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Scottish architecture has a very distinctive look. Many of the older homes are built from local materials including stone and then roofed with locally quarried slates. It is fascinating to see how the use of these materials has developed into a beautiful style. But the question remains, why was Scotch slate used to slate roofs in Glasgow?
Prior to the industrial revolution, Glasgow had merely been a small town on the river Clyde. Yet its good geographical location on the west coast made it an important manufacturing and port town. This created a huge demand for housing and a brisk trade in locally quarried roofing slates.
The west coast quarries of Easdale and Ballachulish are probably the best known and most productive areas. They continued to be worked well into the 1950's. After that new and cheaper materials became available and the quarries were closed down as they could not run at a profit. The slates produced by the Scottish quarries were also of more random lengths and widths, making them unsuitable for more commercial sales.
It is amazing to realize that the roofs can last up to one hundred and fifty years. This makes them very cost effective. Many of the slates now being used have been recycled from older buildings and are sold as mainly patching materials for existing roofs. Many people in Glasgow want to preserve the historic look and beauty of their original roof.
A very distinct local style quickly developed. The thicker slates were secured at the bottom of the roof and the thinner ones were placed further up. This provided the best rain and snow proofing in the harsh Scottish winters. It also created a very unique style that is still admired today. The Scottish home or cottage is a very strong and functional building, yet it also has a wonderful charm.
Most of the Scottish tiles are considered random. The lengths and widths tend to vary. It is probably this lack of uniformity that prevented them from being exported on a more wide scale level. Local craftsmen are still able to detect a unique look, or fingerprint, to each type of tile and know its inherent qualities.
A response to the climate and also the abundance of good local materials is the answer to why wasscotch slate used to slate roofs in Glasgow. Many of the roofs are still holding up well today. They must be inspected regularly to check for ware and tear. If more than twenty to twenty five percent of the tiles are damaged it may be worth replacing the entire roof.
Prior to the industrial revolution, Glasgow had merely been a small town on the river Clyde. Yet its good geographical location on the west coast made it an important manufacturing and port town. This created a huge demand for housing and a brisk trade in locally quarried roofing slates.
The west coast quarries of Easdale and Ballachulish are probably the best known and most productive areas. They continued to be worked well into the 1950's. After that new and cheaper materials became available and the quarries were closed down as they could not run at a profit. The slates produced by the Scottish quarries were also of more random lengths and widths, making them unsuitable for more commercial sales.
It is amazing to realize that the roofs can last up to one hundred and fifty years. This makes them very cost effective. Many of the slates now being used have been recycled from older buildings and are sold as mainly patching materials for existing roofs. Many people in Glasgow want to preserve the historic look and beauty of their original roof.
A very distinct local style quickly developed. The thicker slates were secured at the bottom of the roof and the thinner ones were placed further up. This provided the best rain and snow proofing in the harsh Scottish winters. It also created a very unique style that is still admired today. The Scottish home or cottage is a very strong and functional building, yet it also has a wonderful charm.
Most of the Scottish tiles are considered random. The lengths and widths tend to vary. It is probably this lack of uniformity that prevented them from being exported on a more wide scale level. Local craftsmen are still able to detect a unique look, or fingerprint, to each type of tile and know its inherent qualities.
A response to the climate and also the abundance of good local materials is the answer to why wasscotch slate used to slate roofs in Glasgow. Many of the roofs are still holding up well today. They must be inspected regularly to check for ware and tear. If more than twenty to twenty five percent of the tiles are damaged it may be worth replacing the entire roof.
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If you have thought about why was Scotch slate used to slate roofs in Glasgow, the answer may be seen when you visit the website for builders in Glasgow right here. More information and qualifications for roofers in Glasgow is available online now.
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