Roof Structure and Roofing

There are no houses without an attic in the Hungarian linguistic region, but we know of farm buildings where horizontal beams are placed on the walls to form a loft, and hay or straw is piled on them to a depth of two or three metres (chickens’ houses, ice huts, etc.). There must have been roofs and roof structures on Hungarian housing very early. The words héj, roof, and hiu, attic, imply this: both are of Ugric or perhaps Finno-Ugric origin.

{145.} The roof structure of Hungarian houses can be divided into three well distinguishable groups: the szelemenes (purlin type), the szarufás (rafter type), and the széklábas (chair leg) type roof structure.

The essence of the purlin type roof structure is the cross beam or purlin (szelemen) which runs under the gable, holds up the weight of the roof, and keeps the weight of the roof from pressing sideways on the walls. This is why this solution is primarily used for buildings of wicker and earth. The oldest and at the same time the most general form of this structure is the one where the long cross beam, usually carved out of pine or linden wood, is held up at both ends of the building by a forked upright post (ágas), dug into the ground. If the building is long, another one is dug in the middle of the building. Wooden hooks (horgasfa) are hung onto the cross beam, which occasionally rest on the wall itself, but mostly rest on the cornice, otherwise called the sárgerenda, that runs along the top of the wall. The master beam of relatively recent origin runs through the entire length of the house, dividing it into two equal parts. It rests on the gable- and cross-walls and runs in the same plane as the cornice beams.

Fig. 29. The most frequent constructions of roofs in the territory of the Hungarian language in the 19th–20th century
1. A ridgebeam (purlin) supported by forked posts. 2. As above, the half-posts standing on the attic. 3. The ridgebeam supported by scissor beams. 4. Rafter construction. 5. Construction with side beams

There are several known ways of supporting the cross beam, which are probably more recent than the one above. Such is the félágas (“half-a-post”) structure, which rests either on the shorter cornice beam or on the end of the main centre beam. In the latter case the main centre beam needs to be supported on the wall of the building, so that it can withstand the strain. Another way of supporting it is known in the Palots area, which is called boldoganya, “happy mother” (with reference to the Virgin), and may have connections with the cult of the house. In some areas, in the case of stone buildings, the cross beam is put on the top of the gable, when there is no need for further support. Finally, the cross beam can be upheld by beams placed diagonally (ollóláb), primarily in western Transdanubia, although this construction has spread east all the way to the Great Plain. The two long beams of the pincers rest perpendicularly on the cornice beam, while the shorter upper stems enclose the cross beam, and above this come together the double trussing which is attached to the cornice beam. This reinforcement makes the roof structure extremely solid. It seems that the solution originates from the Slovenian areas and its adoption was hastened by the difficulties of getting large-sized trees fit for uprights.

The purlin type of roof structure is known from the New Stone Age. Hungarians adopted very early the word szelemen, which is of Slavic origin, as is shown by its phonology. The Magyars may have become acquainted with this form of roof structure on the South Russian steppes. It can still be found among the South Slavs, in the Ukraine, and among the Poles, Slovakians, and Czechs as well. This architectural tradition very likely links up Hungary to the East. Today the cross beam roof structure can be found now and then in old houses and farm buildings.

Fig. 30. The ways of supporting the ridgebeam (purlin) at the end of the 19th century
1. Solely by scissor beams 2. Mostly as above, in some cases by posts 3. Both constructions occur 4. In most cases forked upright posts, in few cases scissor beams 5. Solely forked upright posts. 6. Gable

The rafter (szarufa) type roof structure must have been an element of wood architecture originally, and is of considerable age in places where the abundance of wood created a high level of carpentry skills. The inverted V-shaped rafter beam rests on the cornice beam, reinforced in {146.} its upper third by a tie, the kakasülő (roost). If the house has a porch, then the rafter beam is longer on the front side and extends over the cornice beam, thus providing eaves over the porch. If the roof extends at the gable-ends of the house with corner rafters (szeglet-szarufa), a hipped roof results on both ends of the house. This served primarily as a protection for the front of the house against rain. In the Palots areas a front porch or eaves (esővető) are built for this purpose. These used to be wider in the past but have recently become narrower. It is very likely that the rafter type of roof structure spread from the West towards the East, and it first became general in areas where wood was used for building, in Transylvania and Upper Hungary. However, we can find it in recent times in almost all parts of the Hungarian linguistic region.

The chair-leg (széklábas) type of roof construction is relatively new and infrequent in peasant architecture. The rafters are supported on both sides by beams posted together on top by shorter double beams. There is a so-called centre cross-beam that runs along the length of the building at the meeting of the posts and the double beams. This roof structure and its more complicated versions require highly developed carpentry skills.

Once the carpenter has finished the roof structure, it has to be covered. In the Hungarian linguistic territories the covering varies according to the available natural resources, and may be a thatched roof of straw or reed, or it may be wooden shingles, and recently brick-tile, slate or tin.

The most widely used covering was straw, threshed by treading, and {147.} thatch (zsúp), which comes from threshing with a flail. Thus we can suppose that the use permeated into areas of treading and threshing. Recently both forms have virtually disappeared, only a few examples remaining in the eastern part of the linguistic region, and here and there in the west. Their inflammability and the strong prohibition by the authorities have contributed to the eclipse of such thatched roofs.

Before thatching was begun, lathing was fastened perpendicularly onto the rafters and wooden pegs were fastened to their ends and in some places into their sides. On these pea straw (east of the Tisza) or buckwheat straw (Transdanubia) was piled first, because this held the foundations strongly together. Straw then followed, 15 to 20 cartloads being sufficient for a steeper roof. The straw was stamped down layer after layer so that it would pack down well, then it was raked smooth so the rain could run off it more easily. Because a significant portion of the straw-thatched houses were built without a chimney, the smoke permeated the straw and almost soldered it into one piece, so much so that when it was necessary, it had to be beaten apart with axes. With small repairs, a well-packed straw roof could last for a century.

Sheaves of rye-straw fit for thatching are not loosened during threshing, but are only beaten, tied and put away for winter and then threshed and shaken out all over again. Two sheaves are tied into one thatching sheaf. There are two methods known for making a roof from thatch. One is spreading out (teregetés), in which the loosened sheaves, ears up, are spread on the lathing and fastened to it at every 5 to 6 cm with wicker or, later on, with wire. Following it, and somewhat lower, comes a new layer. When the spreading is completely done, the rows are pounded smooth with a piece of wood made especially for this purpose.

The other method is more complicated. The threshed-out thatch is tied into knots. Some have a knob, others are gathered into two branches, but no knob is twisted at the end. Differently shaped knots are used for fringing, finishing, and for forming the central part of the roof. Because of the combustible nature of straw, there were experiments with plastering straw roofs in the 18th century, but this practice did not catch on. On the other hand, it is customary at some places to coat the thatching sheaves with mud in order to prevent their catching fire. On the top of the roof a human head, an animal, a star, and cross may be formed out of straw. The origin of this custom probably lies in warding off demons.

Reed, being the plant of wet, flooded, swampy areas, is the primary roofing material of such regions. Because plenty of reed grew in the Great Plain and in a significant part of Transdanubia, especially before the rivers were regulated, roofs thatched with reeds are frequent even today. In the Bodrogköz an older and newer form of this is known. The older way was to start off by spreading the sheaves on the bottom and tying them to the lathing by wicker twists. The bottom part of the next bunch was laid above the shoulder of the previous bunch, so that the roof could be covered in four rows, yet in such a way that the roofs should remain stepped even after thatching was completed. The ridge was fringed with reeds or two boards nailed together were placed on it. The newer type of reed-thatched roof is made in a similar fashion, the {148.} only difference being that, starting from the bottom, they pound the edges smooth, so that the roof is not only more beautiful and uniform, but rain runs off it better.

The various forms of shingle are primarily connected with wood buildings. The smaller ones are split and a groove cut into one side so that the narrowed-down edge of another shingle can slip into it. Every single piece is fastened to the lathing with nails. In some regions of Székelyland, shingles are made out of metre-long thick beech planks and fastened by laying them on top of each other.

In some villages of the Palots region roofs are covered with slate that is mined nearby. Brick roof-tiles are comparatively recent, and have been replaced in some places by factory-made slate or tin, the use of which has eclipsed the traditional roof covering methods.