Tuesday 7 June 2011

Selecting Roofing For All Seasons

By Adriana Noton


Sun, rain and wind need to be kept out of buildings, and roofing is the kind of covering that provides this service. A wide variety of materials and designs can be used to finish them. When you are thinking about this consider the pragmatic needs first and look at the propertys situation and the weather that affects the areas to determine the most durable solution.

Gable is one of the most common designs. It has two surfaces which are the same size and positioned at the same angle to one another to form a triangular shape. When the house is built the walls would be erected unevenly for this type of roofing. They are one of the most popular but are not suitable for windy places.

Gables are cost effective to build. They are also easy to put up and are a pretty safe design for most places. They enable water to drain from them quickly because of the angles of the sides. They also give more ceiling space. Some variations of this design include a side gable, a front gable, a cross gable and a Dutch gable.

The other very common shape for roofing is the hip. Its sides are not as flat as the gable. It also slopes down to meet the walls. It is more complex to build than the gable design, but what it lacks in simplicity it makes up for with the walls. Unlike the gable, the walls are all the same height when they are built. These are suitable for use in very windy places, protecting a house very well.

Deciding what to cover your house in can be a difficult task as there are quite a few different options available. You try and balance what you think will look good with how it will perform in its environment. If you are unsure as to what sort of substances you should be using, consult an expert for their opinion. It should also work well with the rest of the building in general, in terms of style.

While space becomes more limited in all areas, roofing can be made more useful by harnessing the power of the elements it is keeping out. Some materials can generate electricity. A solar shingle generates electricity and covers the area completely. The other option is to install solar panels on top of a covering. By doing this you can get better exposure to sunlight than you would on the ground.

Landmark buildings or those built for commemorative purposes are generally given more elaborate roofing designs. Some examples of popular materials include marble, copper and lead. This makes for expensive covering but is very attractive. The more common types of substances used for this include tiles, concrete, thatching and metal.

Roofing is necessary to complete places of shelter. It has aesthetic and practical value in all instances. Choosing the best type for your home should be determined by the designs you like and what will suit you practically. Budgets will also have to be evaluated to see what is the most cost effective.




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