When a Historic Home Needs a New Roof

According to the National Register of Historic Places, there are currently 79 individual landmark properties and 16 historic districts in Sarasota County.  These properties and neighborhoods are named because it has been determined that they are worthy of preservation due to their historical significance.

Districts like Laurel Park and Burns Court are well-known for their charming homes and cobblestone streets. If you own a home in one of these communities – or any of the historic districts in Sarasota – you may find it challenging when home renovations are necessary. People who love old homes want to preserve their personality, but the city also is likely to have rules regarding any renovations.  When your historic home needs a new roof, what do you do?

Old House, New Roof

In general, the boards governing historic homes expect any remodeling project to be executed in a way which is respectful and sympathetic to the home’s historic character and importance. New roofs should resemble the original materials as much as possible, blend well with the home’s architectural style and design, and fit in with the overall neighborhood.

Many old homes had beautiful slate or stone roofs, materials which were very common for that time period. Although these roofs were exceptionally well made and durable – a stone roof is estimated to last a century or more – eventually, a new roof is necessary. There are several challenges involved in putting a new roof on a 150-year-old home.

• Aesthetics: This is the most visible issue you will have. Not only will you personally want to keep the character of the home, but the City Commission may also have strict guidelines as to how to best re-roof the property. Especially in historic districts, the homeowner may be required to replace with like materials, as the city is motivated to keep the home within the style parameters of the rest of the neighborhood. You may even be asked to investigate if the roof can be repaired rather than replaced. However, innovations in roofing materials have offered additional possible options. For instance, there are now asphalt shingle products which can mimic the look of a stone roof while delivering modern benefits such as cooling and energy efficiency.
• Structural Differences: Chances are excellent that an old slate roof is built on slats, not on a plywood deck like today’s homes. So even if you choose to replace an old stone roof with shingle, the shingles may need to be nailed differently – which could also void their warranty if not done correctly. A slat roof deck should also be reinforced with a more durable synthetic underlayment, rather than the normal felt underlayment.
• Ventilation Issues: The house has to have proper ventilation through the roof in order to “breathe”. This means that air must enter the roofing structure, as well as have a means of exit. Old homes do well in expelling the air but do not often have an efficient method of intake. With slate roofs being preferred on these homes, gaps between individual pieces allowed the house to breathe. However, when the century-old slate is replaced with contemporary, code-compliant asphalt shingles, those gaps disappear and ventilation becomes more challenging. The best option according to experts is continuous intake through vented soffits, and continuous exhaust via ridge vaults.

As our society often values the “new”, living or working in a historic home is a special opportunity not many will get to experience. If you own one of these amazing Sarasota homes or commercial properties and need a new roof, consult a Sarasota roofing expert for help in navigating the process. Call Avery Roof Services for any re-roof, roof installation, or roof repair projects.