Roofs

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Roofing

Roofs play a key role in protecting building occupants and interiors from outside weather conditions, primarily moisture.
The roof, insulation, and ventilation must all work together to keep the building free of moisture. Roofs also provide
protection from the sun. In fact, if designed correctly, roof overhangs can protect the buildings exterior walls from
moisture and sun. The concerns regarding moisture, standing water, durability and appearance are different, reflected
in the choices of roofing materials.

Maintaining Your Roof
Homeowner maintenance includes cleaning the leaves and debris from the roofs valleys and gutters. Debris in the
valleys can cause water to wick under the shingles and cause damage to the interior of the roof. Clogged rain gutters
can cause water to flow back under the shingles on the eaves and cause damage. Whatever the roofing material may
be including composition shingle, wood shake, tile or metal. The best way to preserve your roof is to stay off it. Also,
seasonal changes in the weather are usually the most destructive forces.

There are two types of roofs flat and pitched (sloped). Most commercial, industrial, and apartment buildings have flat or
slightly sloping roofs. Most houses have pitched roofs. Some roofers work on both types; others specialize. Most flat
roofs are covered with several layers of materials. Roofers first put a layer of insulation on the roof deck. Over the
insulation, they then spread a coat of molten bitumen, a tar like substance. Next, they install partially overlapping layers
of roofing felt, a fabric saturated in bitumen, over the surface. Roofers use a mop to spread hot bitumen over the
surface and under the next layer. This seals the seams and makes the surface watertight. Roofers repeat these steps
to build up the desired number of layers, called plies. The top layer either is glazed to make a smooth finish or has
gravel embedded in the hot bitumen to create a rough surface. An increasing number of flat roofs are covered with a
single-ply membrane of waterproof rubber or thermoplastic compounds. Roofers roll these sheets over the roofs
insulation and seal the seams. Adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or stone ballast hold the sheets in place. The building
must be of sufficient strength to hold the ballast.

Most residential roofs are covered with shingles. To apply shingles, roofers first lay, cut, and tack 3-foot strips of
roofing felt lengthwise over the entire roof. Then, starting from the bottom edge, they staple or nail overlapping rows of
shingles to the roof. Workers measure and cut the felt and shingles to fit intersecting roof surfaces and to fit around
vent pipes and chimneys. Wherever two roof surfaces intersect, or shingles reach a vent pipe or chimney, roofers
cement or nail flashing-strips of metal or shingle over the joints to make them watertight. Finally, roofers cover exposed
nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage. Roofers who use tile, metal shingles, or shakes
follow a similar process. Some roofers also waterproof and dampproof masonry and concrete walls and floors. To
prepare surfaces for waterproofing, they hammer and chisel away rough spots, or remove them with a rubbing brick,
before applying a coat of liquid waterproofing compound. They also may paint or spray surfaces with a waterproofing
material, or attach waterproofing membrane to surfaces. When dampproofing, they usually spray a bitumen-based
coating on interior or exterior surfaces.

A number of roofing materials are available...

Asphalt
Asphalt is the most commonly used roofing material. Asphalt products include shingles, roll-roofing, built-up roofing,
and modified bitumen membranes. Asphalt shingles are typically the most common and economical choice for
residential roofing. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. There are four different types: strip,
laminated, interlocking, and large individual shingles. Laminated shingles consist of more than one layer of tabs to
provide extra thickness. Interlocking shingles are used to provide greater wind resistance. And large individual shingles
generally come in rectangular and hexagonal shapes. Roll-roofing products are generally used in residential
applications, mostly for underlayments and flashings. They come in four different types of material: smooth-surfaced,
saturated felt, specialty-eaves flashings, and mineral-surfaced. Only mineral surfaced is used alone as a primary roof
covering for small buildings like sheds. Smooth-surfaced products are used primarily as flashing to seal the roof at
intersections and protrusions, and for providing extra deck protection at the roof's eaves and valleys. Saturated felt is
used as an underlayment between the roof deck and the roofing material. Specialty-eaves flashings are typically used
in climates where ice dams and water backups are common. Built-up roofing (or BUR) is the most popular choice of
roofing used on commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. BUR is used on flat or low-sloped roofs and consists
of multiple layers of bitumen and ply sheets. Components of a BUR system include the roof deck, a vapor retarder,
insulation, membrane and surfacing material. A modified bitumen membrane assembly consists of continuous plies of
saturated felts, coated felts, fabrics or mats between which alternate layers of bitumen are applied, either surfaced or
unsurfaced. Factory surfacing, if applied, includes mineral granules, slag, aluminum or copper. The bitumen
determines the membrane's physical characteristics and provides primary waterproofing protection, while the
reinforcement adds strength, puncture resistance and overall system integrity.

One of the most common mistakes when installing asphalt shingles is the improper installation of the starter course at
the bottom of the eves. Instead of using the manufacture starter strips, most roofers use three tab shingles and cut the
tabs off. The problem is they usually do not install them correctly with the tar sealing strip upward at the bottom so that
the first row of shingles will adhere to the starter strip. See photo below for a picture of a starter strip product specially
designed for this purpose.

What can happen when the tar strip on the starter strip is not present? See the video below.

Metal
Most metal roofing products consist of steel or aluminum, although some consist of copper and other metals. Steel is
invariably galvanized by the application of a zinc or zinc/aluminum coating, which greatly reduces the rate of corrosion.
Metal roofing is available as traditional seam and batten, tiles, shingles, and shakes. Products also come in a variety of
styles and colors. Metal roofs with solid sheathing control noise from rain, hail, and bad weather just as well as any
other roofing material. Metal roofing can also help eliminate ice damming at the eves. And in wildfire-prone areas, metal
roofing helps protect buildings from fire should burning embers land on the roof. Metal roofing costs more than asphalt,
but it typically lasts 2 to 3 times longer than asphalt or wood shingles.

Wood
Wood shakes offer a natural look with a lot of character. Because of variations like color, width, thickness, or cut of the
wood, no two shake roofs will ever be the same. Wood offers some energy benefits, too. It helps to insulate the attic,
and it allows the house to breathe, circulating air through the small openings under the felt rows on which wooden
shingles are laid. A wood shake roof, however, demands proper maintenance and repair, or it will not last as long as
other products. Mold, rot, and insects can be a problem. The life cycle cost of a shake roof may be high, and old
shakes can't be recycled. Most wood shakes are unrated by fire safety codes. Many use wipe or spray-on fire
retardants, which offer less protection and are only effective for a few years. Some pressure-treated shakes are
impregnated with fire retardant and meet national fire safety standards. Installing wood shakes is more complicated
than roofing with composite shingles, and the quality of the finished roof depends on the experience of the contractor
as well as the caliber of the shakes you use. The best shakes come from the heartwood of large old cedar trees, which
are difficult to find. Some contractors maintain that shakes made from the outer wood of smaller cedars, the usual
source today, are less uniform, more subject to twisting and warping, and don't last as long.

Concrete and Tile
Concrete tiles are made of extruded concrete that is colored. Traditional roofing tiles are made from clay. Concrete and
clay tile roofing systems are durable, aesthetically appealing, and low in maintenance. They also provide energy
savings and are environmentally friendly. Although material and installation costs are higher for concrete and clay tile
roofs, when evaluated on a price versus performance basis, they may out perform other roofing materials. Tile adorns
the roofs of many historic buildings as well as modern structures. In fact, because of its extreme durability, longevity,
and safety, roof tile is the most prevalent roofing material in the world. Tested over centuries, roof tile can successfully
withstand the most extreme weather conditions including hail, high wind, earthquakes, scorching heat, and harsh
freeze-thaw cycles. Concrete and clay roof tiles also have unconditional Class A fire ratings, which means that, when
installed according to building code, roof tile is non-combustible and maintains that quality throughout its lifetime. In
recent years, manufacturers have developed new water-shedding techniques and, for high-wind situations, new
adhesives and mechanical fasteners. Because the ultimate longevity of a tile roof also depends on the quality of the
sub-roof, roof tile manufacturers are also working to improve flashings and other aspects of the underlayment system.
Under normal circumstances, properly installed tile roofs are virtually maintenance free. Unlike other roofing materials,
roof tiles actually become stronger over time. Because of roof tile's superior quality and minimal maintenance
requirements, most roof tile manufacturers offer warranties that range from 50 years to the lifetime of the structure.

Concrete and clay tile roofing systems are also energy efficient, helping to maintain livable interior temperatures (in
both cold and warm climates) at a lower cost than other roofing systems. Because of the thermal capacity of roof tiles
and the ventilated air space that their placement on the roof surface creates, a tile roof can lower air conditioning costs
in hotter climates and produce more constant temperatures in colder regions, which reduces potential ice
accumulation. Tile roofing systems are made from naturally occurring materials and can be easily recycled into new
tiles or other useful products. They are produced without the use of chemical preservatives, and do not deplete limited
natural resources.

Single-Ply
Single-ply membranes are flexible sheets of compounded synthetic materials that are manufactured in a factory. There
are three types of membranes: thermosets, thermoplastics, and modified bitumens. These materials provide strength,
flexibility, and long-lasting durability. The advantages of pre-fabricated sheets are the consistency of the product
quality, the versatility in their attachment methods, and therefore, their broader applicability. They are inherently
flexible, used in a variety of attachment systems, and compounded for long lasting durability and watertight integrity for
years of roof life. Thermoset membranes are compounded from rubber polymers. The most commonly used polymer is
EPDM (often referred to as "rubber roofing"). Thermoset membranes make successful roofing materials because they
can withstand the potentially damaging effects of sunlight and most common chemicals generally found on roofs. The
easiest way to identify a thermoset membrane is by its seams, it requires the use of adhesive, either liquid or tape, to
form a watertight seal at the overlaps. Thermoplastic membranes are based on plastic polymers. The most common
thermoplastic is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which has been made flexible through the inclusion of certain ingredients
called plasticizers. Thermoplastic membranes are identified by seams that are formed using either heat or chemical
welding. These seams are as strong or stronger than the membrane itself. Most thermoplastic membranes are
manufactured to include a reinforcement layer, usually polyester or fiberglass, which provides increased strength and
dimensional stability. Modified bitumen membranes are hybrids that incorporate the high tech formulation and
prefabrication advantages of single-ply with some of the traditional installation techniques used in built-up roofing.
These materials are factory-fabricated layers of asphalt, "modified" using a rubber or plastic ingredient for increased
flexibility, and combined with reinforcement for added strength and stability. There are two primary modifiers used
today: APP (atactic polypropylene) and SBS (styrene butadiene styrene). The type of modifier used may determine the
method of sheet installation. Some are mopped down using hot asphalt and some use torches to melt the asphalt so
that it flows onto the substrate. The seams are sealed by the same technique.

Are You at Risk?
If you aren't sure whether your house is at risk from natural disasters, check with your local fire marshall, building
official, city engineer, or planning and zoning administrator. They can tell you whether you are in a hazard area. Also,
they usually can tell you how to protect yourself and your house and property from damage. Protection can involve a
variety of changes to your house and property, changes that can vary in complexity and cost. You may be able to
make some types of changes yourself. But complicated or large-scale changes and those that affect the structure of
your house or its electrical wiring and plumbing should be carried out only by a professional contractor licensed to work
in your state, county, or city. One example is fire protection, by replacing flammable roofing materials with fire-resistant
materials. This is something that most homeowners would probably hire a contractor to do.

Replacing Your Roof
The age of your roof is usually the major factor in determining when to replace it. Most roofs last many years if properly
installed and often can be repaired rather than replaced. An isolated leak usually can be repaired. The average life
expectancy of a typical residential roof is 15 to 20 years. Water damage to a homes interior or overhangs is commonly
caused by leaks from a single weathered portion of the roof, poorly installed flashing, or from around chimneys and
skylights. These problems do not necessarily mean you need a new roof.

Fire-Resistance
Some roofing materials, including asphalt shingles and especially wood shakes, are less resistant to fire than others.
When wildfires and brush fires spread to houses, it is often because burning branches, leaves, and other debris
buoyed by the heated air and carried by the wind fall on roofs. If the roof of your house is covered with wood or asphalt
shingles, you should consider replacing them with fire-resistant materials. You can replace your existing roofing
materials with slate, terra cotta or other types of tile, or standing-seam metal roofing. Replacing roofing materials is
difficult and dangerous work. Unless you are skilled in roofing and have all the necessary tools and equipment, you will
probably want to hire a roofing contractor to do the work. Also a roofing contractor can advise you on the relative
advantages and disadvantages of various fire-resistant roofing materials.

Hiring a Licensed Contractor
One of the best ways to select a roofing contractor is to ask friends or relatives for recommendations. You may also
contact a professional roofers association for referrals. Professional associations have stringent guidelines for their
members to follow. The roofers association in your area will provide you with a list of available contractors. Follow these
guidelines when selecting a contractor...
• Get three references and review past work
• Get at least three bids.
• Get a written contract and don't sign anything until you completely understand the terms.
• Pay 10 percent down or $1,000 whichever is less.
• Don't let payments get ahead of the work.
• Don't pay cash.
• Don't make final payment until you're satisfied with the job.
• Don't rush into repairs or be pressured into making an immediate decision

You've Chosen the Contractor... What About the Contract?

Make sure everything is in writing. The contract is one of the best ways to prevent problems before you begin. The
contract protects you and the contractor by including everything you have both agreed upon. Get all promises in
writing and spell out exactly what the contractor will and will not do.

...and Permits?

Your contract should call for all work to be performed in accordance with all applicable building codes. The building
codes set minimum safety standards for construction. Generally, a building permit is require whenever structural work
is involved. The contractor should obtain all necessary building permits. If this is not specified in the contract, you may
be held legally responsible for failure to obtain the required permit. The building department will inspect your roof when
the project has reached a certain stage and again whe the roof is completed.

...and Insurance?

Make sure the contractor carries workers compensation insurance and general liability insurance in case of accidents
on the job. Ask to have copies of these policies for your job file. You should protect yourself from mechanics lien
against your home in the event the contractor does no pay subcontractors or material suppliers. You may be able to
protect yourself by having a release of lien clause in your contract. A release of lien clause requires the contractor,
subcontractors and suppliers to furnish a certificate of waiver of lien. If you are financing your project, the bank or
lending institution may require that the contractor, subcontractors and suppliers verify that they have been paid, before
releasing funds for subsequent phases of the project. A leaky roof can damage ceilings, walls, and furnishings. To
protect buildings and their contents from water damage, roofers repair and install roofs made of tar or asphalt and
gravel; rubber or thermoplastic; metal; or shingles made of asphalt, slate, fiberglass, wood, tile, or other material.
Roofers also may waterproof foundation walls and floors.

Keep these points in mind if you plan to have your existing roofing materials replaced:
• Tile, metal, and slate are more expensive roofing materials, but if you need to replace your roofing anyway, it may be
worthwhile to pay a little more for the added protection these materials provide.
• Slate and tile can be much heavier than asphalt shingles or wood shingles. If you are considering switching to one of
these heavier coverings, your roofing contractor should determine whether the framing of your roof is strong enough to
support them.
• If you live in an area where snow loads are a problem, consider switching to a modern standing-seam metal roof,
which will usually shed snow efficiently.