A few weeks ago my wife and I were driving to Gubbio and were amazed at the number of roofs that had large rocks strategically placed on them. Anyone know why this is done?
Here are some member responses:
Keep the tiles on when it's windy.
Common down our way... big tufa blocks on the asbestos roofs, sadly they omit to put the blocks on solar panels etc., which frequently become expensive crazy kites!!
Yes - it is for wind lift. Remember, traditional Italian roofs have much bigger overhangs on the eaves (the bit which overhangs the 'long sides' of a pitched roof), and also on the verges which overhang the gables. It's also a bit of an aesthetic nicety on more modern roofs - just for the crack, as it were. Not strictly necessary on a reconstructed roof, where the builder will have mortared in the tiles at the extremities, but it gives us something to talk about (and Gubbio is VERY windy!)