Roofing is one of the most important aspects of any home. A roof protects the structural members of a building from the elements. A roof protects the interior of the structure from damage and the exterior from precipitation and adverse weather. A roof also acts as a form of insulation to keep heat inside the structure of the house.
A roofing system consists of many elements. These include building materials, roofing materials such as asphalt shingles, a roof covering such as tar paper, sheathing under the asphalt, and protective coverings such as metal sheathing and attic insulation. A roofing system generally consists of two or more roofing materials, such as asphalt. In some cases, a single roofing system may be used.
Roofing materials such as asphalt are mostly the same. The main difference between these two roofing systems is the type of roofing material used. The main types of roofing materials are asphalt, tile, wood shakes, and slate. These are typically used in single-layered roofing systems. When these single-layer roofs are installed, the roofing is referred to as flat roofing.
A roofing system may also consist of a roof covering such as clay tile, slate, or concrete tiles. Clay tiles or clay slabs are pre-fabricated building blocks that are poured into a mortar. On the other hand, concrete tiles are large solid chunks of concrete laid on top of the asphalt shingles. The roofing is finished with a thin layer of pressure-treated membrane to protect it from moisture. Each of these roofing types has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The most common roofing system is clay tile or slate roofing. Clay tiles or slate roofing is more energy-efficient than shingles because they have a tighter and more even distribution of the materials through the roof. Asphalt shingles usually adhere loosely to the roofing surface and give off a cool, moist air that makes it a hot breeding ground for bacteria. A regular inspection will help you identify areas where you may be exposing your house to excess moisture.
Aside from their low maintenance, clay tiles or concrete tiles roofing provides several health benefits. A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that clay roofing material contains a mineral called improvise, which helps suppress mold and fungus growth. Impervite is a semiprecious silicate mineral that’s found in clays found in nature. It’s effective in inhibiting microbial spores’ growth, which is why you’ll often see evidence of mold and mildew on a well-maintained clay roof.
As an added benefit, a solar roofing system with solar panels functions like a thermal blanket, keeping the house warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. In fact, many people prefer solar roofing systems to conventional roofing because they don’t need any venting system. All heat that’s generated by the solar panels is efficiently transferred to the home’s interior. Unlike a conventional roof, there’s no need for air ducts to transport heated air indoors. That means a significant saving on your heating and cooling bills!
Finally, roofing with composite tiles or solar panels can dramatically reduce your insurance costs. Insurance companies look at roofing material and appearance when determining your premium. If you’re looking to reduce your insurance costs, a few factors can make a big impact on your premiums. If you have a lot of damage and wear to your roof, your premiums will be higher than your non-insurance peers. For instance, if you live in a high wind area and have large hail storms, your insurance costs are likely to be much higher than those of a homeowner who installs no-name roofing with asphalt shingles. Fortunately, a few years ago, technology allowed manufacturers to manufacture a new kind of roofing that’s very similar to asphalt shingles but is nearly impossible to detect and mark, which substantially reduces your insurance costs.