Historical homes hold a lot of value and are architectural treasures in neighborhoods across the country. People who are lucky enough to own historical properties often go out of their way to keep their homes as close to their original build and design as possible while still keeping these properties energy-efficient and functional in modern times.
When you own a historical home in Kansas City or a surrounding area, one of your goals is to restore the home to its original integrity. This can appear difficult to do when you also have to maintain the home so it’s livable and modern in its functionality, but there are several ways you can restore a historical home to its original allure without compromising its modern conveniences.
One of the ways you can accomplish restoring your historical home is by focusing on its roof. The roof is one of the most essential and costly investments you can make in your property and will last for years to come when done correctly and professionally. Learn why you should invest in your historical home’s roof. You’ll also learn essential roofing tips for maintaining your roof.
Why Should You Invest In Your Historical Home’s Roof?
Your home’s roof is what keeps your home protected in several ways. Not only does your roof keep out insects, weather, and rain, but it also insulates your home and keeps warmth and coolness where it should be. This increases your home’s energy efficiency and overall comfort.
Investing in your historical home via hiring Kansas City roofers to maintain or repair your roofing structure helps you keep your home as original as possible. While you will have to replace or upgrade elements of your home’s roof over time to keep it more protective and energy-efficient, when you take care of your historical roof, you can maintain as much of its original integrity as possible.
Tips For Restoring Your Historical Home
There are a surprising number of tips you can utilize in restoring your historical home’s roof to its original luster and design. Or, you can simply use these tips to maximize the usefulness and functionality of your roof so it lasts even longer. Your professional roofer can make these large or small improvements to your home’s roof to keep it true to its times — even if many of the elements are modern in design and function.
Choose Historic Colors
Traditional historic rooftops were often colorful in design, favoring colors like rich red and dark green. Whatever roofing materials you choose for your roof, you can incorporate these historical hues into your home’s roofing design to maintain its historical value.
You can choose the roofing color for your Kansas City-based historical home depending on whether the rest of your home’s exterior favors warm or cool tones. Lighter homes will favor lighter tones of red, green, and similar historic rooftop colors, while cooler or darker-colored homes will fare better with darker roofs. Whether you use asphalt shingles, wood shakes, or tin for your roof, you can incorporate traditional colors into your historic home’s roofing design.
Utilize Similar Roofing Materials
It’s not always easy to use the same roofing materials as your historic home’s original rooftop. After all, some materials are inconvenient or not as energy-efficient as newer roofs (such as straw) and other materials are either dangerous or are no longer in production (such as asphalt shingles). However, you can utilize either similar or replicated versions of your home’s original roof to maintain its integrity.
Here are some roofing materials to consider for your historic home, based on when it was built, what Kansas weather you’re protecting your home against, and the overall condition of your historical home.
Wood Shakes
Wood shakes are classic, traditional roofing options that bring charm and beauty to any historic home. You can consider wood shingles as well. Not only are wood shingles and shakes beautiful to admire, but they are also naturally insulating.
Tile
Tile is not only a beautiful material to restore your historic home, but it’s energy-sound as well. Tile is great for redirecting the sun’s rays so your attic doesn’t overheat and cause the rest of your home to be too hot, and can also help insulate your home. Most tile materials are also fire-resistant.
Copper Metal
Metal is a common roofing material that is weather, fire, and damage-resistant. You can also use metal to restore your historical roof. Copper has a lot of historical value, so you can incorporate copper elements into your home’s roofing design.
Stone
Stone is another option for your Kansas City historical home and makes for durable, gorgeous roofing if you have a broader budget. Stone can be used in various areas of the home to tie your entire property together, so your home may already have elements of stone in its walking paths or entryways, floors, or patio.
Replicate Ornate Features
Historical homes often have ornate features, such as weather vanes, gutter systems, and other fancy elements modern homes don’t have. If you wish to incorporate these features into your historical roof’s design, let your roofer know.
Restoring Your Historical Home’s Roof
Restoring your historical home’s roof helps reinforce your entire home’s structure and allows it to maintain its durability and energy efficiency for years to come. Continue to work with your roofing contractor to have your roof inspected as recommended to keep it in its best condition for years to come.