Ever thought about the residential roof over your head, as in really thought about it? If not, maybe it’s time to give it some consideration.
Your roof is the protective element of your home. It also includes insulation that can help make your home more energy efficient for both heating and cooling. Having a good idea of its ins and outs can help you spot problems before they start and strategize for better energy performance.
Framework
The first layer of your roof starts on the framework of your house. The slanted boards that the roof will eventually lay on are called trusses.
Plywood
Over the trusses, something like plywood will be installed. Plywood is a composite board that serves as a useful base for other layers of construction material.
Insulation
Insulation is applied above the plywood. There are many different types of insulation, typically consisting of fiberglass or foam.
Waterproofing
Protecting the insulation is a layer of waterproofing. This sheathing is often made of tar paper or plastic and keeps moisture from getting into the insulation and lower levels of the roof.
Planks
Over the waterproofing, planks may be added to attach final roofing materials.
Ventilation
Along the ridgeline of the roof, venting is typically placed to allow for air circulation. This is covered protectively by final roofing materials.
Metal Roofing or Shingles
Whatever your personal preferences are, the exterior roofing materials are added last. These may be aluminum sheets or asphalt shingles.
Solar Panels
A more and more common component of modern-day roofs is solar panels. These light-absorbing energy-efficient additions are important considerations in the design and integrity of your roof.
Improperly installed panels can cause leaks or damage to roofing components. Making sure that the solar company you work with takes care of your roof during installation will save you headaches down the road.
Benefits of Getting to Know Your Residential Roof
When you know what your roof is made out of, you can help diagnose issues faster. Noticing heat leaving the top of your home relatively fast? Check your insulation. Getting a lot of leaks? Your waterproof layer may have aged out of usefulness.
Knowing your roof well can help you make decisions about moving forward with energy-efficient changes as well as preparing for the weather. When you can correlate your high energy bills with an aging roof, you’ll come to the conclusion that your roof needs to be replaced sooner. Or when you find blistering paint on the interior of your upper levels, you’ll think to call in the experts to evaluate your ventilation.
With a home component as essential as your roof, don’t skimp on getting to know it. The Roof Doctors can walk you through the basic setup of your roof and answer any questions. Give us a call at (207) 772-2719.
