Roofing Shingles and Their Purpose

Jun 18
18:48

2011

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

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A roofing shingle is a type of covering that is used for modern day construction needs. The history of this kind of cover goes back to several hundred years. The original ones were typically made of wood and are pretty much placed in the same way that the old ones were a long, long time ago. In this day and age, though, traditional wooden ones have given way to better materials which offer better quality and longevity.

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Typically,Roofing Shingles and Their Purpose Articles this kind of cover is installed starting from the edges of the roof, going up. The rectangular shapes are laid down in rows at the edges. When the installer is satisfied with his handiwork, another row is placed, with the edges of this row overlapping with the first rows’ joints. Row upon row is installed and placed in a systematic manner in order to avoid any possible gaps which may lead to leaks or spaces where water may run through. When the shingles reach the roof ridge, a specially designed overlay is placed to cover the gap between the two meeting rows.

Types of Shingles
There are many different materials that are often utilized to make this kind of roofing cover today. These materials are fiberglass, wood, asphalt, stone, cement and ceramic. These are most of the materials that can be used best for these roof covers. Both fiberglass and asphalt materials are very popular because they can be cheap and last longer than other materials. In recent cases, technology has made roof covers made of both fiberglass and asphalt. These are basically a combination of the two materials’ stronger assets. They are also the ones with more variety when it comes to shapes, colors and sizes, which make them all the more popular for homeowners and contractors.

Slate or stone is also another popular natural choice for roofing. These last longer the fiberglass and asphalt combination due mainly to it being naturally repellent to insect and are basically impervious to fires because of them being made from stone. This material is also naturally classy in terms of appearance not only because of the beautiful colors but also because usually only larger and more affluent homes can afford these. The work that goes into the milling and processing of these roofing materials is extensive.

Extensive, thorough and careful work means that they are also expensive. Using these mean that the support system should be able to carry their weight as a whole. This makes the beams, trusses and other roof support sturdier and able to carry more than the weight of the slates. So the roof is basically safe from collapsing from the additional weight of snow or rain. Some manufacturers have resorted to making shingles from cement in order to mimic slate.

Ceramic and terracotta are also some of the materials that are used to make a shingle. Due to their fragile nature, these may be short-lived roof coverings. These usually crack under pressure, such as being stepped on or they make be damaged from the intense heat of the sun. Wood is a traditional roofing material for use as a shingle. Cedar is one of the more popular woods that can be used for this. The natural oils found in this wood help to make it initially waterproof and insect resistant but constant exposure to rain may diminish this.

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