Residential Roof Repair
Residential Roofing
Residential Roofs are primarily sloped roofs because in most parts of the world precipitate falls from the sky at least sometime during the year in the form of rain or snow. A sloped roof will quickly shed the water or snow with the help of gravity leaving all dry inside the dwelling. In areas where heavy snow is routine during winter months residential roofs will have steeper pitches to slide the snow off the roof before it gets too heavy.
- Asphalt Shingles- sometimes called composition shingles, about 80% of all pitched roofs in the USA use these. Two kinds of asphalt shingles, organic or fiberglass. Organic asphalt shingles have a cellulose fiber base made of recycled paper and wood fibers then coated with asphalt and a mineral coating on the front side to resist weathering. Fiberglass is like the organic shingles except they use a fiberglass base instead of paper. Fiberglass shingles are more durable than organic ones so they are more often used today.
- Wooden Shingle or shakes are made from cedar, redwood, or pine. Not long lasting unless they are coated with a protectant against insects and weathering, but the coating makes them more expensive.
- Metal Shingle- aluminum, steel, copper and zinc are the most common types of shingles. They have a long-life expectancy of 40 to 70 years depending on type, but they are very expensive and require specialized skills and equipment to install.
- Plastic and Synthetics- plastic tiles without fiber reinforcement are designed to look like cedar and slate promise a maintenance free function over a lifetime. However, many are shiny and thin which belies the natural look of slate and cedar. Their propensity to crack in winter weather makes them unsuitable in cold climates.
- Plastic and Synthetics with fiber reinforcement- made from recycled materials and a mineral filler like ground up limestone then mixed with color have a much tougher composition than the plastic ones and can be used in any climate. However, they cost about 4 times more than asphalt shingles putting them out of the range of what most people can spend.
- Slate Roofing is generally used on historical homes or large estates that have owners with deep pockets. Slate is considered the most spectacular roofing material for sloped roofs and it has demonstrated the longest lifespan of any roofing material. The lovely unpolished stone look available in a large variety of colors is second to none. However, an expert must be engaged to repair or install this type of roofing- very few roofers are capable of this incredible artisan work.
Asphalt Shingled Roof
|
Wood Shingled Roof
|
Slate Roofing
|
The roof is a system comprised of many components, not just the shingles. There is the water proofing underlayment (ice shield), the water-resistant underlayment (felt), possibly skylights, the ventilation, shingles and the flashings- all are important to the success of a long-life system- including the degree of skill with which the job was done.
Residential Flat Roofing
Rooftop Terrace
|
Flat Copper Roofing
|
- EPDM Rubber Membrane Roof System: Residential Flat Roofs made with EPDM rubber membrane system, light weight and quick to install, have gained in popularity the past few years as many builders are working them into new town homes developments as a premium option calling them roof top patios or terraces. A roof top terrace allows the homeowners living in less private locations more privacy to enjoy the outdoors complete with a panoramic view. However, they are pretty much a $20,000 upgrade.
- Metal Panels are also used for nearly flat roofs that will not be used as a roof top terrace.