This Week in Roofing History: Barrett Specification Roofs and the Lowell, MA Textile Mills! Step back to the early 1900s, when roofing innovation met industrial necessity. This vintage advertisement in 1909 highlights Barrett Specification Roofs, a roofing solution covering an astonishing 1,500,000 square feet at the Textile Mills of Lowell, Massachusetts. In an era dominated by manufacturing, the Barrett Manufacturing Company provided a vital service to industries facing harsh conditions. The roofs of these textile mills were subjected to constant exposure to acid fumes, coal smoke, and high humidity, conditions that could rapidly deteriorate conventional roofing materials. Barrett's solution? A robust combination of coal tar, pitch, and tarred felt is designed to withstand these challenges and protect valuable merchandise and machinery below. Many of these roofs lasted between 20 to 35 years—a remarkable feat given the demanding environment. Costing less than a quarter of a cent per square foot per year, Barrett Specification Roofs were touted as durable and highly economical for large-scale industrial applications. #RoofingHistory #IndustrialRevolution #BarrettRoofs #TextileMills #HistoricRoofing #DurableDesign #HistoryOfRoofing
Would love to hear what guys doing roofs back then would say about the membrane roofing thar is most prevalent now that we are installing. Probably would not be pretty looool
Henry L Navarro
1mo
Thank you Brian My memories go back over 50 years as a Union Journeyman Roofer
Patent Holder- Founding Member at VADA LLC The VADA Vented Roof design has a 37 year track record of excellence.
1moBarrett made a modified asphalt. In the 1980’s it was a dollar per pound. Insanely expensive. And, it is still one of the greatest roofing systems I’ve seen during my career. It’s been 40 years. I’d bet some of those roofs are still in service. Thank you for reminding me of the great Barrett Company. I’ve tried to emulate these giants by doing all I do with excellence. God bless these old timers. Warms my heart. Brian. VADA