Terracotta shingle roof: “Grandma, how could you!!”

In western North Carolina, an owner who lived in her home for decades wanted to preserve her embossed tin shingle roof. Although she was not aware of it, the design of her shingle roof was a rare one found only in the North Carolina mountain areas and southwest Virginia.

Her interior possessed gorgeous carpentry work, a memory that stays with me. Obviously the lady knew style and color. Her family remembers her place with a red roof, and expected the same. Elizabeth just felt terracotta tint would sit more attractively on her home. Until I studied her bricks, I did not have an opinion. If you look at the photos below that show the foundation, the bricks are more terracotta than red.

She said later her family expressed dismay at her choice. “Tough,” I thought, “the house is hers and her tastes are first class.”

Below is a good photo of edging work that some roofing aesthetics require.