Why Do Some Buildings Have Tires On The Roof

Myths have been created surrounding these tires on the roof.

Why do some buildings have tires on the roof.

Because the skinning is not fastened across the top of the roof it tends to rumble whenever a good wind blows up. On many flat roof low slope commercial buildings it s common to see gravel on top of the roof. Commercial roofs are flat roofs because they are much more cost effective compared to pitched roofs. You can probably stop to ask the owners why put tires on trailer roof and you will likely get a different answer depending on the community and the state you find yourself in.

Yesterday i saw a mobile home with a bunch of tires scattered on its roof. In our travels especially in rural areas my wife and i have noticed a lot of trailer homes have tires on the roof. It would be interesting to trace the history of the practice. My wife asked me this question.

But over the past 36 hours i ve seen several more homes with tires on their roof and most of them weren t mobile homes. I suspect that mobile homes need the tires to weight the roof from being blown loose in a high wind. Some are obviously metal roofs. Landlords also may opt not to pay the higher insurance costs that come with allowing roof access.

It s part of the charm of rural life. There must be a specific reason as home beautification can t be the idea. Why do they put gravel on flat roofs. I pondered the reason and wondered if perhaps winds could cause a mobile home roof to resonate or something.

Gravel is used on flat roofs for two reasons. It s easier to put a sloped roof on a small residential home but to do the same on a very large commercial building would be impractical dangerous and difficult. And the same may hold true for other structures with metal roofs especially older buildings homes where the roofing nails may no longer be firmly embedded in the wood rafters. Also as others have said it does put a additional weight on some of the metal roofs making them quieter metal roofs on any buildings expand contract with changes in temperature trailer roofs are especially vunerable because of their shape insulation that is in very close proximity of the roof itself.

Getty images everyone in new york craves more fresh air and sunlight but most of us can t afford apartments with tons of outdoor space. Have you ever wondered why contractors install gravel on flat roofs. If the roof skinning was fastened to each truss across the top of the roof you d eventually have leaks roof galore. The weight of the tires prevent the rumbling.