Metal roof shingles: Where to buy

BEFORE TEARING OFF YOUR VINTAGE SHINGLES….

antique tin shingles are usually excellent candidates for preservation work instead of replacement:

they are sturdy, exhibit few leaks and can be restored to an attractive appearance.

Buy new metal shingles…or..restore

Compare restoration work on your existing shingles against the installation of modern shingles from either manufacture listed below;

If you compare (restore versus replace), you are assured of an informed choice based on appearance, performance and cost.

Our business is to provide expertise and work for those who are exploring the options for preserving their existing tin shingles.

Four visual differences between old and new shingles.

Before and after over a frat house

Before and after on the Maryland homeowner’s roof

“What is different between old and new?”–Berridge comparison to the real antique
“Can old and new tin shingles be mixed–” Yes, carefully

Berridge Manufacturing Company

The Berridge Manufacturing Company released metal shingles as just one of an extensive line of metal roofing types. In an effort to meet the requests for “traditional tin roofing shingles”, Berridge markets two styles:

The shingle to the immediate right, called the Slate style, is the signature design that seem to have predominated from around 1900 onward. I have seen this style many times. Berridge has labeled this style as “Victorian”

The far right shingle, called the Classic style by Berridge, appears less frequently in the mid-Atlantic area. Or so it seems to me after years of visits.

Keep in mind that old fashion shingles were available in various sizes, usually improving the shingle’s relationship to the roof size. For example larger expanses of roofing have larger size shingles; porches and overhangs exhibit smaller sizes.

The available sizes today may not be the same dimension, at least I have not seen exact matches.

Here is a link to a red shingle roof where we blended Berridge’s size to the existing roof. To my knowledge, both WF Norman and Berridge sell one size only.

W.F. Norman Company

From all that I have heard, W.F. Norman Company, an 1898-founded company, is the only US location that still makes the embossed tin shingles with the original equipment.

Apparently at one time, they manufactured nine different designs. Today, only these two styles are available.

In the 1970s, the original family sold the company to its present owners, a family who originally bought the business to make old-style stoves. The owner and his family are keeping some of the old presses working.

Click here for W.F. Norman website.
If you want to view some interesting history of the company, click here for a writeup.