Roofing materials can have major part in a building's appearance. Many buildings have had three or four different roofing materials during the course of their lifespan. If you want to find the original roofing material, there are several places you can look for clues. One is GHF's Preservation Resource Center, where we have copies of insurance records for many of Galveston's oldest buildings. These can often be used to find the date of construction, past owners, dates of improvements or additions, etc. You can also gather clues to your house's past roofs by looking around the dripline of the roof, in holes dug close to the building and even in the recesses of the attic. As wood shake or slate shingle roofs were replaced, small parts of the material would often fall into the attic. Bits of slate can be used to match color samples of composition shingles that meet current windload code requirements. Some companies, such as CertainTeed offer shingles that mimic the look of true slate roofs. It is a local myth that slate shingles were outlawed after the 1900 Storm, because of damage and dismemberment that may have been caused. This is not true.
Other materials that have been popular on Galveston roofs over the years are pressed metal shingles, asbestos shingles (0ften called "slate") and glazed clay tiles. We have examples of many of these materials in the Preservation Resource Center. There are some metal shingles being produced today that have received windstorm ratings. Examples of these and other roofing materials can be found at GHF's Salvage Warehouse at 908 23rd Street.
The Texas Department of Insurance has published a brochure "What to Ask Builders, Realtors, Roofers and Yourself About Protecting Your Home from Hurricanes, High Winds and Hail". It has useful information about proper roof decking, attic ventilation and windstorm connections, when making additions or repairs.
http://flash.org/resources/files/Texas%20Publication.pdf
Before beginning any project (and especially before giving the contractor any money up front), do your homework and make sure they are registered with the City of Galveston's Planning Department (409) 797-3660, are bonded and secure the proper permits.
Other materials that have been popular on Galveston roofs over the years are pressed metal shingles, asbestos shingles (0ften called "slate") and glazed clay tiles. We have examples of many of these materials in the Preservation Resource Center. There are some metal shingles being produced today that have received windstorm ratings. Examples of these and other roofing materials can be found at GHF's Salvage Warehouse at 908 23rd Street.
The Texas Department of Insurance has published a brochure "What to Ask Builders, Realtors, Roofers and Yourself About Protecting Your Home from Hurricanes, High Winds and Hail". It has useful information about proper roof decking, attic ventilation and windstorm connections, when making additions or repairs.
http://flash.org/resources/files/Texas%20Publication.pdf
Before beginning any project (and especially before giving the contractor any money up front), do your homework and make sure they are registered with the City of Galveston's Planning Department (409) 797-3660, are bonded and secure the proper permits.
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