A roofing system is an essential part of any home, designed to protect it from the outside elements. It's made up of four components: shingles, underlayment, starting shingles, and hip and ridge shingles. Understanding all the parts of a roof is important for homeowners, so they can explain a problem to a roofing professional and do repairs. Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material, and come in a variety of colors to match or enhance the style of your home.
After being applied, the tiles must be sealed to each other. IKO shingles have a heat-activated sealant that helps achieve better wind resistance. After sufficient exposure to warm weather, the sealant will bond the shingles to the course below them. Flashing is a thin sheet, usually made of metal, that a roofing professional installs around any vertical surface that intersects the plane of the roof, such as the surface of a chimney.
It prevents water from running around the outside of the chimney and into your home. In some climates, it makes sense to use an ice and water shield all over the roof deck, especially in areas prone to high winds and hurricanes. At the edge of the roof, a number of roof drain components are installed to protect your home from potential problems. Flickering is also important for this purpose.
To ensure complete satisfaction with your roof, select the final color of several full-size shingles and view a sample of the product installed in a home. The first barrier layer of the roof is the underlayment. It forms a barrier between the deck and the shingles that absorbs any resin that may be released by the deck. It also serves as an additional water barrier in case water passes through the shingles. The underlayment also helps avoid framing by preventing movement of the platform that could create bumps on the roof. Many modern underlayment materials also have an additional fire retardant effect, which reduces the speed at which a domestic fire can spread.
In some cold climates, roofers can install a special underlayment that acts as a barrier against water and ice. We've covered flicker in detail in a few previous posts, but it's still important to mention it here. After installing the base, a flashing is installed in areas of the roof that accumulate a lot of water - valleys, where water from several directions meets; around chimneys; around skylights; and around other penetrations. Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. Knowing all its components will help you care for your roof and get its longest life possible.
