Timeless Design for Houses: Talk #6

Talk  #6

6th Commandment:  Know What Roof Types to Use…and Not Overuse

Date: Thursday, March  5, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Naper Boulevard Library Program Room
2035 S Naper Blvd
Naperville, IL 60565

Naperville’s Historic District is a wonderful place to explore some of America’s most beloved architectural styles including Greek Revival, Italianate, Victorian, Colonial Revival, Prairie, and Craftsman.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was an informational and entertaining way to explore those houses in pictures then in person? Well, you guessed it…there is!

Naperville Preservation Inc.’s Tom Ryan continued his ten part series Commandments of Timeless Design for Houses of Any Age with "Commandment #6, Know What Roof Types to Use…and Not Overuse". He began 2026 with a new street by street focus of our beloved Historic District. First up, were the houses along Center and Ellsworth Streets!

If you don’t live in a historic house or neighborhood…think of these details as basic architectural principles capable of enhancing any house.  Most of the time-honored architectural details we know and love are nothing more than thoughtfully designed practical solutions to common problems…like supporting heavy materials or keeping out the rain.

Walk the Talk  #6

As a follow up to the Talk, on March 7th, Tom took participants on  short walking tour to see the houses and details that make this neighborhood so special to our community.

7 Reasons Why a Roof’s Style, Shape, Scale and Materials Matter

1. They tell us if the style and details have been researched and align with the style of the house.

2. They show us if an architect thought ahead about the roof or left it to the framers to resolve.

3. They tell us if the attic created by the roof is at least partially habitable or just wasted space.

4. They tell us by their complexity if the living spaces they are covering are unnecessarily complex.

5. They forecast ongoing maintenance if roofs were added solely for the dreaded ‘street appeal’.

6. Real estate listings often show a house from above exposing complicated roofs as red flags to buyers.

7. They tell us if the materials are genuine…sometimes a simple asphalt shingle is better than a fake slate.

Sources of Inspiration

Book: Chapters 2, 8, 9, 10 & 13 of “Get Your House Right” by Marianne Cusato and Ben Pentreath. Available Locally at Anderson’s Bookshop.

Online: Video by Brent Hull: Roofing