Ever since prehistoric man built the first homes, there have been roofs. For most of roofing’s history, people used whatever was easily on hand to create their roofs. The earliest roofing materials ranged from primitive structures of earth and plants that provided no real protection from extreme weather or vermin, to the use of woolly mammoth skins for roofing material! Those early roofs had little resemblance to the modern roofs of today.

For centuries, the practice of using whatever suitable natural material was most commonly available persisted. Although roof tiles were being used in places like China, Greece and Babylon as long as 5,000 years ago, in many places thatched roofs made from reeds, straw or other dried vegetation were the most common. Unfortunately, although they were actually waterproof, thatched roofs were not fire retardant. In cities like London, where there were many houses close together, fires could tear through the streets at a frightening pace.

In today’s world we almost take our roofs for granted.  They protect us and our interiors from pests and the weather, help insulate our homes and even make our homes look more aesthetically pleasing. 

The rise of modern roofing materials

In the last 200 years or so, there have been many developments in roofing materials that have transformed the way we lay roofs.

By the 19th century, wood and slate shingles, and clay roof tiles were being mass-produced and were the most common choice of roofing material.  The first asphalt roofs were also laid in the 19th century – and quickly became popular due to their comparatively low production costs.

In the 20th century, the first concrete roof tiles were introduced, the first rubber roof was laid, and asphalt shingles were developed. Asphalt shingles quickly became the roofing material of choice for most buildings because they were suitable for most types of roof and also low cost in comparison to other materials like slate. Currently, around 80% of U.S homes have roofs made from asphalt shingles, and they’re certainly one of the most common roofing materials in the Philadelphia area.

Rubber has remained a popular choice for commercial buildings and flat or low-slope roofs. It’s low-cost and hard-wearing and tends to require very little maintenance.

Natural and Eco-Friendly roofing materials

In more recent years, there has been a trend towards choosing eco-friendly roofing options like slate, and recycled EDPM rubber roofs. Slate in particular, has the added advantage of being very aesthetically pleasing – but it’s not suitable for every home.

Luckily, given the many developments in roofing materials over the last century, there are dozens of options available for residential and commercial roofs. So, if you need your roof repaired or replaced, you can select the very best option for your roof from various roofing materials.

At Pace Roofing, we’ve been repairing, replacing and installing roofs in Philadelphia and the Tri-state area for over 20 years. We help our customers choose the very best roofing materials from all of the available options.

If you want to find out more about the roofing materials available, why not contact us today to see how we can help you make the right choice for your residential or commercial roof?