Knowing the Difference between the Two Basic Roof Types
Author: brendangertner | Posted: 20.03.2012The roof is your first line of defense against the harsh outside elements. While many people are fortunate to have one over their heads, this essential component is often taken for granted. Despite how simple it may look, a roof is definitely a lot more than just shingles and nails put together.
There are two basic types of roofing: the sloped (also called pitched) and the flat. Most sloped roofs are built with individual shingles or sheets that are overlapped in a cascading fashion to prevent water from seeping in. Flat roofs are generally water-tight membranes that have enough slopes to allow water runoff. The slope of a roof directly affects its lifespan, the roofing materials used, workmanship, and exposure to elements.
Flat Roofing
Flat roofing is often used in buildings. However, there are many homeowners that prefer flat roofing over the slope type. In flat roofing, a roof deck made of concrete, plywood or chipboard is covered with waterproof material like tar, rubber, plastic or industrial foam.
The flat roofing BC roof contractors install has three main types: the built-up, the single ply and the spray-on or paint-on. Built up flat roofing is created by applying multiple layers of molten asphalt and tar-saturated felts or Modified Bitumen over the roof. Single-ply roofing has only one layer of waterproofing membrane made of rubber, poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), or thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) material. Spray-on or paint-on roofing is made by spraying or painting a type of insulating foam over the roof and coating it with a layer of acrylic or urethane covered with a thin layer of crushed stones or sand.
Sloped Roofing
Sloped roofing is commonly used in residential homes; and asphalt shingles are the most common material used for this. Other roofing materials are metal sheets, wooden shingles, slate, clay, and solar panels. Sloped roofing materials vary in size, shape, and weight. It is important for you or your Burnaby roofing contractor to check the capacity of the structure where the roof will be built on to ensure stability and safety. This will also help you evaluate the type of roofing material most suitable for your house.
Services for Broofing Burnaby contractors provide are backed by years of experience and quality workmanship. They offer a free evaluation of your roof to assess the extent of roof repair that needs to be done. If you want to learn more about roofing, visit builderbill-diy-help.com.
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