essential that you use the same type of roofing. Someone who has never worked with shakes before, for example, will find it difficult to handle them, so you need someone who knows what they’re doing.
Do you need a heritage roofing project done? You can call James Dunn Roofing today for a free estimate and get started on your project.
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