Types of Roofing Materials
Roofing is a term used to describe any structure that secures a roof to a building. A roof is usually the largest covering of a structure, featuring all structures and materials required to support it upon the structure’s walls, providing maximum protection from natural elements such as snow, rain, sun, extreme temperatures, and wind, among other things. A roof is often an integral part of the overall building envelope.
There are a number of different types of roofing. One common type is flat roofing, also known as pitched roofing, which is constructed by placing overlapping batons of different sizes between two pieces of wood that are attached to the roof. Flat roofs can be pitched toward the sides or towards the middle of a structure to take advantage of natural weather trends and also to help with energy conservation. Other methods of constructing roofs include my rock, pitched Concrete roofs, slate tiles, clay tiles, and clay blocks.
Gyp Rock Tiles. Gyp rocks are a type of hardwood often found in association with gypsum. Gypsum is a natural material that makes up the interior layer of many types of gypsum bricks, including brick, slate, tiles, sandstone, and quartzite, among other things. This material is extremely waterproof, which makes it great for use in roofing materials because it prevents rain and snow from penetrating through and damaging the roof. However, this material does have a tendency to erode over time, which is why most builders incorporate it into a series of thin-set tiles.
Pitched Concrete Roofing. Another common type of roofing is pitched concrete, which is constructed using a series of tightly-gelled concrete wedges. The roofer will place these wedges on top of tar paper or a similar substance, and then place a variety of materials on top of them. Sometimes tar paper is overlaid with an insulation material to help keep the heat inside the house during the colder months of the year.
Slate Tiles. Most people think of slate tiles when they hear the term “roofing materials,” but clay tiles are actually one of the most common roofing materials used today. These clay tiles are extremely durable, as well as fire-resistant, and they are available in a wide variety of styles and colors. They can be installed as single-ply tiles or multi-ply tiles, depending on the customer’s needs.
Metal Roofing Materials. Roofing materials such as metal are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a wide range of options. Flat roofs offer the most versatility when it comes to metal roofing systems because they are easily assembled at the location where they will be installed. Metal roofing systems are available in many different types, and they are usually fabricated by welding together sheets of metal. Ladders are used to attach the metal roofing materials to the roof, and nails are used for nail installation, although manual ladders may also be used. Metal roofing systems are also commonly used on commercial buildings and are becoming more common in residential homes as well.