Tin roofs were innovative in the mid-19th century. Tin roofs were America’s middle class response to the decorative plaster ceilings that were widely used by wealthy Europeans. At the time, tin ceilings were very easy to mass produce, superior to plaster in many ways, extremely detailed and lightweight, and easy to work with. These embossed metal panels were found covering countless ceilings in businesses, homes, and hotels. Interest in tin roofing was especially piqued in conjunction with the popularity of Revival architecture in the late 20th century, resulting in many modern reproductions of pressed tin roofing.
Decorative plaster ceilings, like those that had gained so much popularity and envy in the houses of wealthy Europeans, were quite beautiful, but not very practical on the whole, as they were time-consuming to cast and heavy to transport. Also, it was very difficult to apply them to an unfinished ceiling. Employing the use of tin panels instead resulted in much easier installation, finer detail work, and much less expense. These sheets also absorbed sound well, resisted moisture and mildew, and seemed to last much longer than players or drywall. It was easy for the installers to just nail them into the wood, and the square panels were very easy to handle.
Tin roofing tends to peak in the 1890s, and then much of the ornamentation was eventually covered in drywall or acoustical shingles. Preserved tin was therefore discovered when restoration experts stepped in to return homes to the grandeur they knew before the turn of the century. Although tin roofs often need a little TLC in the form of repair, stripping, or painting, much of it has stood the test of time better than could have been expected.
Now, companies have begun to recreate pressed tin panels in patterns that were used in the past with renewed interest. Nostalgia for that American era brings us the possibility of silver, copper and antique finishes of the original metal, as well as custom designs to complement more modern architecture. Many designers still paint tin ceilings white to give the appearance of plaster, but the original tin look is still quite popular, especially when it comes to emulating the true tin ceiling style of the 19th century.
