Do You Know The Different Types of Roofs?

Roofs in Huntsville Texas

Roofs come in many shapes and sizes and get covered with all types of material. Choosing the best material for different installations involves knowing your roof's architecture and understanding its limitations. Here is a basic look at the most common roof architecture categories and the types of materials that can be used by roof services for the greatest great protection against the elements.

Roofing Architecture Types

While many different roof styles exist, they are all classified within three basic architectural categories:

Flat and Low Slope - Mainly used on commercial buildings and certain types of home architecture, flat and low slope roofs look flat to the naked eye yet do have a slight angle to promote water shedding. A low slope is considered anything with less than 14 degrees of angle, while a flat top is one that has a minimum angle of 2 degrees. These must be specially installed by roof services, as shingles, panels, and other layered materials are not protective of this type of roof.
Pitched - A pitched roof is has some type of pitch at the top such as a single angle with a mono-pitched, one-sided structure. Pitched can also have multiple pitches or angles like the more traditional Gable style. There are also pitched styles that include hip types, saltbox, A-frame, mansard, pyramid, butterfly, and many other architectural styles that contain one or more angle greater than 14 degrees.
Circular - This is a less common yet very beautiful architecture done over circular rooms or buildings. These include bell, domed, and conical roofs.

Roofing Material Types

Based on these different roof designs, roof services use a variety of materials to best protect according to individual architectural style and limitations:

Membrane and BUR - These are rolled or spread on materials that create a durable coating over the top of the building. BUR and membrane systems are used solely on flat and low slope roofs to keep water out and are not suitable for pitched architecture.
Shingles - Roofing made from asphalt, slate, wood, concrete, metal, and even recycled rubber are the most popular choice in roofing material. Shingles are useful on almost any architecture except flat-topped buildings. On pitched architecture, shingles are overlapped so that the edges are covered by the shingle above, preventing water from getting underneath.
Tiles - Technically a type of shingle, tiles are made of ceramic, concrete, and other synthetic materials and installed by roof services in basically the same way as regular shingles. Used on sloped architecture, tiles are installed in overlapping rows and perform just like shingles.
Metal - Typically made into sheet metal panels or pressed into panels to look like shingles, metal can also be used on most types of architecture. Its main limitation is that it must be carefully attached to prevent the panels from blowing off, a serious consideration on buildings with steep slopes.

When choosing roofing material, roof services must always consider architecture first, since not all materials are suitable for all types of roofs. Home or building owners looking for the best options in roofing should discuss the options with a qualified contractor who can help them understand the pros and cons of using different architectural styles and materials!

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What Do You Know About Stone Coated Steel Roofs?

Roofs in Huntsville Texas

Metal roofing technology continues to increase in leaps and bounds, helping homeowners get the best qualities of metal in a more attractive design. Steel that has been stone-coated provides the lasting durability that makes metal roofs desirable, while offering the look of more attractive materials like shingles, tile, and even slate. When installed by experienced metal roofer services, stone-coated steel offers homeowners the advantages of a variety of materials all in one.

What Is Stone-Coated Steel Roofing?

Stone-coated steel is roofing material made from metal sheeting that is pressed into shape, then coated with stone dust. The stone dust is secured onto the steel with an acrylic film. By using this method, manufacturers can press the metal into the shape of other materials, producing a more attractive look than that of flat metal panels. The addition of the stone dust further improves the appearance, while providing a number of other qualities.

Desirable Qualities

The best thing about stone-coated steel roofing is that it gives homeowners the benefit of metal plus a number of other desirable advantages such as:

Attractive - Stone coated steel roofs are more attractive than other standard metal roofs, giving homeowners the quality of metal with the look of other more beautiful options. It is available in panels made to look like wood shakes and shingles, stylish ceramic tile, and even expensive slate. It can give any home or building a more stylish look at a fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Strong and Durable - Besides looking better than standard metal panels, stone-coated steel is a more durable choice over the materials it mimics. Coated steel will not split, peel, or curl like many shingles will over time, nor will it crack, chip, or break like tile and slate. When properly installed by metal roofer services, stone-coated steel can withstand high winds, hail as large as 3-inches diameter, and be fire-resistant as well.
Long Lasting - Because it has the qualities of metal along with the added benefits of a stone dust coating, stone-coated roofs can last 50 to 100 years when properly installed and maintained.
Lightweight - Stone-coated steel is much lighter than many of the materials it is made to mimic. This can be especially important for homes that do not have the structural ability to support heavier materials like tile or slate.
Easy Installation and Low Maintenance - When installed by metal roofer services in panels, instead of piece-by-piece like shingles or tiles, stone-coated steel is applied more easily than other materials, making it a faster installation. It requires less maintenance than most other types of roofing, needing only periodic inspection to ensure that seams and fasteners are tightly sealed.
Environmentally Friendly and Energy Efficient - Not only does stone-coated steel have a higher efficiency level than many other materials because it reflects more heat, this material is also 100 percent recyclable.

Considering all of these advantages, stone-coated metal roofs are a great option for homeowners. It offers the desirable look of more expensive material at a lower price and is combined with the reliable durability of metal that homeowners prefer. It can even increase home value when skillfully installed by experienced metal roofer services. For the smart homeowner, stone-coated steel is one of the best roofing choices available today!

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Tile Roofs – How Do They Shape Up For Your House?

Roofs in Huntsville Texas

Tile is one of the more attractive and efficient types of residential roofing. Tile roofs are very beautiful and add great character to a home. It also provides a number of other benefits for homeowners to consider when deciding on the type of roofing material to use. When installed by experienced tile roof services, homeowners reap all the benefits and get an impressive-looking home, all in one. If a tile roof sounds like a good idea, read the following information to learn more and decide whether it may be a suitable roofing option.

Different Materials

Roofing tiles are made from a variety of materials, each of which have their own positive and negative qualities. Ceramic versions are made from either clay or terra cotta, while others are made from concrete or a mixture of fiberglass and cement. After baking, ceramic tiles retain the color of the material from which they were made, while concrete and cement can be easily dyed or color-coated.

All types can be durable against the elements; however, ceramic may be more susceptible to chips and breaks under certain conditions. As a whole, tile is not recommended where large debris could damage roofs; in most other settings, it does fine.

Styles and Colors

Tile roofing is made by molding different materials into attractively shaped pieces that lay over each other to create an interlocked, watertight surface when installed by experienced tile roof services. They are available in many different styles, including the wavy Spanish and curved Mission styles used on Spanish-influenced architecture as well as the more traditional French and interlocking styles common in Europe.

They are available in their natural state, colored only by the pigments in the clay or colored to look like slate or other material. Some types are even available in a wide variety of decorative colors that are added into the mix before molding or as a colorful coating after mixing.

Economic and Environmental Considerations

Roofing tile offers a number of important benefits in addition to how attractive these roofs can look. It is a very thermal resistant material that is highly effective at containing heat without allowing it to pass through the surface. In colder climates, it keeps the heat within the home; in hotter climates, it prevents heat from entering. Cooling and heating bills are considerably lower as a result. In addition to its great thermal properties, most tile can be safely and efficiently recycled since it is made from natural materials.

The Drawbacks of Tile

The two main drawbacks that homeowners must consider before choosing tile for their home is weight and cost. Ceramic and concrete roofing are exceptionally heavy once installed, so tile roof services must first determine if the structure of the building can safely support the weight. Secondly, it can be considerably more expensive than other types of roofs because the material is basically hand-molded and requires a larger-than-normal initial investment. Still, due to its extreme durability that is much longer than most other material, it may be worth the extra cost.

There are many positives for homeowners to consider when thinking about installing tile roofs. Not only is it very beautiful and available in many different shapes and colors, it is very environmentally-friendly and cost-effective as well. On the contrary, tile does have a high installation cost from tile roof services and may not be suitable for all homes or in all locations. Still, any homeowner who chooses this material will surely be pleased with its performance and how beautiful it looks on their home!

Category: Roofs in College Station Texas