[MassHistPres] Architectural Shingles

[Dennis De Witt]

I would take partial exception to Charles' comments.  For pre-20th C  
buildings in this area on the whole I think there is no ideal roofing  
material other that the original materials, which as far as I know  
were predominately wood shingle or slate.  (In the mid-Atlantic area  
metal was also widely used in the 19th C.)  Furthermore, depending on  
the class of house, wood and slate continued to be widely used right  
through the 1920s and the depression.

I would suggest that, at least based on my memory from 50 plus years  
ago, of pre-WWII roofs on late 19th and early 20th C buildings  
throughout the midwest and south, even among asphalt roofs, three  
tabbed roofs were far from the universal norm, especially on more  
modest and urban houses.  Very often asphalt was applied in octagonal  
"tiles" which incorporated an interlocking anti-lift woven tab  
system.  And not-infrequently, in modest urban cottages asphalt was  
rolled on -- just one step above tar paper, which you sometimes also  
saw.  And there were other materials, such as cement asbestos, which  
again was often laid with octagonal exposures or sometimes with a  
Rhineland type of sidelap.

While flat three-tabbed asphalt may be an appropriate "original"  
material for some 20th C houses, for most it presents an  
inappropriate dead flat surface which has neither the surface relief  
of wood shingles nor the hard substantiality or appropriate scale of  
exposure of slate.

While some "architectural" asphalt shingle patterns clearly are "over  
the top" in terms of pattern or texture.  Others offer an opportunity  
to give a roof a more appropriate sense of texture and/or scale.   I  
would argue that we need to consider which patterns and colors are  
historically approximate in these respects and begin to craft our  
guidelines accordingly.

(If I might be a little polemical, asphalt shingles are just dressed  
up tar paper.  We are about the only country in the world with a  
tradition of using such a crummy insubstantial, short lived,  
unnatural, polluting (not to mention flammable) material on our  
roofs.  On older houses asphalt roofing deserve the same respect as  
aluminum siding.)

If it hasn't already been done, here is a suggestion for a  
preservation studies thesis on roofing.  We need some surveys of  
building permits in different types of areas -- urban, suburban,  
small town, rural -- from the mid-19th through the mid-20th centuries  
to quantify the proportions of which types of roofs were originally  
used on new construction. This could correlate to a catalogue of the  
types of asphalt roofs being used and perhaps some attempt made at  
quantification of the illustrations of and advertisements for them in  
shelter magazines.   It would also be helpful to know the frequency  
of use and the types of oils and stains or other treatments that were  
applied to wooden roof shingles -- something I recall still being  
done when I was as a kid right after WWII.

Dennis De Witt




On Jun 23, 2006, at 1:14 PM, Sullivan, Charles M. wrote:

> We also strongly prefer conventional three-tab shingles, preferably  
> in a neutral color like charcoal (not black), and we require an  
> application for a Certificate if the owner wants to install  
> anything else.
>
> Architectural shingles are a relatively recent innovation that make  
> a modern design statement; they don't really resemble any  
> traditional material like wood or slate. Three-tabs are innocuous  
> and have been around since the early 20th century.
>
> ________________________________
> Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
> Cambridge Historical Commission
> 831 Massachusetts Avenue
> Cambridge, Mass.  02139
> 617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu]On Behalf Of Anne Forbes
> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 2:26 PM
> To: sbragdon at comcast.net; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Cc: HDC at acton-ma.gov
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Architectural Shingles
>
>
> Susan--
>
> The Acton bylaw includes the exclusions for in-kind replacement or  
> "color of
> material used on roofs," but if an applicant wants to replace 3-tab  
> shingles
> with "architectural," our commission does require an application and a
> Certificate of Appropriateness.
>
> Since there are many different styles, we ask to see samples and/or
> manufacturers' cut sheets.  Then we approve a shingle that we feel is
> reasonably compatible with the character of the building and the  
> district,
> but at the same time we make it clear that 3-tab shingles are  
> preferred.
> (Though I've heard that fewer manufacturers will be making them in the
> future.)
>
> Anne Forbes
> Acton HDC
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Susan Bragdon" <sbragdon at comcast.net>
> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 11:33 AM
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Architectural Shingles
>
>
>>
>> I am looking for input as to other Historic Districts feelings on
>> architectural shingles vs the 3 tab asphalt.  I am on the Marblehead
>> Historic Districts Commission and more and more people are looking  
>> for the
>> AS.  Any input would be great.  Thank you.
>>
>> Susan Bragdon
>> Marblehead Historic Districts Commission Member
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres