Your roof is made up of more than just its shingles. It has a number of other parts that can protect your home from the rain, wind, and other exterior elements. If you want to explain the problem to a roofing professional and understand what that person is talking about as he or she performs the repairs, it’s important to understand all of these parts. All of them are needed for your roof shingles to operate at their best level and to maximize your home’s energy efficiency.
The Structural Elements of a Roof
The structural parts of your roof provide support for the entire system, which includes the right amount of slope and stability for withstanding the elements. The main parts of this base structure include the following:
- Rafters or Trusses — These serve as the main supports for the roof. They’re usually made of wood, but some buildings have rafters made of steel. They are often angled so the roof has enough slope, but flat roofs don’t have angled rafters. They rely on joists, which are beams that stretch across the roof to provide support that’s similar to a floor foundation.
- Roof Decking — Also referred to as “sheathing,” this part of the roof attaches to the outside of the rafters and can be made of plywood or a composite. The roof deck provides the base for the shingles and any protective layers under them.
- Collar Beams — These extra beams are common in areas that experience a great deal of storms or strong winds. They give the roof more stability by connecting the rafters on either side of the roof.
Be sure to speak to a professional for more information.
The Drainage Components of a Roof
Having good drainage will allow water to run off the roof, which can prevent water damage. But while it’s critical to your roof’s integrity, it’s one of the least visible elements. Here are some of the components that make up a roof’s drainage system:
- Underlayment — This serves as a solid, water-repellant barrier that completely covers the roof deck. It keeps water from damaging the roof’s structural elements, which will prevent roof leaks.
- Flashing — This is a thin, flexible sheet of metal that stops water from entering the gaps around various roof elements (such as chimneys and vents).
- Drip Edge Flashing — This is an important part of the flashing that sits at the edge of your roof. It directs water into the gutters so moisture doesn’t seep back into the roof deck.
- Gutters — They attach to the edges of your roof to collect water and direct its flow to downspouts, which move it away from the property.
Be sure to speak to a roofing professional for more information.
The Ventilation System of a Roof
Roof ventilation relies on small vents that are covered by slats or screens. They allow outside air to come in as it removes hot, moist air from the attic. Active vents use fans to draw air in or to push humid air out. Passive vents rely on natural airflow patterns to move air through the attic. Roof and attic ventilation is an important part of climate control, because having proper airflow will keep humidity out of the property. The vents will also reduce moisture levels, which will prevent mold growth.
The Exterior Parts of a Roof
These are among the most critical parts of a good roofing system, because they act as the last layer of protection between the property and what’s happening outside. The parts that make up your roof’s exterior include the following:
- Roof Covering — This will protect your roof from bad weather and will reflect sunlight. Shingles are among the most common types of roof covering because of their cost-effectiveness, but there are other options (such as metal, wood shakes, slate, and clay) that are also widely available.
- Ridge Cap — This part of the roof (which can be made from metal or asphalt) sits at the top of the roof and protects the space between the two slopes from water leakage.
- Valley — This serves as the intersection between the two sides of the roof covered by the ridge cap. If a roof has more than two sides, the topmost area is called the “hip.”
- Soffit — This is located at the bottom of the roof overhang and can be made of wood, aluminum, or vinyl. It protects the overhang from the elements and can even have vents to help with airflow.
- Fascia — This is a narrow strip of wood, metal, or composite that runs along your roof’s edges above the soffit. It also serves as a cap for the bottom end of the rafters.
- Eaves — Also referred to as the “overhang,” this part of the roof extends beyond the walls of the building. Its purpose is to keep water from getting into the walls and foundation.
If you’re looking for one of the best roofers in Corpus Christi, be sure to reach out to Bayfront Roofing.
