FOAM ROOFING FOR Eichler Style Homes

Joseph Eichler learned about the beauty of clean lines, effective use of light and other lofty architectural concepts. These ideas were integrated and mass-produced in Eichler homes.

The Eichler is characterized by flat or low slope A-frame roofs, post beam construction, open floor plans, radiant heating, and clean geometric lines. Skylights, sliding glass doors, and full wall size windows effectively integrate indoor-outdoor living. Later models incorporated an indoor entryway atrium, to further “bring the outside in”.

Unfortunately, the Eichler design was never actually profitable for Joseph Eichler (his company eventually filed for bankruptcy). Partly, this was because the style was more expensive to produce than conventional homes and Eichlers were not initially embraced by consumers. Some blame ex-military servicemen for seeking more traditional homes.

Other builders recognized that some Eichler innovations were too good to ignore. Some of Joseph’s concepts were used make cheaper, Eichler-esque, mass produced homes. However, as mentioned above, many builders eventually adopted the Eichler building style, making it popular all over California.

Today there are many thousands of Eichler homes throughout the California Bay Area, and Southern California. As a side-note, the 2008 movie, Speed Racer features a number of digitally re-created Eichler homes. For more information on the history of Eichlers see Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream.