Roofing
Roofing is a general term used to describe type of roof construction and various kinds of roof materials in buildings. The main function of roof is to provide protection from rain or snow. Selecting the most appropriate roof system for each building and knowing the material options are important because roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of a building. Some roof materials are suitable for fire, high-speed wind, extreme heat, and/or cold weather climates. Besides, the diversity in color and pattern of roof material can satisfy aesthetic needs in building design.
Roof shapes differ from region to region due to climates and the materials available for roof structure and covering. Roof shapes vary from almost flat to steeply sloped. They can be a single flat sheet or an arrangement of slopes, gables and hips. Slope is the incline of the roof expressed as a ratio of the vertical rise to the horizontal run. This ratio is always expressed as inches per foot. A roof that rises 3 inches for every 12 inches of run is said to have a “3 in 12” slope.
The slope of a roof is split up into three categories:
- Low slope: Anything under a 4 in 12 slope
- Medium slope: A 4 in12 slope to an 8 in 12 slope
- High Slope: Anything over an 8 in 12 slope
Residential roofs are typically sloped and can be made of shingle, tile, wood, slate and metal. Manufactured HUD homes and modular homes have typically medium slope and commonly use asphalt shingle as roofing material.
The roof framing is usually manufactured trusses either build in an offsite station or build by another manufacturer. The roof deck is attached to the top of trusses and makes the roof frame ready for installation of roofing system. The basic components of roofing system are roof underlayment, roof shingles, and flashing.
