Old West roofs.

[Zaheer]

There seems to be an awful lot of variation in roofing materials for western towns in the photographs I've looked at. My specific question relates to tar paper/felt roofs, were these contemporary or common? They are certainly easy to model!

[Cory]

Yes they were contemporary, more common late in the century and in the plains areas than in areas with plentiful wood.

Without shingles or planking rolled paper lasted a short time compared to the cost so probably overused by gamers, but acceptable.

[FifteensAway]

Corrugated tin, canvas, shingles, boards, sod -- or rolled felt paper?  Take your pick.

[Zaheer]

Brilliant, thanks. Shingles look most common in the photographs I've seen but It's nice to know I have other options.

[Michi]

There seems to be an awful lot of variation in roofing materials for western towns in the photographs I've looked at. My specific question relates to tar paper/felt roofs, were these contemporary or common? They are certainly easy to model!

I had asked the same question in another forum when I built my first old west buildings. I was told that wooden shingles were not used near to railways due to the sparkling and burning pieces of coal or wood that was exhausted by the steam locomotives and causing some roofs set on fire.

[Zaheer]

That's interesting, although it seems that any of those materials listed above (apart from corrugated iron) would have the same problem!

[Heisler]

I had asked the same question in another forum when I built my first old west buildings. I was told that wooden shingles were not used near to railways due to the sparkling and burning pieces of coal or wood that was exhausted by the steam locomotives and causing some roofs set on fire.

I'm not sure I would put much actual fact behind that statement. I can go through any number of photos in my books and point out, not only, buildings with wood shingles near the tracks but railroad stations as well!

[Cory]

Some municipalities did pass such ordinances, more simply required fireproofing. That could be brick or sand under the shingles. Most just burned periodically or went for water mains and fire hydrants. A few banned the use of wood by locomotives inside the city limits.