Roofing Materials - What Are the Differences
Roofing has existed for centuries. Roofs can be made of a variety of materials. The most important aspect to roofing is weatherproofing. Making an assessment of the weather in your area will help you choose the best roofing material for you.
As long as people have lived in houses, roofing has been a necessity.
Roofing can be made of many different materials, which each have their
own weatherproofing properties. As time has progressed, new roofing
materials have been created that are even more effective than their
predecessors. Roof construction has existed for thousands of years, and
was a huge factor in the human transition to sedentary civilizations.
Domestic architecture has had an immense variety of forms throughout the
history of civilization. Homes likely started as constructions of
bricked mud, sometimes reinforced by plant stalks. Roofs also can be
made out of thatched plant stalks to seal a home from weather. Thatched
roofing consists of dried plant stalks that form straw. Wheat straw and
rye straw can be used. Thatching itself is a process that involves
stacking crisscrossed layers of straw to form a tight seal.
Weatherproofing is the most important aspect of roofing. It is essential
that the materials used can effectively keep out rainwater and wind.
Usually, when a roof needs repair or replacement, it is because water is
leaking through the roof and through the ceiling.
There are a wide variety of materials with which one can make a roof.
While thatched roofing has been used for a long time, and is still used
today, advancements in technology have allowed for other materials to
become popular. The most popular materials with which to make a roof
include slate, metal, ceramic tile, concrete, and asphalt. Membrane
roofs can be made of plastic, bitumen, or other materials. It features
large sheets of material, as opposed to smaller shingles or tiles.
Shingles are not actually a material themselves, but like thatching,
they are a method of arranging materials in a way that seals out
moisture. They are flat objects, usually tiles, arranged so they overlap
and form a tight seal. Shingles can be made out of many different
materials. Sometimes they are made out of wood.
Slate is a useful material because it can be made into thin layers that
can be easily shaped into lightweight tiles. Stone and concrete can also
be used. They are less expensive, but also heavier. Ceramic tiles have
been used for centuries and are another material that works well for
roofs.
Metal shingles are a lightweight option. Metal roofs can also be
accomplished with corrugated metal or a variety of other shapes. The
benefits of a metal roof are that the materials are less expensive and
lightweight. Also, metal can be shaped into an enormous variety of
shapes, and it is a relatively easy process to make metal very thin.
Constructing a roof is a complex practice that involves many different
materials. The materials you will want for your own roof will depend
largely on the area in which you live. Your needs should be assessed by
considering the climate and daily weather of your region. Hurricanes are
a concern, so roofs in affected areas should be secured to prevent
damage. Knowing what materials work best in your conditions will help
you and your roofer make the right decisions about which roof style will
work best for you.
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