roof installation

If you are leading a new construction project, or you’re looking to replace the roof of your old home, you might run into a language barrier. Roofs aren’t as simple as they look, and there is an immense list of terms roof contractors use regarding the anatomy of a roof as they install a new roof on your home or commercial property.

But giving you a list of words and their meanings is boring and hard to remember. After all, you’re not planning to build the roof yourself. You just need to understand what the professionals are talking about! That’s why we are explaining the anatomy of a roof in the order that it is installed on a building from the skeletal frame to the finished product. There are many components that make a roof possible, and we will go over each one in detail for you.

The Framework – An Important Aspect of the Anatomy of a Roof

When building the frame, two different methods are used:

1. A truss frame is a premade frame that is raised up to the top of the building by a crane or even a helicopter depending on the size! Once they are hoisted in place, the trusses are installed and stabilized. These are the most popular types of roof framing.
2. A stick frame consists of individually assembled rafters and ceiling joists. Each piece of lumber is measured, cut, and connected to form the frame. The advantage of a stick frame roof is the customization it lends to the roofline. However, building the frame piece by piece increases the labor cost of a roof and is unnecessary for the average residential property. 

When a building requires unique architecture, a stick frame roof can offer many more choices. This is especially true for projects that include more spacious attics or cathedral-style ceilings. 

The Decking

Wooden boards or composite decking are laid over the framework and secured. These boards are made specifically to withstand heavy loads. This base layer of a roof is referred to as the decking.

The Drip Edge

The drip edge’s function is to prevent water from getting under the roofing materials. It’s a simple piece of metal bent at a 90-degree angle that’s attached to the edge of the decking. 

Another word for a drip edge is “flashing.” 

Roof Underlayment

Wood is naturally porous and will rot and promote mold growth if it’s not kept dry. To prevent water from seeping through the wood and into the building, a shield made of synthetic material or felt is installed at every point in the roof that would allow entry into the house. This includes areas around the chimney and roof connections. 

Roof underlayment is the last defense against severe weather like high wind and heavy rain. If your flashing and shingles are torn or fail, your synthetic or felt underlayment will save the day and protect your home from water damage. 

Starter Shingles

The starter shingle is very different from a normal shingle. It is designed to begin the first layer of protection right over the drip edge only. Once they are nailed down around the entire roof, the normal shingles can be installed.

Roof Shingles

Finally! The roof is beginning to shape up and look familiar. Rough, square, asphalt rectangles are secured by nails in an overlapping fashion across the starter shingles. 

There are two types of shingles, 2-tab and 3-tab. When a shingle has 3 tabs, it’s also known as an architectural shingle. Architectural shingles have a longer lifespan and better durability than their 2-tab cousin.  

Step Flashing

If the roof touches a wall, step flashing is added to the corner after each row of shingles. Much like drip edging, step flashing is also a metal piece that has been bent to form a right angle. 

It’s made in a way that allows it to fit perfectly into the space where the roof meets a wall. Step flashing provides watertight protection against moisture damage. 

Roof Vents

Proper air circulation in an attic space is important for the health of your roof. In order to provide sufficient airflow into and out of the space under the roof frame, intake, and exhaust vents must be installed. 

A ridge vent is one of the best forms of intake vent. It sits on the peak of the building and runs along the entire length of the roof. Other styles of intake vents include box vents, turbines, and cupola.

The most common type of exhaust vent is the soffit vent. These vents give stale and hot air a way to escape the confines of your attic space, making your home more energy-efficient. Other exhaust vent options include vents installed in your gables or over your fascia. 

A New Roof Is Born

Once the finishing touches are made on a roof, it’s time to pack up and head home for the day! 

We hope that you enjoyed yourself as you learned about the anatomy of a roof. If you need roof repairs made, an old roof replaced, or a roof installed on a new construction project, contact Roofing Recovery today!

Are you planning to get a new roof installed or are you scrambling to figure out why your current roof is falling apart so quickly? You came across the term “roof ventilation” and realize that the holes under your eaves actually have a purpose and the wings at the peak of your home aren’t just for decoration, they’re ridge vents! 

If you want to know the best roof ventilation methods for your residential or commercial property, you have come to the right place. Here at Roofing Recovery, we work hard to offer our customers a balanced ventilation system that’s right for them.

What is Roof Ventilation?

A roof ventilation is a space between the roof and the ceiling where air is allowed to enter and escape to keep your roof and everything below it in good condition. When you properly ventilate your attic space, a balance of air intake and exhaust occurs, causing perfect circulation. The airflow created keeps the attic space cool, lengthens the life of your roofing materials, and saves you on your energy bill.

When roof ventilation is poor, the temperature under your roof can become so hot that it cooks your roofing materials from the inside out. It also traps moisture, leading to water damage and potentially mold, and makes your AC work harder to cool your home or business. 

If that wasn’t bad enough, any warranty you have from manufacturers becomes void. Why? Because proper roof installation should always include a great ventilation method professionally executed. Doing so maximizes the benefits of airflow within the attic space. 

Now that you understand what roof ventilation is, we can cover the four methods available for residential and commercial properties in Florida. 

The 4 Vent Methods

1. Static Vents

These vents are nothing more than openings that allow natural convection to navigate the hot air and moisture out of your attic space. This is called passive ventilation. There is no electricity required and as the name suggests, they remain still; There are no mechanical parts to move or spin.

2. Moving Vents

This type of vent uses the power of the wind to turn moving parts that pull and push the air through. If you have ever heard a squeaking sound come from your neighbor’s home on a windy day, they likely have an old wind turbine to manage roof ventilation. When selecting a moving vent for your property, choose the highest quality if you want to avoid annoying squeaks or rattling noises. 

3. Electrical Vents

These vents have moving parts and require electricity to run. When you live in a hot climate like Florida, these can be a fantastic option to move the hot air forcefully out of your attic space, but they can be costly. Obviously, with an electric vent, you probably won’t save on your energy bill, but your roofing materials will last longer, so that’s a bonus.

4. Solar Vents

An energy-efficient “cousin” to the electrical vent, solar vents move the air whether it wants to or not without costing you extra money in utilities year after year. This is an amazing option to consider in Florida due to the amount of sun we get. However, if you have trees shading your property, it might not be viable. 

What are the best Roof Ventilation Methods, and which one is best for you?

The characteristics that make a roof ventilation option better than others really depend on multiple factors. What weather you receive, your tree coverage and the style of your home will affect the ventilation options you have to choose from. 

If you are often hit with strong storms or hurricanes, static ventilation could leave your roof more vulnerable to leaks. If you don’t have trees around your home, you might want to opt for energy-efficient solar vents. That way, you can get the most out of a smaller number of vents. 

No matter which vent method you choose, what matters most is the balance and effectiveness of the ventilation system installed. A professional roofing inspector will determine what vent types are best to use for both intake and exhaust, as well as how many vents of each type will be needed. His or her main goal is to facilitate an even flow of air leaving and entering your attic space.

Roof Inspection and Ventilation Installation in Broward, Dade, and West Palm Beach

If you feel that your ventilation (or non-existence thereof) is causing your roof to prematurely age and deteriorate, get in touch with Roofing Recovery. We will send one of our highly trained experts to inspect your roof and determine the cause. A few adjustments to your current system may be necessary, or a full replacement with a better one.