• This is one example of the many tin roofing styles.tin roof image by Scott McCarty from Fotolia.com
  
  The use of metal for roofs extends back to the 18th century. It was a practice in more urban areas to have the roof covered with a less flammable material than the more common wood shingles. The metals used were commonly copper and lead. In the 1790s, Robert Morris created sheet steel, which he produced in his factory, and used it to create a roof for his own house. Benjamin Latrobe chose sheet iron for a roof material in 1802. The metal roofs Thomas Jefferson advocated was tin-plate iron, which was known as tin roofing. Today, tin roofing can be found in many styles. Knowing the various styles can help you when you attempt to restore or install a tin roof on your own home.
  
  

Color of Painted Tin Roofs

• In the 19th century, it was common for tin roofs to be painted. This helped to preserve them. The most common colors were red and green. Green was chosen because it it resembles the patina of copper after it has been exposed to the elements. Keep in mind that the tin roof does need to be painted with, as Tim Carter states on his website AskTheBuilder.com, "great coatings made to withstand the punishment Mother Nature could produce." The color you choose for your tin roof is as much a style as the type of tin roof you choose for your house: the more traditional colors for an older or replica house, or any color you choose for a more modern or commercial building.
  
  

Embossed Tin Shingles

• When installing tin roofs, some architects and builders chose embossed tin shingles that were made to resemble wooden shingles. In some cases, these shingles were embossed with patterns such as fleur-de-lis. These embossed tin roofs were popular near the end of the 19th century. Reproduction tin roofs in this style are available today.
  
  

Faux Pantiles

• Another tin roofing style was faux pantiles. These tin roofs were manufactured to resemble the clay pantiles. The use of clay roof tiles dates back to 10,000 B.C. in China and the Middle East. The use continued through the ages and came to the United States in the 17th century. Having a tin roof made to resemble pantiles gave any building style without the expense of the clay. This can be a tin roofing style you can explore for your own home.
  
  

Standing Seam Roofing

• This is a more modern tin roofing style; you can use this on both new and old homes as well as commercial construction. These tin roofs feature panels that have a thin ridge at the point where the two panels are joined.