A roof is often the first covering of a structure, featuring all designs and materials needed to support it on top of uprights, giving protection from the elements, rain, snow, sun, extremes of temperatures, and wind, among other things. A roof also forms part of the outer building envelope. Roofing Cape Coral FL, therefore, deserves some special attention when planning the construction of any building.
When roofing, it is first essential to determine what kind of roofing material is desired. This will assess roofing, the shape and pitch of roofing, the extent of roof coverage, and the roof’s overall appearance. The most commonly used roofing materials are slate, shingles, asphalt, tiles, and grass roofing systems. These materials all have their advantages and disadvantages, so careful research in respect of each should be done before making a final decision.
The first course of action to take when deciding on roofing is to identify the main structures that require roofing, the roof being a closed system. This means that whatever penetrates the roof other than the roofing itself is not part of the roof, such as skylights, chimneys, vents, guttering and so on. The first course of action in determining the structure of a roofing system is to identify the roof’s vulnerable points. These are the weakest spots in the roof and the areas exposed to the most rapid weathering. This includes the ridge, the rafter and the flash.
For sloped roofs, roofing solution depends upon the extent of slope and the type of roofing materials to be used, as well as the extent of roof drainage. For flat roofs, roofing solution is mainly determined by the quality of flashing installed and the number of seams to be used. For pitched roofs, drainage is a more important factor. Water runoff from roof slopes must be minimized, while at the same time ensuring adequate drainage for soil erosion and water run-off.
Flat roofing is an economic choice for flat roofs over sloped roofs, but it can lead to serious roofing problems. Flat roofs are often made of plywood or cement tiles. They have limited options in terms of roofing materials, such as tiles, asphalt shingles and insulated roofing materials such as polystyrene. Flat roofing also offers few choices in roofing design. Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material for flat roofs, followed by clay tile roofing.
Asphalt shingles are a durable roofing material, which offer good resistance to fire and intense weather conditions. However, asphalt shingles are not the most environmentally friendly roofing material. They release harmful chemicals into the air during installation, and they have negative environmental impacts after they have been installed. Asphalt shingles do not decay well, which makes them a poor choice for use on old homes and buildings. Moreover, asphalt shingles are not flexible, making them ineffective for use on curved roof sections.
Asphalt shingles underlayment provides additional protection and enhances the structural integrity of roofing materials. It is designed to reduce the moisture content in the air and increase the durability of roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles. Moreover, it decreases maintenance and installation costs associated with asphalt-saturated roofing systems.
Different kinds of underlayment are available for asphalt-saturated felt roofing systems. The most popular types of underlayment are roof tar, gravel, expanded cellulose fiberboard (CCF) and expanded felt board underlayment. Generally, each of these materials has its own advantages, depending on the application, the quality of roof and roofing budget. Installing good quality underlayment can help ensure the longevity of roofing materials.
Gable roofs have straight, open span and straight shape. Most home owners install Gable roofing systems on Gable roofs because it is an inexpensive option. Gable roofs offer very good insulation, especially in the attic. Gable roofs are ideal for home owners who prefer to have an open roof over their home’s interior. On the downside, installing a roofing system on a gable roof can be quite difficult.
Drip edge roofing systems have long, straight edge slants that run perpendicular to the home’s slope. This makes it an ideal roofing choice for homeowners with little or no experience installing roofing systems. However, installing a roofing system over a drip edge can be a challenge. The steepness of the roof’s slope can cause too much pressure buildup in the roofing underlayment and cause leaks. Nevertheless, if properly installed and maintained, a drip edge roofing system can look attractive and last for many years.
Whether you opt for Intumescent or Membrane Roofing, your roof’s performance will suffer if you don’t install a quality underlayment. In fact, improper installation of the underlayment can lead to roof damage and leaky gutters, which are inconvenient and costly. For this reason, you must only buy underlayment which is specifically designed for the roof you want to install. You can get these products from reputable home improvement stores, or online at low cost retailers like Lowes.