The various roofing systems we use today have come a long way since our ancestors first built theirs out of thatch, mud and animal skin. During those times, roofing contractors literally had no business to exist. Today, roofing materials are commonplace. But, how did modern roofs come to be? In this post, Lankford Roofing and Construction LLC talks about the history of roofs.
In the Beginning
Roofs have existed ever since the dawn of humanity. Roof prototypes were fashioned out of thatches, reeds, mud, animal skin and any other natural materials available to our predecessors. These roofing materials don’t stand much chance against external elements and were extremely prone to leaks and fire hazards. The Great Fire of London in 1666 was said to have reached its critical mass due to the thatched roofs that were so prevalent at that time. After the conflagration, citizens started using clay tiles instead.
Meanwhile in Other Parts of the World
Glazed clay tiles were used by the Chinese around 3,000 BC, long before the rest of the world had figured out how to waterproof their roofs. Around this time, earthen tiles were the primary roofing materials of the Greeks and Babylonians. Greece fell to Rome, and the Romans then brought clay tiles to Britain. During this period, clay roofing was a fairly new concept, so as you can imagine, roof repair contractors were unheard of back then.
A notable ancient roofing system is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Its modern-day equivalent is our rooftop gardens, also called living roofs, pioneered by the Germans back in 1940s.
Moving Forward
The Industrial Revolution gave rise to numerous important inventions, including the brick-making machine. Before this point, bricks were handmade until around 1885. Clay roofing tiles were also starting to gain traction around this time. Concrete and asphalt were introduced as roofing materials 100 years later. In Northeast America, slate roofs were the norm while the Southern parts of North America preferred wooden and metal roofing materials. The rest, they say, is history.
Today, roofing systems and materials have become more advanced and more efficient in providing shelter and protection from external elements. Lankford Roofing and Construction LLC is committed to providing you with excellent roofing systems. We also offer window replacement services. You may contact us at (903) 465-7677 or (580) 920-1433. We serve Sherman and other areas in Texas, including Denison.
