Victorian flat roofs?

[Andrew May]

Hi everyone, the last few weeks I've been working on sorting out some terrain for my Steam and Aether game. I'm hoping to make some modular pieces that are more suited to game play then for representing say, actual 19th century buildings. Some of the structures will be terrorist terraced, allowing you to put your figures on the "roofs", the buildings will probably be brick with iron frames.

The question I wanted to ask you all was, what material should I present the roofs as? Concrete, tarpaper, flags/tiles, iron? Given that it's a steampunk setting and not supposed to be necessarily realistic in any way, just something that would be load-bearing but actually look like a roofing material at the same time, umm I'm rambling but just wondered what you folk think would lend an air of verisimilitude?

Cheers...

[Dewbakuk]

Some of the structures will be terrorist,

Erm... Do you mean Terraced?

What nationality of buildings? The continent had more flat roofed buildings anyway.

[Elk101]

I seem to recall reading that Victorian flat roofs were often clad with lead or zinc.

[Silent Invader]

Hi Andrew

This

Flat Roofs

For flat roofs, Victorian builders placed five layers of roofing felt on the rafters, followed by a coat of cement, topped with a layer of gravel---also called slag. They also covered flat roofs with various types of metal, including tin, zinc, lead, copper and corrugated iron.

Is from here

http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7580236_victorian-roofing-materials.html#page=3

Not necessarily the most reliable of sources but it reads well!

 

And it's consistent with what Steve said 

[Chairface]

Erm... Do you mean Terraced?

What nationality of buildings? The continent had more flat roofed buildings anyway.

 

Stupid auto correct

[Andrew May]

Erm... Do you mean Terraced?

What nationality of buildings? The continent had more flat roofed buildings anyway.

Whoops, bloody dictate/Siri!

French, buildings and when I say terraced I mean like a terraced garden or step pyramid, not like terraced street.

Edit: thanks everyone else, food for thought.

[Silent Invader]

I think you had as all there !

[Andrew May]

Hi Andrew

This

Is from here

http://www.ehow.co.uk/facts_7580236_victorian-roofing-materials.html#page=3

Not necessarily the most reliable of sources but it reads well!

 

And it's consistent with what Steve said 

I think my brain was melting earlier!

Anyway, gravel! Fits well with my new basing.

[scouts19508]

How common were flat roofs in Victorian times and were they more common in say a residential area vs a business area?

Thanks
Jim

[Andrew May]

I've no idea but I'm using them in a fantasy industrial France for gameplay purposes. 

[scouts19508]

Yeah, I think I'm going to use "If it looks good on the table it's good enough for me."

[Bullshott]

Lots of city rooftops in France have attic rooms with large windows and balconies. The roof above the windows can be pointed or flat. A quick Google search for Paris rooftops found this picture showing both elements (albeit on different buildings). Combining these elements would tick both of your boxes - flat playing space (balconies and rooftops) and a very continental look:



Alternatively, or in combination with the with the above, look at flat rooftops surrounded by an ornamental parapet .

[Andrew May]

Thanks Bullshot, further food for thought.

[Henry Lauder]

What you are looking at there is a Mansard roof: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansard_roof Not Victorian, more 17th century, but nevertheless great style to include among your Victorian buildings.

Lots of city rooftops in France have attic rooms with large windows and balconies. The roof above the windows can be pointed or flat. A quick Google search for Paris rooftops found this picture showing both elements (albeit on different buildings). Combining these elements would tick both of your boxes - flat playing space (balconies and rooftops) and a very continental look:



Alternatively, or in combination with the with the above, look at flat rooftops surrounded by an ornamental parapet .

[The_Beast]

What you are looking at there is a Mansard roof: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansard_roof Not Victorian, more 17th century, but nevertheless great style to include among your Victorian buildings.

Which includes the line:  It became especially fashionable during the Second French Empire (1852–1870) of Napoléon III.

So, VERY Victorian. ;->=

See? You do better than you realize!

Doug