>>Roofing
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There are many different types of roofing. From traditional
shakes, and tile to modern asphalt, steel, and fiber-cement
the choices appear to almost unlimited. Each materials
has it's own advantages and disadvantages. Your budget,
home style, and climate considerations will help to
narrow the choice.
Click
on thumbnail below to view a cross-section of the
roof
Roofing begins once the framing is complete. The roofing
can begin prior to the HVAC, electrical and plumbing
or after on asphalt composition roofs. On tile, wood
shake and steel it is easier to install roofing after
the penetrations are through the roof.
Drying in
After the roof is framed, and before applying shingles,
it is a common practice to cover the roof with felt
paper (Drying in). This keeps the moisture out of
the house while construction continues. The roofing
felt can remain uncovered on the roof for a month
or two before it starts to weather and needs to be
replaced. The shingles are then placed over the felt
paper.
In areas where snow and ice are prevalent Ice and
water shield should be used in the valleys and over
the eaves. A common brand is Bituthane™ It is
a thick asphalt based material with adhesive on one
side that helps to seal the valleys and eaves against
Ice dams. Ice dams occur when snow melts on the warm
part of the roof (and runs down to the eaves where
the roofing is cooler. When the water reaches the
cooler part of the roof it freezes causing ice to
force it's way underneath the shingles. The ice and
water shield protect the sheathing from exposure to
the weather.
Ice dams are generally caused by a combination of
excessive heat and lack of ventilation in the attic
space. The build up of heat causes the snow on the
roof to melt prematurely and run down to the eaves
where it freezes again. Generally low slope roofs
are at greater risk for ice dams because they don't
shed the runoff as quickly.
|
Shingle
Type |
Initial
cost |
Long-term
cost |
Longevity
typical (years) |
Selection
of styles and colors |
|
3-tab
Asphalt |
Very low |
Medium/High |
20-30 |
Large
|
|
Architectural
asphalt |
Low |
Medium
|
25-40 |
Large
|
|
Wood Shake/shingle
|
Very high |
High |
15-30 |
Small
|
|
Steel
roof |
High |
Low |
40-50+ |
Large
|
|
Cement/clay
tile |
High |
Low |
40-50+ |
Medium
|
The initial cost of 3-tab is low but the long term
is high because they don't last all that long. On
south facing exposures a 20 year 3-tab shingle may
last only 14-15 years. They are not too expensive
to re-shingle, and code allows you to shingle over
the top of old worn out shingles. 3-tab are typically
used on starter homes. Because of their popularity
there is a large selection of colors available.
Architectural composition shingles are made from the
same materials that single ply 3-tab shingles. The
main difference is the color variance and the layers
gives the shingle a thicker less uniform look. This
creates a 3-dimensional look that is similar to wood
shakes. This adds greatly to the aesthetics of the
roof. Architectural shingles are very popular right
now, and are available in many colors and styles.
They cost about 20-40% more than 3-tab shingles and
are typically used on the "Move-up" homes.
Cedar shakes and shingles have a timeless look that
is unique to the material. The look is not cheap however.
The price of the shingle fluctuates with lumber prices.
Wood shakes and shingles are fairly durable. Expect
them to last between 25-40 years. Besides being expensive,
wood shingles are not recommended in hot dry areas
where fires are common.
It used to be that steel roofing amounted to the corrugated
type sheets that were more common on barns than anything
else. However, now steel roofing is available in sheet
and shingles that imitate shakes, tiles and shale
to name a few. The number of styles of steel shingle
and roofing products is growing each year. The reason
that steel is so popular is that it is durable and
will last forever, it is light and installed quickly.
It is not cheap but on the long-term it is a good
value.
Clay and cement tile shingles are durable and a good
long-term value. They are an excellent choice in areas
where wildfires are a concern. Although the initial
cost of installation is high, the long-term cost is
low. Tile roof can last 50+ years. One thing to know
when considering a tile roof is the weight of the
tile itself. Roof trusses must be engineered to handle
the extra weight of tile. When remodeling, tile roofs
often need to be built up to hold the extra weight.
Tile is available in many colors and styles.
Roofing decisions are affected by budget, house style,
the amount of time you expect to occupy the home,
and the covenants and restrictions. It is also a good
idea to look around your neighborhood to see what
the predominant roofing material is. We recommend
that 20 year 3-tab shingles be avoided. There is really
no compelling reason to use a shingle that is much
less attractive and doesn't last all that long. 3-tab
shingle don't positively affect resale value.
