Victorian Roof Structure

Carved brackets at the eaves were common.

Victorian roof structure.

Complex roof lines became the rage as architects worked to create designs that would pull the eye to the top of the house. New siding materials and ornate trim pieces gave way to fancier home designs. Failure is usually due to the nail fixings becoming corroded causing the slates to slip although with age slates can eventually start to absorb water and become soft. Roof terminology is also not rigidly defined.

The roof structure is also likely to be the oldest and least altered part of a historic building which can yield important information about its age and significance. Usages vary slightly from region to region or from one builder or architect to another. Poorly replaced roof coverings. Lightweight hardwearing and long lasting welsh slate was the most common victorian roof covering.

Roof shapes became steeper in victorian homes. Roof shapes differ greatly from region to region. Slate was commonly used to cover the roofs of victorian buildings and it is not uncommon to see roofs where the original slates have been replaced with concrete tiles. The victorian style building dominated architectural design between the 1830s and 1910s.

The main factors which influence the shape of roofs are the climate and the materials available for roof structure and the outer covering. Although the buildings of this 80 year period shared many similarities there were also noticeable differences between victorian era buildings constructed at different times.