The buildings in such an estate were are single-storey, raised off the ground on wooden pillars, and floored with wooden planks. There was no general tatami flooring, as tatami in the Heian period were moved about as required for bedding or for ad hoc seating purposes. The roofs were all plank construction, with the better models being clad in cypress shingles while some were even thatched instead. There were no tiles on the roof, save perhaps at the ridges.