Roof coverings

Roof coverings for historic buildings

With a historic building, the roof is probably the most important feature to maintain as it provides a first line of defence against the elements - it keeps the building's fabric dry, sound, and therefore free from decay and deterioration. The colour and texture of a roof can also have a visual impact, which can affect the appearance and significance of:

the building itself
the setting of adjacent buildings
the character and appearance of an area

Whether you will need to apply for Listed Building Consent will depend on the extent and type of work proposed, and the specific circumstances of the roof.

A general rule to follow is that patch repairs which amount to no more than 50% of one roof slope, and carried out in materials to match the existing, would not need consent. Anything over this amount - or stripping a roof slope, and re-laying the existing coverings - would need consent.

Salvageable materials should always be reused, where possible.

Lifting and re-laying an entire thatched roof covering will need Listed Building Consent. Small scale ridge replacement - or the installation of a spar coat in matching materials - would not generally need formal consent.

If you are unsure as to whether consent is needed, you should contact our Heritage team before you start works. You should also contact our Building Control team, to find out whether the works need a building control application. You might need to contact an ecologist to learn whether the works could affect a Protected Species (such as bats).

Traditional roof materials

Older, timber framed buildings would probably have been originally roofed with either thatch or oak shingles, depending on which materials were available. Longstraw thatch is the most traditional material found in our districts and should be retained - having a characteristically steeper pitch of about 50ᵒ.

Eventually, clay peg tiles replaced some of our thatched roofs. These eventually evolved into plain tiles, once nails began to be used to fix them to roofs. In our districts, they are made of red or orange clay and are found on fairly steeply pitched between roofs of about 45ᵒ.

Traditional handmade plain tiles are slightly curved along the short and long sides. Machine made clay tiles are far flatter and have a more uniform appearance - and are a poor substitute for the handmade examples.

Clay pantiles were used more commonly from the eighteenth century onward - once it became easier to move materials around the country, and they became cheaper. Pantiles are usually 'S' shaped in section, but can sometimes be found in the 'Roman' style. The latter style have a tighter roll and a flat section, or a double roll. They are usually made of red or orange clay. However, in some areas - particularly in the north of Suffolk - they are finished with a black glaze. When found on houses, they are often located on rear roof slopes or on outbuildings. They can also be found on agricultural buildings.

In the nineteenth century, the creation of the railways meant that slate from Wales, Cornwall and Cumbria were often used in our area. Roofs are normally pitched at around 30ᵒ, and are more effective than other smaller tiles at a lower pitch. Slates come in a range of traditional sizes, but their width is usually wider than half their length.

Lead - and sometimes other sheet metals, such as copper or zinc - can be found used as roof coverings. They were often used for flashings and gutters, too. As metal was expensive, it was mostly used on church roofs. They're usually laid at a fairly low pitch, with the sheets joined with lead rolls.

Corrugated iron has almost become a traditional material in its own right. It was often used as a lightweight repair material (usually where thatch had failed). It's also found on agricultural buildings, and has a semi-industrial character. Corrugated iron weathers over time, which gives it a pleasing patina.

Concrete roof tiles - including interlocking imitation pantiles and plain tiles, artificial slates, and other modern imitations - should not be used as alternative materials for historic buildings. These machine-made items are often too regular in shape, do not weather well, and can be too heavy for traditional timber roof structures.

Modern sheet materials like fibreglass, plastic, or asbestos are also inappropriate and should not be used.

Traditional roof details

The detailing of historic roofs also contributes to their character. Often, it is most appropriate to replicate the existing detailing.

We have listed below a list of common features - with advice on their most appropriate finish:

Ridges

Ridges are found at the top of the roof, where the roof slopes meet. Traditionally, in thatch buildings, this would have been plain - with more decorative ridges becoming popular later on. Rounded red clay ridge tiles are often found on tiled roofs, with 'V' shaped tiles in blue or red clay more commonly found on slate roofs.

Hips

Hips are found on a hipped roof, where two sloping roofs meet. They are usually finished in a similar way to ridges and are more often found on plain tiled or slate roofs. Lead rolls are sometimes used for ridges and hips (most commonly on slate roofs).

Verges

Verges are found at the sloping edges of roofs. When tile or slate roofs project beyond a gable wall, the battens are sometimes trimmed and edges are pointed up with lime mortar. Alternatively, timber bargeboards are used - which in Suffolk, would traditionally have a capping strip along the top and over the tiles.

Abutments

Abutments are found where a roof ends against other roofs or walls. Lead flashing is the most appropriate detail, as cement fillet haunchings are prone to cracking, and causing leaks.

Valleys

Valleys are found in the dip where two roof slope meet - the opposite of a ridge, or a hip. They are usually best detailed in lead, although swept valley clay tiles found on plain tile roofs should be retained as a traditional detail. A lead gutter is sometimes found in valleys, and should be kept well-maintained.

Eaves

Eaves are found along the bottom edge of roof slopes. They should be kept well-maintained, as they ensure that rainwater is shed off the roof. Traditionally, gutters were made of cast iron and - where present - should be retained and repaired.

Have another question? Contact us

If you haven't found the information you were looking for on this webpage, please read our Roof Coverings - Traditional Materials, Repairs and Detailing Guidance (which covers this topic much more extensively).

If you still need further advice, please contact our Heritage team.

Email heritage@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Phone 0300 123 4000 (Option 5, then Option 3)

Write to us:

Heritage Team

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

8 Russell Road

Ipswich

IP1 2BX

Pre-application advice

We also offer a pre-application advice service, which can include a site visit, meeting, and written response.

Get pre-application advice

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