Most people don’t give much thought to the roof above them, but without them, we would all be worse off. Two main types of roofs exist low-sloping roofs and steep-sloping roofs. Each has its own uses, advantages, and variations for different climates’ purposes. Here is summed of what a local roof replacement company can expand upon:
Low-Sloping Roofs:
Low-sloping roofs are those roofs that have an angle of fourteen degrees or less. Common variations of the low-sloping roof type are the metal panel, the built-up roof, and the spray polyurethane foam-based (SPF) roof.
Metal panel roofs are interlocked sheets of metal laid either flat or close to the flat along the top of a structure. They are naturally water-proof and frequently made with stainless steel. Their greatest facility is in their structural integrity. Roofs on large barns, garages, and warehouses must stretch fantastic distances without bending, breaking, or taking stress. The metal panels used interlock to create a self-supporting corrugated sheet of metal which fulfills this duty well.
Built-up roofs are commonly referred to as tar and gravel roofs. Built atop a mechanically fastened membrane or roof deck, a built-up roof consists of cold-applied tar or asphalt and aggregate (small rocks and stones). Many layers will be applied. If four layers are applied (as is standard) it is called a “four-ply” roof. Built-up roofs are used for their low maintenance costs and excellent water-proofing.
Installing SPF roofing is a two-part process. The first layer is a thick insulating foam, and the second is a spray-on elastomeric (rubber/acrylic) coating. The two work together, the foam providing support and insulation for the building and the elastomeric membrane protecting the foam from UV rays, weather, and physical damage. It is also highly flame resistant.
Steep Sloping roofs:
Steep-sloping roofs are defined as roofs at any angle of fourteen degrees or more. Used mostly for residential housing, clay tile or concrete, asphalt shingles, and wooden shingles are frequently used.
Clay tile and concrete roofs are built upon a wooden roof deck. Atop the wooden roof deck is an “underlayment,” an asphalt-soaked felt-paper sheet, to provide temporary weather protection while the roof is being constructed and is left there in case any leaking occurs in the tile layer above it once the roof has been completed. The clay or concrete tiles are then nailed into the roof deck with eleven to twelve-inch nails in an overlapping formation. This type of roofing is commonly used for its visual qualities as well as its water and weatherproofing.
Asphalt shingles are laid in much the same way. The shingles are flat plates of overlapping asphalt, the cheap alternative to clay or concrete tiles and slate. While not as visually appealing, they perform the same task as tiles and are less prone to coming off in high winds.
Wooden shingles are slats of wood treated with varnish and fire retardant, usually manufactured from red cedar, cypress, redwood, and pine trees. Primarily used in lodges for visual effect and human-engineered weather proof properties. Wooden shingles are laid in the same fashion as clay, concrete, and asphalt shingles and tiles. The method is valued for its ease of installation and reliability.
Ultimately, low-sloping roofs are better for large or commercial structures where integrity and insulation are prized, whereas steep-sloping roofs are more popular for residential buildings where the look and feel are almost as important as the roof’s integrity.
This article was contributed on behalf of Quick Roofing, your number-one choice when looking for a local roof replacement company. Check out their website today and see how they can help you!
