With fall a few short months away, now is the time to consider your roof. Crisp temperatures often bring higher utility bills, not to mention worries about severe weather. Once winter delivers snow and rain, leaks can become evident. Ignoring a leak can worsen and could result in interior damage or even mold or roof deck rot.
While replacing a roof can be a significant decision, it also helps protect your biggest investment; your home. It gives you the chance to start fresh with a new exterior look and offers a great way to express your individual personality and add real value.
So, you are ready to consider it, but where to begin? We are here to help take the mystery out of the roof replacement process.
Roofing System Components
Before meeting with a contractor or salesperson, it is helpful to understand the basic roofing system components to better be able to understand the roofing jargon.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Deck: | The structural base for the roof, usually made of wood or plywood |
| Dormer: | A structure containing a window that projects vertically through the slope in the roof |
| Eave: | The lower border of the roof that overhangs the wall |
| Flashing: | Sheet metal or other material installed into a roof system’s various joints and valleys to prevent water |
| Gable: | The triangular section of the outer wall at the peak of the roof. Also a type of roof. |
| Hip: | The intersection of two roof planes that meet to form a sloping ridge running from the peak to the eave. |
| Off-ridge exhaust vent: | Individual exhaust vents usually located on the upper half of the roof that allow warm, humid air to escape from the attic. May be round, square or resemble a pipe or stack. |
| Rake: | The outer edge of the roof from the eave to the ridge |
| Ridge: | An intersection of two roof planes forming a horizontal peak |
| Ridge vent: | An exhaust vent that runs horizontally along the peak of the roof allowing warm, humid air to escape from the attic |
| Sheathing: | Boards or sheet material that are fastened to roof rafters to cover a house or building |
| Square: | One “square” of roofing material equals 100 square feet of roofing area. Many roofing materials are bought by the square |
| Under-eave Vent: | Intake vents located under the eaves of the roof that help draw cool dry air into the attic. |
| Underlayment: | A layer of protective material between the deck and the shingles |
| Valley: | The intersection of two sloping roofs joining at an angle to provide water runoff |
Understanding Ventilation & Insulation
One of the most critical factors in roofing longevity is proper ventilation. Without it, heat and moisture can build up in an attic area causing rafters to rot, sheathing to rot and mildew or mold to grow. An ideal attic has:
- A layer of insulation that that is gap-free along the attic floor to regulate heat loss and gain
- A vapor barrier under the insulation, and next to the ceiling to stop moisture from rising
- Open & vented space to allow air to pass in and out freely
- Minimum of 1” between insulation & roof sheathing
What Roofing System Is Right For Me?
This is the million-dollar question for many homeowners. It really depends on how much you are willing to invest in your roof. The right answer for your home is the one that answers these 4 considerations:
- Cost
- Durability
- Aesthetics
- Architectural Style
While asphalt shingle roofs take up more than 50 percent of the market share, there is an emergence of new and alternative materials on which people are willing to spend the money, due to style and longevity benefits. If you are looking to break away from the “sea of sameness” found in most residential neighborhoods, explore these options:
Synthetic Slate:
A newer product on the market, synthetic slate has gained popularity. Some features of synthetic slate are that it is lightweight and easily customizable in color, which is not possible in natural slate materials.
One drawback to synthetic slate is that due to its relative newness to the marketplace, the warranty is largely unproven. The materials could last upward of 50 years, but that has not been proven at this time.
Cedar:
Cedar shingles are a very durable product, and are very resistant to wind. Western Red Cedar is the most popular style of this type of roofing material, typically seen in Northwestern states like Washington.
While cedar is beautiful, there are several things to be aware of with this type of roofing material. They usually cost significantly more than asphalt roofing, have a poor fire rating and often need breathing room to swell and dry out in seasonal weather.
Metal Roofing:
It is a common misnomer that all metal roofs look like those found on a barn or warehouse. In fact, if you like the look of the above-listed roofing options, without the drawbacks, metal roofing may be for you.
Metal shingles come in a variety of styles reminiscent of their asphalt and cedar-shake counterparts. They can be customized to a wide variety of colors, are fire resistant and offer a lifetime transferrable warranty. They will not buckle, curl or peel, and can withstand all that Mother Nature has to offer.
Additionally, metal roofs are energy efficient and can lower your utility bills year-round.