Finding a Great Irvine Roofing Contractor!
How your shingle roof protects your home
One of the earliest roofing materials was thatch, bundled reeds attached to rafters. Surprisingly weather tight, it is incredibly labor intensive, taking even a skilled thatcher weeks to complete. Later came roofs protected by overlapping slates, clay tile and cedar shakes (below), all of which remain in use today. But the great workhorse of the modern American roof is the asphalt shingle. Used for more than 100 years, it’s a good choice for handy homeowners who want a product they can install themselves. Many roofers in Orange County would agree that having a roofing contractors install shingles will give you a better and longer lasting result.
The common denominator in all roofing is that several layers work together as a system–each element from the roof deck on up contributes to resisting weather. Understanding how this system works can help you talk knowledgeably with a contractor, or help you make buying decisions to do your own work.
All Roofing systems rely on an overlap to shed water and resist wind uplift. Asphalt (composition) shingles are nailed to each other and to the roof deck. Additional weatherproofing is provided by strips of factory-applied adhesive. The adhesive is heat sensitive, which makes the shingles self-sealing.
Shingles and underlayment are calculated in “squares”, or units of 100 sq. ft. The per-square weight of roofing materials can vary significantly. That’s true even for asphalt shingles. Lighter versions with a core of fiberglass mat might be 200 lbs. per square; heavy felt-based types can weigh 425 lbs. per square.
Beyond Asphalt Shingles
Cedar Used in the Northeast and Northwest, cedar shingles or shakes can go 40 years before being replaced. Shingles are thin, relatively smooth and finely tapered, while shakes are thicker and rustic-looking.
Steel Panel Used all over the country, the “tin lid” is actually steel-plated with a zinc-tin alloy known as terne. Other panels are coated with a high-tech paint system. Better grades last for several decades, or even a century. What ever fits your wants and needs roofers in orange county will help direct you so you can be satisfied. Atkins roofing is one of the best roofing contractors in all of orange county!
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