What New Home and Business Owners Should Know About Their Roof – Part 1: What Type of Roof Do You Have?
By Stacy MelleteThe first step in making your roof last longer is to know what type of roof you have. You need to be familiar with the materials covering your roof as this knowledge will teach you how to protect it from the elements and other external threats that could damage it and shorten its lifespan.
There are two main types of roofing: flat and sloped. These are both used on commercial establishments and residential roofs, but materials used for flat roofs are different from those used for sloped roofing.
Flat Roofs
Majority of flat roofs today are made of concrete covered with a certain type of material that prevents water from seeping through. Typically, these materials are:
- Built-up Roofing – Tar and gravel were the earliest materials used in flat roofs. BURs are incredibly durable, thanks to the multiple layers of the roofing system.
- EPDM and TPO Roofing Membranes – These are referred to as single-ply roofing systems made out of rubberized materials. Aside from being durable, EPDM and TPO roofing are easy to handle, helping ease the installation process.
- Modified Bitumen – This roofing material is made up of polymer attached to the roof using asphalt, combining the durability of BURs with the installation ease of single-ply membranes.
Sloped Roofs
Majority of sloped systems today typically feature asphalt shingles, metal panels or tile roofing.
Each of these materials have expected lifespans that can easily be extended through preventive maintenance and prompt repairs when necessary. All are beautiful in their own right and further offer choices for home and business owners.
For example, asphalt shingles can come in three-tab or architectural options, while metal roofs can be made out of steel, zinc, aluminum or copper. Knowing the exact type of material will help you decide on the type of preventive maintenance needed to extend the lifespan of your roof. We are a local residential roofers Tampa FL.
To help you get started with preventive maintenance, we’ll be talking about it more in Part 2 of this blog series, alongside how you can identify trouble spots to have them corrected as early as possible.