Roofing consists of various materials, including roofing tiles, felt, insulation, sheathing, and more. A roofing system consists of everything needed to secure a structure, such as buildings and homes, to the ground. It’s the lamination and waterproofing of your home’s roof that protect it from adverse weather conditions and keep out the harsh elements that Mother Nature bestows upon us. There are numerous roofing systems available to you and your contractor should you choose asphalt shingles, slate, wood shakes, metal roofing, or a new roof system made from recycled materials.
There are many different roofing systems out there to select from, and your contractor should be able to recommend one that best fits your needs. Your roofing contractor will have to visit your home, evaluate your roof, take measurements, and develop a solution based on your unique roofing requirements. This could include several things like: whether you have a flat roof or a sloped roof. b. Whether you have a single pitch roof or a pitched roof. c. Whether you have a gable roof or not.
Single-Pitch Roofing Systems: Single-ply roofing systems have a low pitch and are the most commonly used. These systems offer the least amount of maintenance. The material used is typically wood shingles and they come in a wide variety of colors and textures. The downside to single-ply roofing systems is the difficulty of clean up afterward. The clean up can be extremely difficult and requires professional help that may be too expensive for some homeowners.
Sloped Roofing Systems: Most homeowners prefer a sloping roof system over a flat one because of the extra protection. With a sloping roof system you have the extra protection from rain and snow that falls on your roof. You also have the extra ventilation provided by the slopes of your roof. When choosing a roof system, it is important to consider these two issues. Some of these considerations are:
Asphalt Shingles: Most people choose asphalt shingles because they are more affordable and come in a wide variety of colors. However, asphalt shingles tend to deteriorate quickly with age. Asphalt shingles are susceptible to cracking, especially in humid climates. They also make hot weather much more uncomfortable because they absorb heat from the ground. If you live in a location that has high humidity or temperatures that cause extreme summer or winter temperatures, you may want to consider an alternative to asphalt shingles such as clay or slate.
Roofing Materials: There are other roofing materials that can provide protection but tend to require far more maintenance. Some of these roofing materials are: tiles, slate, gypsum boards, metal and copper roofing materials. All of these materials can suffer from deterioration from exposure to moisture. Certain roofing materials are also susceptible to fire damage. Tile and slate do not suffer from this issue. However, if you live in an area that experiences high winds you should seriously consider purchasing a metal roof system.
Insulation: The insulation factor is one of the most important roofing materials. If you have a sloped roof, you need to check the thermal envelope around your building in order to determine if your insulation is adequate. If it is not then you will most likely need to replace your roof. It is important to know if you have enough insulation to effectively keep your home warm during the winter months and cool during the hot months. If you do not take this into consideration you will be paying huge costs in heating and cooling throughout the year.