Whether you need to replace your entire roof or only want to repair your house as professional home roofers, you should know the parts that make up the structure.
Both processes can be confusing and a bit overwhelming. Therefore, you should start with the basics and know the parts of a roof to understand the other stages you must go through.
You’re probably familiar with main roofing components, such as asphalt shingles, pantiles, flashing, insulation, drainpipes, solar panels, or gutters. However, homeowners should know other essential parts of a roof. Fortunately, you can find detailed information about them here!
Read on and learn everything you need about the elements that make up your roofing system!
Roof Decking or Roof Sheathing
Also known as roof sheathing, “roof decking” refers to the roof framing’s wooden boards, planks, or plywood.
These elements make up the foundation of your roofing system or the layer between the shingles and the actual frame. Actually, your roofing materials are installed there!
The roof’s decking is nailed or screwed into your roof trusses. Therefore, when it cannot support the roofing material you chose or is damaged, you must replace it. Otherwise, the shingles could be blown off by high winds or extreme weather conditions, especially if you live in Cedar Park, Texas.
However, to know if you need to replace your roof decking, you must remove the old roof.
Drip Edge
The metal flashing often installed at your building envelope edges is what experts know as the “drip edge.” This element is essential to prevent water from reaching the fascia or seeping through the roofing material or other components.
Water can get behind the gutters if the roof has no drip edge, causing the fascia board and roof decking to rot out.
Properly installing drip edge on your roof’s edge is also a building code. Therefore, it’s essential if you don’t want to have problems during your property’s inspection.
Starter Shingles
Whether you choose asphalt shingles or another type of roofing material, this component is vital to ensure the structure is solid and durable.
Starter shingles are a pre-cut row of roofing material usually placed under the first course of shingles before installation.
This pre-cut course ensures that the first shingles row is sealed at the eaves and along the rakes, giving the roof greater resistance against high winds, which are common in Texas.
Roofing Material
Among the most important roof components, there are shingles and tar membranes. These elements are your roof’s first defense line against weather, water, or high winds. Therefore, they must be durable and receive constant maintenance.
When it comes to roof shingles, you can choose any roofing material. However, the most common are the following:
- Asphalt shingles
- Concrete tile
- Wood shingles
- Cedar shakes
- Metal shingles
- Standing seam metal roofing
- Metal roofing
- Slate tile
- Clay tiles
- Tiles made of synthetic material, such as rubber slate
If you want your roofing structure to remain intact for longer, you should choose a durable material. However, remember that the structure’s strength also depends on other components.
Ice Water Shield
Another key component in roofs is the ice and water shield. It’s a waterproof membrane installed to protect the structure against damage caused by water, snow, and ice.
This shield’s objective is to protect the roof decking against water seeping under the roofing material. Therefore, it should be installed around certain areas, including roof valleys.
Roof Underlayment
It’s a component sitting between the roof decking and the shingles to prevent water from getting under the structure or the roofing material.
Domestic architecture underlayment on roofs is usually made of felt paper or synthetic material. It provides additional waterproof protection against extreme weather and prevents leaks when shingles are damaged or torn.
This coat (installed in rows perpendicular to the roof trusses’ direction) also creates a smooth, clean surface for consistent results.
Roof Flashing
When it comes to protecting the roof’s structure, roof flashing is another important component. It can be made of aluminum, copper, or steel.
Roof flashing’s main purpose is to divert water away from specific parts, such as chimneys or roof valleys.
Maintaining the structure’s durability through the years is essential, and installed simultaneously as the shingles. Additionally, it should be inspected during your annual roof maintenance to detect and prevent leaks.
Ridge Capping
While you probably haven’t heard of ridge capping as often as shingles, this is another major roof component.
A roof’s ridge board is the trim installed on the upper part where the roof planes meet after the shingles are secured, creating a domed or arched effect.
Although they’re thicker than shingles, modern ridges are used to improve ventilation. Also, when covered with specially designed shingles, they can free the space of dirt, snow, or bugs.
Roof Valleys (Valley Flashing)
Installed where the lower edges of two flat roof planes meet, valleys can function as gutters, as they collect rainwater.
When two facets meet at a slope and form an interior angle (that’s a roof valley), they redirect water to the roof’s edges’ gutters to prevent leaks and liquids from sitting on the shingles.
Roof Vents
In order for your attic and entire home to breathe properly, you need to install roof vents as part of your ventilation system. Otherwise, the roof could have trouble filtering hot or cold air, shortening its lifespan.
Ventilation systems also remove potentially harmful vapors, fumes, and other gases from your home. These are the most common types:
Ridge Vents
If your house has an attic, you should also make sure that the structure has adequate ventilation. This is where the ridge vent comes in.
It’s the most efficient form of ventilation for attic properties, as it runs along the roof’s ridge board. Besides promoting air circulation, it prevents ice dams and moisture from accumulating.
Plumbing Vents
Another key component when installing roofs is a plumbing vent, as it keeps harmful fumes out of the house.
These components usually have a neoprene pipe boot to prevent water from getting in but need to be replaced regularly because they tend to rot out.
Bathroom Vents
This type of vent removes steam from the shower to prevent mold growth or unpleasant odors accumulation in the bathroom.
Kitchen Vents
Since it removes the air picked up by the microwave, stove, or oven fan, releasing it through the roof, this ventilation system is also essential for home safety.
Other Types
Besides the previous ventilation systems, you can also find the following:
- Furnace exhaust vent: It helps with thermal emittance and keeps carbon monoxide and other gases away from your home.
- Turbine roof vent: This system has been designed to improve ventilation in the attic without allowing animals or pests to enter.
- Gable end vents: This vent component is often installed at the peak of a gable roof to allow hot air to escape from the attic.
- Solar shingles: Solar panels built into roof shingles generate electricity for your home.
Skylights
Also known as roof lights, skylights are a beautiful addition to properties, but their primary purpose goes far beyond decorating a home.
Skylights provide natural light and ventilation, as they can release hot air that naturally accumulates near the ceiling.
However, roof lights must be sealed and checked frequently to prevent leaks!
Gutters and Downspouts
Other important roof system parts are gutters and downspouts, as they divert water from the structure and foundation to prevent flooding.
To avoid water damage, keeping gutters and downspouts free of debris is essential!
Chimney Flashing
While chimneys are essential in many homes, they can also cause roof leaks.
Therefore, the chimney base must be sealed with flashing to avoid problems caused by moisture or water infiltration.
In addition, since caulking or sealing can crack over time and allow water to enter, checking chimney flashing during maintenance is also a must!
More Terminology about a Roof Structure That You Should Know
There are other roof components that you probably haven’t heard about too often but are also important. These are:
- Gable: A triangular section installed below two roof facets that overhang the walls.
- Fascia: It’s a component put under the rakes and the eaves of the roof edge.
- Soffit: It’s installed under the fascia when the roof overhangs the walls.
- Dormer: It’s a protruding roof section but requires its little roof system.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the parts of a roof and their functions can help you better understand the process of installing and repairing your structure.
However, if you think your roof may be damaged or one of these parts is failing, broken, or improperly installed, a roofing contractor can help you find a suitable solution!