The roof is a vital part of your home. A roof that collects moisture in the attic, tolerates algae and moss growth or has shingles that are curled, cracked, rotten or missing needs to be replaced.
Common factors of roofing
Ventilation
Vents installed on the roof will properly circulate the air that helps in the maintenance of the roof.
Insulation
Good insulation of the roof and the attic will maintain the proper heating and cooling temperatures for the home.
Gutters
Gutters and downspouts are an important part of the roof to redirect water away from the foundations of the roof that aids in the maintenance of the roof.
Moss prevention and control
Moss on the roof will lessen the value of the home and add tons of maintenance work. It can be prevented and controlled by installing zinc and copper strips.
Ice Dams prevention and control
Ice dams are melted snow that froze over the ridge of the roof leaving blocks of ice to dangle overhead. The best way in preventing and controlling ice dams is to have adequate ventilation built on the roof.
Hiring professional roofing contractors
Professional roofing contractors should comprise of a team to water-proof and weather-proof a roof. All roofing contractors are different and may specialize in certain fields from asphalt to wood shingles to thatch material roofing. Please consider which type of roof material you may want for your home before hiring a professional roofing contractor. Ask for background information and familiarize yourself with every detail of the roofing contract.
Types of roof materials
There are two types of roof materials forms when referring to roofing. There is thatching, a roof material made from plants that are intertwined and overlapped and there are shingles, a roof terminology used to describe the building-block of roofing regardless of its material. For thatching, combed wheat reed, long straw and Norfolk reed are the main roofing materials. For shingles materials, wood, ceramic tile, metal, concrete, asphalt, asbestos, solar and membrane can be found on the market today.
Budget saving tip
Picking asphalt shingles are traditionally more cost effective and affordable than the others. They have been used for hundreds of years, last between 15-30 years and are among the most popular choice between professional roofing contractors. If building a new home, the more complex the roofs design, the more it will cost.
Picking a roof is a matter of personal preference. Only you can decide whether it is suitable for your home. Make sure to be included along with your roofing contractor in every aspects of your roof from picking shingles down to construction. A happy roof makes a happy home.
References
http://www.americancustomcontractors.com/signs-you-n eed-to-replace.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roofer
http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/diy/roofing_guid e3.shtml
http://www.thatch.org/
http://www.roofhelper.com/impt.htm
http://www.mrdreamroofs.com/en/
http://www.asphaltroofing.org/resources_faq.html