Back when homes were explicitly meant for shelter and staying alive, the roof was vital in keeping people warm, dry, and safe from the elements. Today, different roofing materials are a design aspect of the exterior of a home. We've done some research and discovered what roofing trends were popular from the 1920s to today, 2021. Learning about why a roof type was popular in its time is unique because trends come and go, but some of these trends are still seen on newly constructed homes to this day!

1920

During this time in history, cities were experiencing a massive real estate boom. Homeownership rates, home values, and construction rates were all doing exceptionally well. Many people were flocking to buy homes for the growing population, which helped the economy boom before the Great Depression. Most of these homes were small for today's typical home, but the smaller the house, the faster construction was. During this time, many people were still using wood shingles as a roofing material. The Tudor style home was becoming popular, so many people would steam the shingles and then bend them gently to go along the curved Tudor style home. Some companies even sold the shingles pre-stained and marketed them as a great new product. This popularity didn't last long. However, the wood shingles were seen as a fire hazard, and government agencies advised people not to use them. The thin wooden shingles would become very dry due to the sun; if a spark fell on them, they would burst into flames. 

1930

At this time, the Great Depression had settled in, and many people lost their homes due to not making payments on it. For the very few who were lucky enough to have money to replace a roof or build a new home that needed a roof, homeowners demanded an inexpensive material. Asphalt shingles were invented in 1901 by a man named Henry Reynolds in Grand Rapids, Michigan. People used the product and enjoyed its benefits, but it wasn't until this time that builders needed a much less expensive product to roof their homes. By 1939, 11 million squares were produced and being used. That's when asphalt shingles gained popularity and sales took off.

1940

Flat roofs became a trend in this period because the Usonian homes were now being built. Usonian homes were single-story houses with a flat top and no basement. Frank Lloyd Wright was the builder of these houses and designed them specifically to decrease costs. As people were still affected by the Great Depression, Wright lost his source of income when no one wanted to build a house. He created a unique design that eliminated unnecessary costs like a basement, a garage and included built-in furniture pieces throughout the home. The construction process of each of these homes would only cost homeowners about $6,000; in today's money, that's only about $95,000. Young married couples were the typical consumers of this type of home due to the smaller space and low price tag. Wright used a flat roof design for these homes because it eliminated the needed material for a pitched roof. 

1950-1960

Following WWII, many American families were looking to settle down, leading to the Baby Boom. The suburbs took off during this time as people wanted a place to raise a family that wasn't too far from cities. Gabled roofs that were covered in asphalt shingles were coming back to popularity. That's when the ranch-style gabled roof homes became well-known -- they were easy to construct and affordable to young families. 

1970

Whacky colors, textures, and designs were on-trend during this time. Newly constructed homes followed suit with the gabled roofs. However, they were covered in galvanized steel, aluminum, and metal, or concrete tiles. People liked the unique look that the different types of metal roofs brought. 

1980-2020

Not a whole lot has changed in this time frame; the only difference is the increased quality of homes. Some unique colors have come in and out of trend, but the most popular roofing material to this day is still asphalt. Metal roofs are still on-trend, and we expect them to stay on trend for many years to come. We have so many different options to choose from when it comes to roofing materials nowadays. 

New Look Roof

We hope you enjoyed going back into history with us. We know that we enjoyed researching what homes looked like over the past 100 years. We wonder what homes will look like in another 100 years! Will we, too, have a significant problem like the asbestos side effects discovered? If your roof still looks like it's in the 1970s and you would like to have it updated, visit our website, and we can get a professional out there as soon as possible. We offer free consultation, so if you aren't exactly sure what needs to be changed, we'll be able to guide you through each step and answer any questions you may have.

New Look Roof specializes in roofing, siding, windows, gutters, and repairs. We serve the greater Louisville area and pride ourselves on being industry-leading in materials, education, training, and craftsmanship. With over three generations in the roofing industry, you can bet that your experience at New Look Roof will exceed your expectations. We invite all potential clients to fill out a form online or call us directly at 502.341.4415!