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When one thinks of a roof on a building, one tends to think about tiles or slate, however this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to roofing. Admittedly, the vast majority of buildings in London will have a number of different names, including inverted pitch roof, butterfly roof and even the London Roof. It is a pitched roof, but it generally cannot be seen from ground level as it is concealed behind a parapet wall. Although these are the most common types of roof in London, there are many others to be found if you look up. Below we will look at just some of the roofing types and various differences that can be found in and around London.
A Dormer is often considered to simply be a window, but is in fact a separate smaller roofed structure protruding above a main roof. The window is fitted into the dormer itself. Dormers add space in the roof or lost area of a building.
Dormers are often additions to a building many years after the build has been completed. They often become a part of a loft conversion, allowing the home owner to make more from their unused roofspace. In recent decades roof lights have often been added instead of dormers due to their low cost, these are frequently referred to as Velux roof light or windows.
Parapets are used in combination with the roof types that are listed above. The main walls of the building continues up hiding the eaves of the roof. Parapets are often used on taller buildings, where maintenance to eaves can be difficult. Parapets were made very popular in London after the Building Act of 1707 was introduced. The Act banned the projecting wooden eaves to reduce the risk of fire spreading to neighbouring buildings. The style became fashionable during Georgian times.
Agricultural buildings such as cattle sheds or corrugated metal barns and haylofts are often simple curved corrugated iron roofs. However, nicer looking roofing materials can be used which means they are now very popular amongst new buildings and there are some very interesting looking buildings that have curved roofs.
St Pauls Cathedral in London has got to be the most famous example of a domed roof.
Conical roofs. These can still be seen in oast, oast house or hop kiln houses. These are buildings designed for kilning or drying hops as part of the brewing process. They can be found in most hop growing and former hop growing areas around the country and are often good examples of vernacular architecture. Many old disused oasts have now been converted into houses or even shopping centres. The conical roofs were designed to channel hot air up through the kiln.
Windmill pivoting roofs. These are often called Onion cap roofs.
Opening roofs. Stadiums and Observatories will often have opening roofs. Some modern shopping malls and even railway stations employ them too.
Nowadays there is such a large choice of materials for use in roof construction, including different metals and glass which can produce interesting and imaginative shapes and some quite stunning results.
Grid shell roof: This is not a particularly well used method of roof construction. The entire building structure is constructed from a lattice grid of thin wood or steel. This allows for more unusual shapes to be achieved.
Roof designs and shapes differ a great deal. The style may be down to a personal preference of the homeowner, or it may be dictated by the local authority. For example, in some parts of London there are restrictions on having roofs designed in a particular way and even restrictions as to what type of material covers the roof, this all comes under the remit of planning conditions.
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Your roof takes a real battering every single year, particularly during the winter, which is why T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Specialists are always ready to provide our customers in London with professional roofing work and repair services.
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When searching for a roofing contractor, you should take a few steps to ensure you select the best roofer for your budget. Following each step of the process protects you from being duped by unscrupulous rogue traders. T. J. Copping Roofing Ltd Roofing Specialists, offers this guide to finding aprofessional and reliable roofing contractor.
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While the roof of your home is an important part of life, you very rarely pay any real attention to it. You may not notice a problem until something goes wrong. It's a good idea to know what causes damage to a roof so even if you can't get up there to inspect it yourself, you should be aware of what may create a potential problem.
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If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 01438 229 655, email us at enquiries@tjcoppingroofing.com or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
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