Preserving the Past: A Guide to Historic Home Roofing in Winchester, VA

Hexagon House Winchester Virginia

Walk down South Braddock Street, glance up at the rooflines along Washington Street, or admire the Victorian architecture on Fairmont Avenue, and you see exactly why we love Winchester. Our city isn’t just a place to live; it’s a living museum.

However, owning a piece of history in the Winchester Historic District comes with a unique set of responsibilities—especially when it comes to the roof.

At Winchester Roofing, we understand that replacing or restoring a roof in Old Town isn’t as simple as nailing down a layer of asphalt shingles. It involves navigating strict city guidelines, understanding the structural quirks of 100-year-old timber, and mastering materials that many modern roofers simply don't touch.

Whether you own a Federal-style rowhouse or a Queen Anne Victorian, this guide details the specific challenges of historic roofing in Winchester and how to navigate them.

1. The "BAR" Barrier: Navigating City Regulations

The first challenge of historic roofing in Winchester isn't physical—it's bureaucratic. If your property is located within the Winchester Historic District, exterior changes visible from a public street or right-of-way are subject to the Board of Architectural Review (BAR).

Many homeowners assume that if they are just "fixing a leak," they don't need permission. This is a risky assumption.

The Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)

Before significant work begins, you generally need a Certificate of Appropriateness. The BAR reviews applications to ensure that any changes preserve the architectural integrity of the district.

• In-Kind Replacement: If you are replacing a slate roof with identical new slate, or repainting a metal roof the same color, the process is often administrative and faster.

• Material Changes: If you want to swap a rusty tin roof for a modern architectural shingle, or even a newer metal system, you will face scrutiny. The BAR’s guidelines specifically state that new materials should match the visual characteristics of the historic material.

Pro Tip: "Industrial" metal roofing (the kind with wide ribs used on barns) is generally not approved for Old Town homes. You must use materials that mimic the traditional "standing seam" profile with the correct seam height and spacing.

2. The Metal Roof Challenge: Restoration vs. Replacement

Winchester is famous for its historic metal roofs—specifically the "standing seam" or "flat lock" metal roofs that have protected local homes for over a century.

Historically, these were often made of "terne metal" (steel coated with a lead-tin alloy) or copper. Today, homeowners face a difficult choice: restore the aging metal or replace it?

Option A: Restoration (Cleaning & Painting)

If the metal panels are intact but rusty, restoration is often the most cost-effective and historically accurate route.

• The Process: We don't just slap paint on rust. The roof must be properly scraped, primed with a rust-inhibitive primer, and coated with a high-quality DTM (Direct-to-Metal) paint.

• Historic Colors: The BAR encourages traditional colors. In Winchester, you’ll frequently see Tinner’s Red, Forest Green, Black, and Silver/Aluminum.

• The Benefit: A properly maintained tin roof can last 100+ years. Restoration keeps the original material out of the landfill and maintains the authentic "patina" of the home.

Option B: Replacement (Modern Standing Seam)

Sometimes, the metal is too thin, or the seams have split beyond repair. In this case, we install new 24-gauge steel standing seam roofs.

• The Challenge: We must ensure the "pan width" (the distance between the raised seams) matches the historic proportions of the house. Modern wide panels can look out of place on a delicate Victorian turret.

• Snow Guards: On these slick metal surfaces, snow slides off in dangerous sheets. We install historically appropriate snow guards (sometimes called snow birds) to break up the snowpack and protect pedestrians (and your gutters) below.

3. Slate Roofing: The "Forever" Roof

Slate is the gold standard of historic roofing, seen on many of the grandest homes in Winchester. A slate roof can easily last 150 years, but it is fragile if handled incorrectly.

The "Walking" Risk

The biggest threat to a slate roof is an inexperienced roofer walking on it. Slate is stone; it doesn't bend. If a repairman steps on the center of a tile, it will crack. At Winchester Roofing, we use roof brackets and chicken ladders to distribute weight and ensure we never walk directly on the slate during repairs.

The "Nail Sickness" Problem

Often, the slate tiles are perfectly fine, but the iron nails holding them have rusted away. This leads to tiles sliding out of place. We specialize in slate repair, which involves carefully removing the damaged slate, sliding a new copper or stainless steel hook underneath, and re-securing the tile without disturbing the surrounding roof.

4. Structural Challenges: What Lies Beneath

When we tear off an old roof in Winchester, we are rarely greeted by clean, flat plywood. We are usually looking at the construction methods of the 1800s or early 1900s.

Skip Sheathing (Spaced Decking)

Many historic homes were built with "skip sheathing"—boards spaced 2-3 inches apart to allow cedar shake roofs to breathe.

• The Issue: You cannot install modern asphalt shingles or certain metal underlayments over gaps. There is nothing to nail into!

• The Fix: We often have to "re-deck" the entire roof with OSB or plywood to create a solid nailing surface. This adds weight and slightly raises the roof height, which can complicate how the roof meets your siding or fascia.

Built-In Gutters (Box Gutters)

Classic Winchester architecture often features "box gutters"—gutters that are actually built into the roof overhang rather than hanging off the edge.

• The Danger: When these leak, they don't leak outside; they leak inside your soffit and walls, causing massive rot that you might not see for years.

• The Solution: We reline these box gutters with copper or EPDM rubber membrane to ensure they are watertight while preserving the historic molding on the exterior.

5. Slope & Safety: The Steep Pitch Factor

Victorian and Gothic Revival homes in Winchester are vertical by design. Roof pitches of 12/12 (a 45-degree angle) or steeper are common.

This isn't just a challenge for installation; it affects how the roof performs.

• Ventilation: Steep roofs naturally draft hot air upwards. If the attic isn't properly ventilated with ridge vents or gable vents, that heat gets trapped, baking your shingles from the bottom up and shortening their lifespan.

• Safety: These projects require advanced safety harnesses and scaffolding. We treat every historic project as a major construction site, ensuring the safety of our crew and the protection of your landscaping.

Conclusion: Trust the Locals

Your historic home is a major investment and a piece of Winchester’s legacy. Don’t trust it to a "storm chaser" or an out-of-town crew who doesn't know a gable from a gambrel—or the phone number for the Winchester Board of Architectural Review.

At Winchester Roofing, we are locals. We know the codes, we respect the history, and we have the craftsmanship to ensure your roof lasts for the next chapter of your home’s story.

Do you have a historic home in need of a roof inspection or metal roof painting? Contact us today for a consultation. We can help walk you through the material selection and, if necessary, assist with the BAR approval process.

Winchester Roofing 6 S Braddock St, Winchester, VA 22601 (540) 315-1125 www.roofingwinchester.com