Roof Shingle History

Check out this early piece of shingle sales literature from the company.

Roof shingle history.

Greece and babylon used flat earthenware roof tiles between 4 000 and 5 000 years ago. Asphalt roof shingles were invented around 1901 in grand rapids mi by h m. Pretty innovative for the time right. Certigrade handbook of red cedar shingles red cedar shingle bureau 1957.

Like many things we take for granted today those beautiful architectural multi layered shingles that give your home much of its curb appeal had humble beginnings. Wooden shingle roofs were prevalent in the north american colonies while in central and southern europe at the same time thatch slate and tile were the prev. People within particular regions developed preferences for the local species of wood that most suited their purposes. Copper was also a popular choice for public buildings in ancient rome.

Before the invention of the asphalt shingle a different process known asasphalt prepared roofingwas used. Around 735 ad thatched roofs were developed and used. Shingles are laid in courses usually with each shingle offset from its neighbors. Wood shingles are thin tapered pieces of wood primarily used to cover roofs and walls of buildings to protect them from the weather.

The shingle typology has been revived in the 21st century for roofing and siding applications typically in higher end projects. At tamko the popular heritage shingle series features the best roofing colors on the market that are backed by a brand name recognized for its rich history core values of honesty and integrity quality products and processes authority with building professionals and support for its community. Cedar shingles commonly topped residential structures through the 19th century but were supplanted in popularity in the 20th century by asphalt. The ancient egyptians used aluminum and alum compounds to strengthen their roofing.

In 1933 the ruberoid co. Historically shingles were split from straight grained knot free bolts of wood. Today shingles are mostly made by being cut which distinguishes them from shakes which are made by being split out of a bolt. Around 300 bc the loha maha paya temple in sri lanka had a roof made of copper shingles one of the first known instances of this material being used in this way.

Shingle is a corruption of german schindle schindel meaning a roofing slate. Wood shingles were introduced 300 years later. 1967 today s most popular shingle. It was back around 1840 when coal tar was first used to saturate layers of felt to produce a rolled sheet.

The size and shape of the shingles as well as the detailing of the shingle roof differed according to regional craft practices. Shingles historically were called tiles and shingle was a term applied to wood shingles as is still mostly the case outside the us.