How to Choose the Right Roofing System for Your Home or Business.

How to Choose the Right Roofing System for Your Home or Business.

Nov 9, 2020 | Roofing Tips

You may not realize it, but there is a lot of thought and planning that goes into replacing your roof. You need to consider everything from the components involved in building a new roof to the climate in which you live. Investing in a new roof is a serious decision and it’s your job to ensure that everything will be the way you want it.

Roofing Components

Before making a decision, we want to help educate you on some of the core components of a roofing system. You have your roofing covers, which includes shingles, tile, slate, etc., and you also have your roofing structures, such as rafters or trusses which support the sheathing. The sheath is a piece of plywood that fastens to the rafters. There are two other components to your roof: the flashing and drainage system. Flashing is where you lay a sheet of metal or other material onto your roof to direct water away from critical areas. The drainage system is where certain features are installed to dispose of rainwater properly; these features include the slope and shape of the roof.

Types of Roofing

When most people think about a roofing system, what comes to mind are the more traditional installations, such as shingles and tiling. However, there are several options that are available to you if you are looking to install a new roof, and each comes with a unique set of benefits.

Asphalt shingles are a type of roofing material that is reinforced through fiberglass or other organic materials. Shingles are easily the most common roofing material, and they are popular among home and business owners because they are quick to install and they offer you a lot of choices in terms of color scheme and other design options.

Tiling is a material that comes from quarries located in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. They are flat, heavy, and they come in a variety of colors. If you are interested in tiling as a roofing material, then you will first need to check if your building can support their weight.

Slate is a metamorphic rock that is also quarried in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Similar to tiling, slate comes in a lot of different colors, but the grading will vary according to where you quarry the material. Slate is a near-indestructible material and its application requires a lot of skill and diligence.

Metal is typically used in roofing systems with a low-sloping structure. You can install metal roofing in panels or shingles, and the material can come in many different shapes and configurations. More and more homeowners are opting for metal roofing because it is easy to install, the material is long-lasting, and they are lightweight. They also can withstand severe weather and they offer a great deal of visual appeal.

Outdoor Conditions

When choosing your roofing material, you also need to consider the climate in which you live. This includes the average amount of moisture in the atmosphere as well as high winds and heat indices. The natural conditions of the area in which you live can all contribute to damaging and eroding your roof at different rates.