There are many reasons to be interested in ancient roofing styles. While most of the world has moved on from the roofs of the past, there are still many ancient structures that have not decayed, and which remain standing today.
There are even a few ancient structures whose roofs have not been replaced over time like some churches and other religious buildings which were constructed with flat roofs.
Most ancient roofing styles fall into one of two categories: ornamental or structural.
In the ornamental category, the main purpose is to look good while in the structural category, the main purpose is to shelter you from the elements.
Ornamental roofs tend to be made of materials with a low melting point, such as copper, bronze, or lead while structural roofs tend to be made of materials with a high melting point, such as iron, steel, or zinc.
It’s also possible for roofs to be both ornamental and structural.
A specific example of an ancient roofing style is Terracotta tiles. These beauties were the first to pave the way for the majority of today’s modern roofs. The ancient Romans used them in their homes because of their durability and low cost.
Another ancient roofing style is thatch. Thatch is a little more expensive than terracotta tiles, but it has its advantages: It can keep your home cool during the hottest days of summer. Many people still choose this style today!
In addition to the list is concrete. According to archaeologists, concrete was actually used as far back as 700 BC in the Middle East and Asia Minor.
The truth is that there are many ancient roofing styles, and they’re all pretty fascinating.
