A hip roof, also called a hipped roof, is a roof where all the sides slope down to the eaves. There are no vertical sides (a gabled roof) and no flat sides (a flat roof). A square hipped roof creates a single point from which the sides of the roof slope; a rectangular hipped roof creates an edge for the added length. Hipped roofs are known for their solidness and practicality. They are most popular for ranch homes and cottages as they help accentuate a more horizontal house design.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The biggest advantage of a hip roof is a more aerodynamic design that performs better in windstorms and reduced the risk of structural damage. If you live in an area that may get hit by a hurricane or other strong winds, this is probably your best choice for roof design. While a hip roof drains reasonably well compared to many roof designs, it is slightly more susceptible to leaks than a gabled roof and doesn’t ventilate as efficiently. The increased area size also makes a hip roof a more expensive option. Still, with its aerodynamic design and pleasing look, a hip roof remains one of the most popular designs.
Dutch Hip Roof
The Dutch hip roof is a variation that provides all the benefits of a traditional hip roof but adds a small gable-like structure near the top of the roof. This provides similar ventilation of a gabled roof, while maintaining wind resistance. A stand alone gable, known as a dormer, can also be created in the middle of your hip roof for an attic or second-story window. This, too, creates extra ventilation and can be a nice decorative touch.
Roof Pitch and Overhangs
The roof pitch or slope of a hipped roof is usually pretty gradual to moderate. A steeply pitched hipped roof is known as a tented roof as is most commonly found in churches. A gradual pitch reduces the area of this already expansive roof and will cut down on unused attic space or “dead space” in your Wilmington home. You’ll probably want to make sure the pitch is steep enough for proper drainage and aesthetic value. Finding a happy medium is important and can be influenced by the climate where you live.
Another place where you’ll need to find a good balance is how far you want your roof to overhang past the eaves. A larger overhang will help protect your walls from moisture, help create shade, and can be visually pleasing. Too large of an overhang, however, can create an uplift problem and compromise the roof’s performance in a windstorm.
When you are ready for a roof replacement or a roof for your your Wilmington new construction, discuss the option of a hipped roof with your Wilmington roofing contractor.
Read more: http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.Why-Hip-Roofs-are-Hip.14259.html#ixzz1oYBvNNoq
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roof replacement contractor then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
Few power-generating technologies have as little impact on the environment as photovoltaics. When operating, photovoltaic systems produce no pollution or noise, and they require no fuel (other than the sun) to run them. What’s more, they’re infinitely renewable, as long as the sun shines. Also, solar shingles can save New Hanover homeowners up to 60 percent on their monthly energy costs. (Another way of tapping into nature for “free” energy is through small wind-power systems.)
The energy generated by solar shingles can provide power both to the home and to the utility’s power grid. While PV systems are capable of powering Hanover County homes and small businesses without any connection to the electricity grid, many people prefer the advantages that grid-connection offers. This is because any excess electricity you produce is fed back into the grid. When you need it, electricity from the grid supplies your needs, thus eliminating the expense of electricity storage devices like batteries.
Solar shingles offer many advantages:
- They provide the same protection, durability and flexibility as asphalt shingles.
- They’re visually appealing, designed to blend with standard roofs and normal home construction.
- They replace roofing material—additional materials underneath aren’t necessary.
- Installation costs are low.
- They’re lightweight.
When considering whether solar shingles are right for your New Hanover home, think about whether you have a sunny spot free of shading on the roof. Ideally, they should be mounted in a south-facing location. If a southern location isn’t available, west- or east-facing locations can provide better than 90 percent of the power of a true south-facing system. In general, small homes will need a 10 X 12 area for solar shingles, while a larger home can require up to 1,000 square feet. Your New Hanover roofing contractor can help you determine if solar shingles are a good option for you and handle installation as well.
Article Source: http://www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/get-solar-power-without-changing-your-roof-line/index.html
A clean roof enhances your St. James home’s curb appeal, helps your home maintain a high market value and even improves your home’s energy efficiency. Keeping your roof clean also extends the life of your roof and helps you diagnose problem areas before major damage occurs. When you do find a problem area, it is always wise to contact your St. James roofing contractor for any roofing repairs before the damage gets worse.
Roof cleaning is dangerous; a single fall can result in life-changing injuries and death. To prevent accidents, a St. James homeowner may hire a team of professional cleaners or choose to employ safe methods to conduct the cleaning himself.
Instructions
Position a ladder against the eave of your roof. Choose a level site at one corner of your home, so you can work back from the opposite end of the roof to the ladder. Set the ladder up properly by locking braces into place to ensure the ladder does not try to close during use. Have an assistant hold the bottom of the ladder steady as you climb.
Wear slip resistant shoes and work on a dry day when no threat of rain is impending. Wear a harness and tie-off to your chimney or a heavy object on the other side of your St. James home to help prevent falls.
Assemble the cleaning supplies you require for the specific type of roofing material. Install a simple rope system to hoist materials to the roof, as you should never try to carry items while climbing a ladder. Have your assistant throw a rope up to you and use the rope to pull your tools and cleaning supplies up to the roof. If the item is especially, have a second assistant help you pull the materials up. Leave the materials on the ladder end of your roof to prevent tripping on these items while you work.
Clean out the gutter system, if one exists. A clogged gutter prevents water and cleaning solutions from effectively draining off the roof, making for more slick surfaces that may cause falls. Clean gutters by scooping debris out by hand from the top of a ladder and rinse out the gutters and spouts by spraying a garden hose through the gutters.
Start at the opposite end of the roof and work your way back to the ladder. Stand either to the side of your work area or above your work area, ensuring you are always standing on a dry surface. Apply the cleaning solution, scrub the surface as necessary and rinse the roof in one small strip at a time. Repeat as you move towards the ladder, keeping your feet firmly balanced on dry surfaces of the roof. Have your second assistant reach you each tool and material you need as you clean, to prevent you from fumbling to exchange the items you need.
Tips & Warnings
- Clean your ladder rugs and ensure they are dry before use, as necessary.
- Wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of a fall.
- Do not clean the final strip of roof above your ladder. Instead, move to the other side of the roof and allow the first side to dry before returning to clean the remaining strip. Do this on the other side of the house as well to avoid standing on wet roof and prevent injuries.
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roof repair contractor then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
The roof is the ceiling of your Wilmington home. It really needs to be considered when you’re making color decisions. If you’re due for a roof replacement, congratulations! You now have a chance to select your roof color from the myriad choices that are available. Here are a few guidelines and considerations:
Traditional Shingle Roofs
- Gray or blue house. Stay with a traditional roof color like dark gray or black. That way your roof will blend with your Wilmington home and make the whole structure seem bigger. Any other roof color will stand out too much and make the house look chopped up.
- Cream, tan, or light brown house. Consider the many brown roof options, some of them with a mixture of browns that really make the house look updated and terrific. A brown roof will blend with the cream or tan and make your Wilmington home look bigger. Black and gray roofs just look ordinary. A brown roof looks like you actually planned out your entire color scheme.
- White house. Stick with a dark gray or black roof. It’s traditional, but it works.
- Red, green, or yellow house. You can go either way, a brown or a gray/black roof. I prefer a brown roof for red and green house colors and a black roof for a yellow house.
Of course, the same suggestions apply if you are stuck with your roof color and are looking for a paint color for your Wilmington home.
- Black/gray roof. The ideal house colors are gray, blue, white, and yellow.
- Brown roof. The ideal house colors are cream, tan, brown, red, green.
- Green roof and other colors. You can either use the roof as an accent color to the house or try to blend it by using a lighter tint of the roof color on the house itself.
Nontraditional Roofs
What about metal roofs? They’re all over Colorado, Upstate New York, and other areas of the world where snow on the roof is a major factor in the winter. Metal roofs come in a rainbow of colors, from red to green to brown to purple. If you have a metal roof, you are making a design statement (whether you meant to or not, of course) and you can treat it as an accent color, kind of like picking a front-door color. A metal roof is going to stand out no matter what color it is so you might as well show it off. There is a house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a purple metal roof and a purple front door. The house is brick. The whole look is absolutely stunning!
What about terracotta roofs? These are traditionally seen on Mediterranean style homes and are a definite design feature. Keep the house color neutral to highlight the beautiful roof and the other architectural elements that are undoubtedly present.
Other nontraditional roof materials. Just like a thatched roof on an English cottage, a nontraditional roof is a design feature of the home. Hopefully, you want it that way. Choose a house color that makes the roof look like you planned it as a feature.
Regardless of what kind of roof you have, make sure you consider it and consult with your Wilmington roofing contractor when you’re making color decision concerning your Wilmington home.
Article Source: http://yourcolorcoach.wordpress.com/2007/05/31/what-about-the-roof-color/
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roof replacement contractor then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
What is an ice dam, and how does it form?
When snow accumulates on your Brunswick County roof, a cycle of melting and refreezing occurs. In a perfect world, the snow would melt off the roof, enter the gutters, and flow harmlessly to the ground. Or the snow would evaporate from the action of the sun, and never really melt off unless the outside temperature rose above the freezing point. However, two key factors interact to cause problems… the outside temperature and the temperature of the inside of your attic.
The warmer your attic is, the more melt off that occurs at the roof surface. This melted snow would normally flow off the edge of the roof. Under certain conditions, though, when air temperature is very low, the water refreezes at the edge of the roof, where the interior roof surface is not being warmed by the attic. This refreezing gradually forms what is fondly known as an “ice dam“, a growing heap of ice that blocks path of the melted snow.
Once this dam forms to a certain height, the melted snow that pools up behind it can suddenly leak back under the roof shingles and into your Brunswick County home! On a roof with a low slope, it only takes a small ice dam to cause water backup and leakage.
Contrary to popular opinion, gutters do not cause ice dams. However, an ice dam can extend into a gutter if weather conditions permit.
Can ice dams be prevented or minimized before they occur? The answer… insulation and ventilation!
INSULATION…
Since we have determined the main cause of ice dams to be an overly warm attic, a good start in inoculating your home against ice dams is to reduce the attic temperature. Installing additional insulation on the attic floor is as easy as laying additional batts across the existing ones, or having more insulation blown in.
However, there are limits to the usefulness of this procedure… regarding Murphy’s Law of diminishing returns. Once you reach the your area’s optimal R-value (a measure of the insulating value of a material), further increases in the amount will not show appreciable decrease in heat loss per dollar spent.
Install weatherstripping and/or insulation on attic stairways or hatchways, and on attic floor-mounted louvers for whole house ventilation fans. Be careful if there are any exposed recessed light fixtures or vent fans poking through the attic floor. Some of these are not designed to be covered with insulation. Get some information from the manufacturers on the suitability of covering them!
VENTILATION…
Even with optimal insulation, there is still heat leakage into the attic. This is where the value of ventilation becomes apparent. Without adequate ventilation, heat will build up regardless of the amount of insulation. (As an added plus, ventilation removes water vapor also, which can condense in the attic and cause dry rot on wood and rust on metal items.)
Increasing ventilation can be a major or semi-major project. The usual recommendation for venting is 1 square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area. Most older Brunswick County homes don’t even come close to meeting this number. If you have small louvered windows at either end of the attic, known as gable vents, you may be able to replace them with larger ones. This will take some carpentry skills, but is not a really tough job unless you have difficulty getting to either the inside or outside of the windows.
If your Brunswick County home’s roof overhangs the outside walls, add vents into these overhangs (soffits). To complete the ventilation system, add a ridge vent. This is a specialized form of vent that mounts along the length of the peak of the roof. Cold air entering the soffit vents rises along the inside of the roof and exits through the ridge vent, cooling the roof and removing moisture (that important fringe benefit) at the same time. This is the best form of ventilation, but cannot be fully utilized without the soffit venting. However, I would still recommend the addition of ridge venting into any home getting a new roof. Even without the soffit vents, the action of the ridge vent will lower the temperature and reduce moisture in the attic somewhat, in conjunction with the gable vents.
Don’t make this attic insulation error!
In an effort to fully insulate the attic floor, people sometimes push the insulation deep into the corner where the roof meets the attic floor. Not good! This causes the lowest part of the roof to be colder than the rest of the roof, setting up the possible formation of an ice dam. Inspect your insulation, and if you see this occurring, pull the insulation back away from the inside of the roof so air can reach it. If you have blown-in, loose insulation, there are styrofoam dams, available at most lumber yards, that can be installed between the floor joists to hold the insulation back from the inside of the roof.
If you have soffit vents, the same holds true. Insulation should not block the flow of cool air up from the soffit to the ridge vent.
What about roof mounted heating cables?
Heating cables mounted on the roof are designed to form a path for melted snow to travel through an ice dam. The will not work if an ice dam forms above them. They will also not work if you forget to turn them on.
The biggest downside to these is that you cannot leave them running all the time, or they will quickly burn out. So you must remember to turn them on and off. And if the electrical power goes out… forget it!
Most Brunswick County homes do not have electrical outlets located outside the house at the roof line to plug the heating cables into. Whether you do the job yourself or have an electrician do it for you, be sure to put a shutoff that controls all the cables at a convenient location. Also, be sure that the circuit is protected with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter).
Having a properly insulated and ventilated attic is a better solution, because it requires no ongoing involvement from you! So weigh the comparative costs of each solution before choosing one or the other!
Can anything be done to the outside of the roof to stop ice dams?
Not to the roofing itself. But a properly installed roof can eliminate much of the damage they cause. Even if you did everything recommended above, ice dams might still form under severe conditions. Modification or replacement of your roof is the only sure way to permanently stop the leakage. Your Brunswick County roofer will do the job right and not cut corners. Ditto if you do it yourself!
Roofing installation is one of the least technical parts of building a house, but is labor intensive and potentially dangerous. It is also a place where contractors tend to skimp, because the effects of a poorly installed roof may not become apparent for years… long after the check clears! A quality roof installation in the snow belt should have four components: proper flashing, ice and water barrier installed on all roof edges and over all valleys (places where two roof lines meet), rolled asphalt underlayment over the entire roof, and quality roofing shingles with the proper overlap.
If you have one specific problem area, though, and your roof is otherwise sound, you can do the following repair procedure to fix the local problem:
- Remove all roofing material from 3 to 6 feet back from the lower edge of the roof. Repair or replace damaged or rotten plywood underlayment as necessary.
- Install the self-adhesive ice and water barrier over the plywood. Since the barrier is three feet wide, install two overlapping courses if you want extra waterproofing or if the slope of your roof is low.
- Reinstall new roofing shingles.
If there is flashing in the leaking area, such as in a valley, and you suspect a problem with it, the basics of the repair are as follows:
- Remove roofing material around the flashing giving yourself an additional two or three feet of exposed underlayment. Do repairs to the plywood underlayment as necessary.
- Install ice and water barrier across the area to be flashed, and cover all exposed underlayment with it. Then, install the flashing, followed by the shingles. The ice and water barrier will act as a diaper under the flashing if the roof cement that seals the flashing fails after a few years. And it will fail… eventually.
In this sort of repair, there is no need to install an asphalt felt underlayment. However, if you were to decide to replace the entire roof, you should cover the entire roof, including the ice and water barrier, with the asphalt-impregnated felt. CAUTION: Be sure that the ice and water barrier will not chemically react with the asphalt!!
Article Source: http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inficedam/infdam.html
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roof replacement contractor then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
Low slope roofs have several advantages, including low installation cost, low maintenance cost, and the ease of finding a New Hanover roofing contractor who works on them. Contractors who work on low slope roofing usually service several types of these systems. In doing so, they provide the following services:
Maintenance
When a New Hanover rooftop is well maintained, it improves the chance of fulfilling or exceeding the expected lifespan. Although different low slope roofs require different types of maintenance, all low slope roofs should receive an annual maintenance inspection. Often, a maintenance inspection reveals early signs that a rooftop needs repair. By addressing the problems early, a company can protect its investment and extend the life of the roof.
Repair
Roof repair resolves a particular problem in an otherwise well-conditioned rooftop. Common repairs to low slope roofing include replacing old caulking, recoating areas where the original coating has deteriorated, and fixing leaks to stop interior water damage. Ideally, repairs are performed immediately after a commercial roofing company detects problems during an annual maintenance inspection.
Restoration
Roof restoration repairs an entire rooftop. Often necessary after a severe storm or after years of poor maintenance, restoration is also an option for extending the lifespan of an old roof. Roofing services that can restore a low slope roof include recoating, re-flashing, and design modifications. These improvements can extend the lifespan of the roof by nearly 15 years.
Replacement
On average, low slope roofs are replaced every 20 years. Although replacement costs the most money upfront, it is often the best value in the end, especially when a rooftop is old and requires frequent repairs. Replacement is usually performed after a roof exceeds its lifespan, but severe weather, defective materials, and improper roofing specifications could lead to roof replacement.
Inspection
Inspections are performed in two capacities: as part of an annual maintenance check, or in response to problems that need immediate attention. In either case, the examination should evaluate the overall condition of a New Hanover roof. If repairs are needed, the inspector will recommend them in writing along with price estimates for supplies and labor. A building owner should receive estimates from at least 3 contractors.
Conclusion
Most buildings eventually need the commercial roofing services listed above. How often they need them depends on how a roof system experiences wear. Some roofs, such as those that have metal paneling, gradually experience wear. Other roofs, such as those that have shingles, experience wear quicker than most. A good contractor will explain the value of a roof in terms of its cost versus its expected lifespan.
Regardless of the covering a roof has, having a commercial New Hanover roofing company inspect it annually is the key to preserving it. The key to getting the best inspection is to hire the right contractor. Before you hire a contractor to inspect the rooftop of your building, be sure the contractor has a physical business location, can supply local references, specializes in the type of roof your building has, and is licensed, bonded, and insured to perform roof work.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Mac
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roof replacement contractor then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
Your Brunswick County roof could be leaking right now, causing hundreds, even thousands of dollars of damage, and you don’t even know it. In fact, many roof problems are only discovered after they’ve reached an advanced stage – after leakage or other serious damage has already occurred.
Roofs can leak for years before you see evidence
Most often, Brunswick County homeowners only pay attention to their roof if there’s water leaking into the house, if they notice brown stains on the ceiling, or if there’s cracked paint or peeling wallpaper – all obvious signs of a leak. But roofs can leak for 2 to 4 years before you see evidence on the inside the house. By this time, the leak may have caused dry rot, fungus and insulation damage – and the need for major roof repairs or even a complete roof replacement.
Have your roof inspected at least once per year
To add years of life to your roof, and to avoid premature roof failure, it is a good idea to have your roof inspected at least once per year. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends two roof inspections each year – once in the fall and once in the late spring – before and after the tough winter season, especially in colder and rainy climates.
You can do a preliminary inspection yourself, looking for shingles that are buckling, curling, blistering or missing altogether; loose material or wear around chimneys, pipes and other penetrations; and excessive amounts of shingle granules in your gutters, which indicate advanced wear. But it is better to get a professional Brunswick County roofing contractor to inspect your roof – someone who knows what they’re looking for, and who’s used to walking around on the roof.
Get a written report of the damage
A roof inspection by a professional Brunswick County roofing contractor should include a complete inspection of the roof, parapets, flashings and drainage system. They should present you with a detailed report of conditions they found, including photographs and a sketch of the roof indicating the problem areas.
What about a free roof inspection?
Many Brunswick County roofing contractors will provide a free roof inspection, including a written estimate outlining the required repairs, as a means to solicit work. This is a fine approach if you already have a relationship with your roofing contractor. If not, to be cautious, get two inspections done by separate companies, or hire a roof inspector who doesn’t also offer repairs. This way you can be sure that the inspector isn’t recommending unnecessary work. Richard Boon, Deputy Technical Director of the Roofing Industry Educational Institute, recommends paying for a roof inspection. He figures you will end up paying for the inspection anyway, as it will be hidden within the cost of the repair.
A small price to pay for the “insurance” – and peace of mind
The cost of a roof inspection is negligible compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a roof which makes regular roof inspections a wise investment. Wouldn’t you prefer to find potential leaks and related damage before they become real problems? And before they lead to major repair bills?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/476004
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina metal roofer then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
If you live in an area that receives large hail that can cause damage to your New Hanover home and personal property, it is helpful to know the claims process and what to expect. When New Hanover has experienced a hail storm, inspect your personal property to see if any damage occurred to your vehicles, siding, shutters or wood fences. This can help you determine if roof damage may have happened.
Instructions
Write down the date of the hail storm and take pictures of the hail that resulted from this storm. If you were unable to capture pictures, do a quick search online in your location to find news pictures of the hail that fell in Hanover. Save this information so you can show your insurance agent.
Obtain written estimates from several roofing contractors and have them confirm the damage is from hail. When your New Hanover roofing contractor puts together the estimate, ensure they differentiate which damage is from wear and tear and which damage is from the recent hail storm. Also advise them to inspect other items on your property that may have been damaged from the hail such as AC units, tools, windows and screens. Choose a New Hanover contractor with a good reputation in the event the company needs to return for additional work that needs to be completed. Ask if they are willing to be present when the insurance adjuster comes out to your home.
Investigate the specific policy and your state regulations to ensure that your insurance company does not drop you for filing a claim for this damage. It is prohibited in most states for an insurance company to cancel your policy due to severe weather-related events that lead to damages.
File the claim with your insurance company. When you call and speak with a representative, give them the date the damage occurred and offer to send over the pictures you have as well as the estimates from the New Hanover roofing companies. The insurance company will still send someone out, but it helps that you are offering this information up front.
Meet with the adjuster at the scheduled time. After you have filed the claim, you will be contacted about meeting with the adjuster. If possible, have a representative from one of the roofing companies come out to meet with the adjuster so they can compare notes. Once the adjuster has spoken with the contractor, they will provide you with the settlement amount at that time, or they may have to review the notes further.
Complete the work as soon as possible after your claim has been approved. If you are approved for the full amount, your insurance company will send you a check for that amount, less the deductible, so you can get the work done. Sometimes the insurance company may not approve the full amount and in this case, the contractor will need to dispute the settlement.
Cash in on any rewards or benefits your New Hanover roofing contractor is offering you. This could range from an advertising fee to place a yard sign on your property, or you could receive a referral fee from sending the company additional customers. It is vital that you understand the difference between working directly with the contractor for these benefits and receiving rebates and kickbacks. It is illegal to receive rebates and kickbacks.
Article Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_5000235_file-claim-roof-hail-damage.html
One of the most important aspects of the way your Brunswick County roof is designed and built is proper ventilation. You simply cannot over-estimate its importance. What happens when a roof doesn’t have proper ventilation? Improper ventilation allows formation of condensation, moisture accumulation, and damage to the roof deck and, eventually, to the stability of the roof. Improper roof ventilation can also affect the health of your family.
The industry standard for roof ventilation is to provide 1 square foot of intake ventilation and 1 square foot of exhaust or outflow ventilation for every 300 square feet of attic space, provided the area is insulated with a vapor barrier. If the area is insulated without a vapor barrier, the requirement doubles.
Proper ventilation of the roof and attic of your Brunswick County home achieves several important functions:
- It makes the attic space cooler
- It makes the home more energy efficient
- It prevents condensation and accumulation of moisture on the inside of the roof deck, and prevents rotting of the roof deck
- It reduces the risk of fire
Several types of vents can be used to properly ventilate the roof of your Brunswick County home. Roof ridge vents are placed along the ridge line of the roof. Ridge vents are used for exhaust or outflow of moisture, heat, and stale air. Soffit vents and Eaves are placed at the lower extremes of the roof and provide the intake ventilation. If you live in an older home, your roof might not be constructed for roof ridge or soffit vents. Older homes were not built with the tight seals of today’s houses. There were cracks and openings around windows and doors, chimneys and other openings. These cracks and openings allowed fresh air to flow into the house. On the principle that hot air rises, the accumulated heat and moisture would rise to the attic and out the roof vents.
Without adequate ventilation, moisture rises with the hot air and forms condensation on the inside of the roof deck. This moisture is released into the air inside the house from bathing, cooking, plants, laundry and other causes. When the condensation forms on the roof deck, it begins to rot the wood. This introduces mold spores into the air, as well as damaging the wood. The result, if the problem is not noticed and repaired, can be destruction of all or part of the roof deck and creation of unhealthy air inside the house.
In our increasingly airtight Brunswick County homes, the importance of proper ventilation in roof construction cannot be over-emphasized. It is important to take the time and do the research to understand the ventilation needs for your home in your region and how best to meet those needs. One of the best resources for information is your Brunswick County roofing contractor. Your contractor can also perform a roofing inspection to determine whether or not your ventilation is adequate.
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina metal roofer then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
There are two basic methods of pitched roof construction;
- A ‘cut roof‘ – this is the traditional method of cutting the timber on site and building up the roof using rafters, ridge boards, joists and purlins etc – the exact details being determined by the size of roof, size of timbers etc.
- A ‘truss roof‘ – using factory made trusses which are delivered to site complete and just erected.
Current day building regulations require detailed calculation of the stresses, timber size etc used in roof construction, so factory made trusses are becoming the standard practice where all this can be worked out on a computer.
A cut roof
In simple terms this type of roof consists of rafters and joists. The joists prevent the outward spread of the rafters/walls, and conveniently give support for the ceiling below.
The size of rafter timbers will depend upon their length from the wall plate to the ridge, the type of roof covering and whether purlins are incorporated in the roof. It is more economical to keep the cross section of the rafters down, however where an open roof space is needed, larger rafters will be necessary. Typical rafter spacing is 400mm (16 inches), closer spacing will allow small section rafters and batten, that are fixed to the rafters to locate/fix the slates or tiles, to be used. The wider the gap between the rafters, the thicker the rafter and lath timbers need to be.
Rafters are nailed to a wall plate at the top of each supporting walls, these are normally 100x75mm (4×3 inches) timber embedded on cement mortar on top of the inner skin of a cavity wall, or the inner part of a solid wall. The wall plate timbers along the top of each wall should be joined with a half lap joint where they meet.
Each rafter has a small triangular section (referred to as ‘birdsmouth joints’) cut out of them to allow them to fit neatly over the wall plate. The top of the rafter is cut at an angle and nailed to the ridge board, typically 175mmx32mm (7×21/2 inch) mounted vertically.
Purlins, and the associated struts, are used to give some additional support for the rafters. The purlins run at right angles to the rafters, the associated struts are positioned under every forth (or so) rafter to attach to a joist above a supporting wall below.
Hangers, in conjunction with a longitudinal binder running at right angles to the joists, are used to help hold the ceiling up. Each hanger is nailed between the every fourth (or so) rafters and the joist below. The larger the joists size, the less likely there will be a need for hangers.
Collars, ridge collars and/or collars further down the rafters, are sometimes used to provide additional binding between the rafters on both sides of the roof. Where used, they are usually fixed to an occasional pair of rafters along the roof.
No part of a timber roof should ever be cut, modified, remove or the covering of the roof changed (i.e. replacing a slate roof covering by a concrete tile covering) without consulting a structural engineer.
A truss roof
A truss roof is made up of a number of factory made frames (or trusses) each of which which combine the joist, rafter and struts. The illustration to the right shows a typical truss for a simple Duo ridge roof.
Each modern roof truss is designed and made for a particular position in the roof structure and is made up of butt jointed timber lengths typically nailed together using plate fastenings – no type of timber joint being used. Historically truss timbers have been bolted together, or mortise and tenoned and then pegged.
As each truss is designed to form part of the complete roof structure, they should never be cut, modified or their use changed (i.e. replacing a slate roof covering by a concrete tile covering) without consulting a structural engineer.
Now that you know a little more, you can discuss roofing options with your North Carolina roofing contractor and determine which roofing system is best for you.
Article Source: http://diydata.com/general_building/roof_construction/roof_construction.php
So if you are looking for a professional North Carolina roofing contractor, then please call us today at 1-888-DRY-CLUB or complete our online request form.
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