While it is not entirely known when the history of roof-building began, it appears as though the first civilization to begin the construction of roofing tile was in Neolithic China.

1. A Brief History of Roofing Materials
While it is not entirely known when the
history of roof-building began, it appears
as though the first civilization to begin the
construction of roofing-tile was in
Neolithic China. This dates back to as early
as 3000 B.C.
There were many driving forces behind the
advancement of roofing techniques, the
main ones being pricing, availability of resources, and fire-resistance. Surprisingly, fire
resistance was a big driving force because many roofing-materials were highly
combustible and led to massive fires.
Clay tiling was a highly preferred roofing material because it was waterproof, fire
resistant, low cost, and more. This invention gave way to other forms of shingling, such
as wood shingles. Eventually asphalt shingles were developed in America in the 1920’s
and quickly became the ideal roofing material. It could be given different coatings to
improve fire resistance, insulation, and durability.
Metal roofing has always been considered the best roofing material in terms of quality
and utility, however it was very expensive for a long time. This caused it to be limited to
only important buildings such as churches, temples etc. As metallurgy & mining
practices improved, so did the availability of metal for roofing. This led way to modern
roofing as we know it today.
Modern roofing contains the beneficial qualities of all of these materials but at a fraction
of the cost. Homeowners today can tailor their roofing to suit their needs. No doubt,
roofing will continue to advance over time. We hope you enjoyed our article on a brief
history of roofing. Bay Area Roofing a roofing contractor, contact us if you need roof
installation in Tampa Bay FL!