Know Your Roofing Materials and Get a Better Roof

When they think of roofing materials, most people start and stop with asphalt shingles. It’s true, without shingles you don’t have much of a roof, but they are only the topmost of three layers of materials that keep you and your family warm and dry.

Roof Deck – The base of your roof, the roof deck is fastened to the trusses and/or joists that support your roof. Plywood sheets are by far the most popular material for roof decks.

Underlayment – it’s not a pretty word, but it’s a very important roofing material. The underlayment is the layer of material between the deck and the shingles. Commonly saturated with asphalt, your roof underlayment gives extra protection against moisture and helps to seal any spaces in the roof deck

Asphalt Shingles – The most popular roof finishing material, asphalt shingles are available in a variety of designs, colors and warranties.

• Shingle Designs – Consumer demand and different architectural styles have resulted in a wide range of shingle designs.
• o Traditional Three-tab Shingles - Still the favourite, available in a range of colors
  o Designer Shingles – Manufacturers have developed processes to laminate roof shingle materials to add depth to the traditional flat shingle. The result is a range of new looks for your roof.
  o Premium Architectural Shingles – Have the look of more expensive slate
• Warranties – Traditional asphalt shingle warranties range from 15 to 45 years, but some shingles now have a lifetime warranty.
  o Make sure you understand your shingle warranty. Some warranties only cover roofing materials and not the cost of replacing the shingles.