Roofing Structure - Rocco Building Company - Dallas Fort-Worth

When most people visualize the roof they only think of the roof covering like the shingles or tiles but there is so much more to your roof than just the shingles. No materials would be able to go on your roof without a proper roofing structure. So what makes up the roofing structure? Let’s look at what the roof structure is, what kind of materials are used and different types of roofing structure.

What is the Roofing Structure?

The roofing structure is essentially the frame that your roof will be constructed on. The structure is a series of trusses, beams, and rafters that give the roof its shape and that the roof sheathing is laid upon. When you see a home under construction and see lumber connected on top of the main housing structure you are looking at the roofing structure.

What is the Roofing Structure Made Of?

The most widely used material for the roof structure in the United States is lumber, especially in the United States. Warehouses and other commercial buildings may also use steel in the construction of their roof structure but for residential areas, it’s almost always wood. Wood has been used for centuries because it is easy to produce, plentiful, cheap and strong. If you go into your attic to check out your roofing structure there is a high chance it’s made of wood.

What Types of Roofing Structure Are There?

The type of roofing structure on your home or commercial building is usually decided well before the construction of the building depending on the type of home, the roof covering to be used and the architecture and style of the home. For example many craftsman style homes will have medium pitched roofing so they require a roofing structure of medium pitch, likewise, some regal style homes may have steeply pitched roofs with steeply pitched roofing structure.

The type of roof covering used on the roof may also help decide what kind of roofing structure you have. Simple and lightweight materials like asphalt shingles won’t need a huge amount of support so the structure may be sparse while heavier materials such as slate may require more reinforcement. City and jurisdictional building code also help determine what type of roof structure is needed.

Most people need not worry about their roof structure as it has already been properly engineered for their home. Only when adding an addition of switching roofing materials does the structure need to be examined.

Michael Rocco
Rocco Building Company, LLC
www.roccobuildingcompany.com

Roof Underlayment - Rocco Building Company - Frisco, TX

Roofing underlayment is a water-resistant or waterproof barrier material that is installed directly onto your roof deck. It is applied under all other roofing materials as an added layer of protection from severe weather.

There are three main types of roofing underlayment:

• Asphalt-saturated felt
• Non-bitumen synthetic underlayment. This is also known as “synthetic underlayment.”
• Rubberized asphalt underlayment

Asphalt-saturated felt and synthetic underlayment are water-resistant. Rubberized asphalt underlayment is waterproof.

Asphalt-saturated felt
Asphalt-saturated felt was the go-to roofing underlayment until about 15 years ago. That’s when synthetic products started gaining in popularity.

Commonly referred to as “felt paper” or “tar paper,” common roofing felt is made of varying blends of cellulose (natural plant fibers), polyester, bitumen or asphalt.

Basemat – the flexible base layer – is saturated with asphalt for water resistance.
Felt paper is applied across the entire roof deck. Depending on local weather, waterproof underlayment may be recommended.

Non-bitumen synthetic underlayment
Synthetic underlayment (technically non-bitumen synthetic underlayment) is the preferred underlayment of most roofing professionals today.
Synthetic underlayment basemat is saturated in asphalt. The addition of fiberglass gives synthetic products superior tear resistance and stability.
High-quality synthetic underlayment like CertainTeed’s DiamondDeck™ has the added benefit of scrim reinforcement for added slip resistance, even when wet.
Synthetic underlayment is designed for application across the entire roof deck. It is sometimes used with waterproof products.

Rubberized Asphalt
Rubberized asphalt is more expensive than other types pf roofing underlayment. Why? It contains higher percentages of asphalt and rubber polymers, making it waterproof.

Rubberized asphalt roofing underlayment often has a sticky back with a protective membrane that is removed prior to installation. This special backing creates the waterproof seal between the underlayment and a clean roof deck.
In severe winter regions, waterproof roofing underlayment at the eaves of a roof is helpful. The underlayment protects the edge of the roof deck from water damage.

Rubberized asphalt roofing underlayment should be added at valleys and around roof protrusions. These spots often get leaky first.

Why do you need roofing underlayment?
It’s a moisture barrier.

Roofing underlayment provides your roof with an extra layer of protection that shingles alone can’t match.

Your shingles serve their own purpose: they’re the first line of defense. Shingles reflect the sun’s rays, withstand the wind and block precipitation.

But shingles overlap and aren’t sealed at all corners. They can be lifted by strong winds. This makes shingles vulnerable to tear-off or infiltration by wind-driven rain. Shingles can become brittle from age. The heat of an unventilated attic can cook your shingles, too.

Water-resistant roofing underlayment
Water-resistant underlayment is enough for the surfaces of most roofs. It provides the protection that your roof needs during and after installation.

Big weather case study!

Even without the added protection of shingles, a superior product can withstand some seriously extreme weather.

Michael Rocco
Rocco Building Company, LLC
www.roccobuildingcompany.com