LESSON 8: ROOFING FINISHES

Roofing Systems
- The roof of your house is an important part of what helps keep you and your family
warm, dry, and safe.
- Known accurately as a roofing system, they can be made of asphalt, stone, rubber, clay,
wood, metal, or cement.
- Each of these materials has its ability to keep out water, but they all also offer various
benefits and drawbacks.
- Different types of roofing systems may also be accessible depending on your budget. And
of course, where you will live may also factor heavily in your roofing needs and the
amount of exposure to heat, high winds, extreme snow, hail, and fire in your area will
ultimately affect your choice.

Parts of a Roof:
• Skylight
• Ridge
• Valley
• Chimney Flashing
• Gable/Rake
• Gable End
• Fascia
• Eave
• Sidewall
• Soffit (underside)
• Abutment
• Dormer
• Downspout
• Flashing
• Flat Roof
• Rain Gutter
• Hipped Edge
• Hip
• Drip Edge
Common Roof Shapes:
• Gable
• Hip
• Pyramid
• Bonnet
Gable
- The gable roof is the most common roof shape. Sparking memories of childhood
drawings, these a-frame roofs are a popular and economical design.
- Gable roofs feature a triangle design with the base resting on top of the house. Gable
roofs range from simple to advanced designs, and the slope can range from gentle to
steep.

- Materials:
• Asphalt Shingles.
• Wood Shingles or Shakes
• Slate
• Metal
• Clay or Concrete Tiles

- Weather:
• Not suited to areas with high winds or hurricanes
• Best suited to areas with rain, snow, and ice

- Pros
- Affordable
- Easy and versatile construction
- Sheds water and ice
- Good ventilation
- Works with most homes
- Creates storage space.

- Cons
- Not suitable for windy areas
- Storage space has slanted walls.
- More frequent repairs
- Very common design
Hip
- Hip roofs comprise four equal-length slopes that join in the middle to form a pitched roof.
These roofs are extremely visible, making up a large portion of a home’s curb appeal, so
choosing high-quality materials from a design perspective is critical.
 - Hip roofs are more stable than gable roofs and are only slightly less common.
Combination roofs often combine gable and hip roof styles, highlighting areas such as
entrance gables or dormer windows.
- Hip roofs are expensive with the tradeoff of extra stability and more storage space than a
gable roof. You can expect to spend approximately 40% more on hip roof styles
compared to gable systems.

- Materials:
• Asphalt shingles.
• standing seam metal
• metal shingles
• clay or concrete tiles.

- Weather:
• Ideal for areas prone to high winds, hurricanes, rain, ice, or snow

- Pros
- High curb appeal
- Increased structural integrity.
- Excellent drainage
- Ideal for windy climates

- Cons
- Expensive
- Intricate designs are difficult to construct.
- Prone to leaks
- Poor ventilation

Pyramid
- You can find pyramid roofs on smaller homes, gazebos, outbuildings, cabins, and even
tropical bungalows. These modified hip roofs conjure images of ancient civilizations and
mummies. With no gables or vertical sides, they are extremely weather-resistant.

- Materials:
• Asphalt shingles.
• wood shingles or shakes.
• metal shingles
• slate, clay and concrete tiles.

- Weather:
• Ideal for areas prone to high winds, hurricanes, rain, ice, or snow
 - Pros
- Ideal for windy climates
- Increase attic or top floor space.
- Excellent drainage and gutter systems
- Increased ventilation
- Energy-efficient

- Cons
- Expensive
- Complicated construction
- Attic space has slanted walls.
- Prone to leaks
- High-maintenance

Dutch
- A dutch gable roof is a hip roof with a small gable at either end. The gablet is perched on
top of a traditional hip roof. Gablets increase attic space and allow for windows to be
added for natural light.

- Materials:
• Asphalt shingles
• wood shingles or shakes
• slate
• metal shingles
• standing seam metal
• clay or concrete tiles

- Weather:
• Ideal for areas prone to rain, ice, snow, or wind

- Pros
- Increased attic and top floor space
- Increased natural light
- Improved ventilation
- Excellent drainage and gutter systems

- Cons
- Complicated construction
- Expensive
- High-maintenance
- Increased risk of leaks
Common Roof Materials:
• Metal
• Clay
• Asphalt
• Membrane
• Thatch
• Green
• Solar

Metal
- Metal roofing feels like a modern choice, but they’ve been around since the 1800s. Metal
sheets and shingles continue to be a popular choice today because materials like
aluminum and zinc are affordable, easy to transport, low-maintenance and beautiful—
even with age.

- Pros
- Low-maintenance
- Durable
- Variety of colors
- Lightweight
- Recyclable

- Cons
- Needs soundproofing to reduce noise
- May warp or develop ripples with improper installation
- Requires specialized labor to install and repair

Clay
- Clay tiles are one of the most popular roofing materials in the world and date back 5,000
years to glazed earthenware rooftops in China. They last 50 to 100 years or more. You
can choose from a variety of styles like Spanish, French, Scania and more.

- While expensive to install and repair, clay tiles last longer than almost all other types of
roofing. It’s common in places with hot climates, can endure winds of up to 150 miles per
hour and is incredibly fire-resistant.

- Pros
- Low-maintenance
 - Great curb appeal
- Colors include terracotta, red, brown and gray
- Made from natural materials
- Regulates temperature inside the home

- Cons
- Vulnerable to impact
- May need extra structural support for its weight
- May require specialized labor to install and repair

Shingles (Asphalt, Composite, Fiberglass)

- Almost 90% of homes in the US use composite asphalt shingles because they’re
affordable, durable and easy to install. They can last up to 30 years and can be recycled to
make pavement.

- Manufacturers mix fiberglass, asphalt and mineral composite to create a variety colors
like gray, brown, red, green or blue. However, their color will fade over time due to sun
exposure. The color and quality will look different depending on whether you choose
architectural or three-tab shingles.

- Pros
- Affordable
- Low-maintenance
- Easy to find
- Works well in most climates
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Recyclable

- Cons
- Color fades with sun exposure
- 3-tab style prone to wind damage
- Short lifespan

Membrane
- Among the most environmentally friendly types of roofing systems, composite and
rubber roofing are made from recycled materials. Typically composed of used tires, this
style can then be modelled to look like other roofing styles, including slate and asphalt
shingles.
 - At first, the price of composite roofing can seem high, but it is important to keep in mind
that it carries with it a lifespan of more than 50 years. Alongside relatively low
installation costs, composite and rubber roofing is a good option for anyone looking to
invest in an ecologically friendly roofing solution.

- Pros
- Provides Waterproofing
- Easy to install
- Lightweight

- Cons
- Can easily be damaged
- Limits roofing accessories

Thatch
- One of the earliest roofing systems created by man and are still used in millions of
structures worldwide. Made of dried plant stems, a thatch roof will commonly have a
slope of 45 degrees and thickness of 400mm. This thickness is made up of a number of
layers of individual plant fibers. When water falls on a thatch roof, it will trickle from
layer to layer as gravity pulls it downwards. So the thickness creates sufficient layers for
the water drops to move horizontally out of the structure before they fall into a room.

- Pros
- Environmentally Friendly
- Difficult to Install
- Works only on certain structures

- Cons
- Not really waterproof
- Easily Damaged

Green
- Green roofs (or living roofs) cover your home with vegetation like grasses or native
wildflowers that support pollinators. They have many benefits such as combatting
excessive heat outside the home and reducing rainwater runoff. Green roofs often last 30
to 50 years.

- Pros
- Durable
- Supports the environment
 - Cons
- Gardening and water maintenance
- Needs extra structural support for weight and water.
- Requires specialized labor

Solar
- Solar shingles are one of the newest types of roofing materials. You’ll need to hire a
roofer who specializes in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) to install it.
- While solar shingles may work efficiently for 20 to 30 years, this renewable energy
solution is an expensive investment.

- Pros
- Produces usable, renewable energy for your home
- Improves resale value

- Cons
- Requires specialized labor to install and repair
- Moderate maintenance
- Needs extra structural support for weight and wiring