What Is the Right Roofing Material for My Home?

Your choice of roofing material will affect both the external appearance of your home and the comfort of your family inside the home.  Virginia Roofing materials are important in energy conservation, comfort, and the appearance of your home.  Your choice of material for a re-roofing project or for a new roof on a home addition should consider several factors.

The first consideration must be the architectural style of your home. The pitch or angle of the roof might suggest a particular type of roofing material. The style of your Virginia home will also suggest some materials and argue against others.  For example, cedar shakes would look out of place on a southern colonial home.

The most commonly used roof material is asphalt shingles.  Asphalt shingles can work on the roof of many home styles. They are often chosen because they are less expensive and they are considered the most cost-effective option.

Cedar Shakes are a good option if you are trying to create a “rustic” look. Like asphalt shingles, cedar shakes can be expected to last up to 30 years. They are made from wood blocks and usually are not of uniform size or thickness. They are usually pressure-treated to make them fire resistant. They can be stained or painted to change their appearance.

Concrete tile roofing has become increasingly popular in recent years.  The concrete tiles can look like slate, shake or terra cotta tiles. The concrete is much more durable and can be effectively used to create a well-ventilated roofing system that will help to prevent loss of interior conditioned air.

Several types of metal roofing materials are also available.  Metal costs more than asphalt shingles or cedar shakes, but will last a lifetime with relatively little maintenance. They will also reduce air conditioning costs if properly insulated and installed.  Tin is still used in many areas of the country. Copper offers a wonderful antique appearance, but probably is unaffordable for most people today.

A number of new metal roofing materials are now available that will last a lifetime, provide the insulating value of a metal roof, but look like other materials.  These roofing materials are shaped into panels, baked to various colors, and backed with insulating fiberglass or foam in some cases. Some of these materials are made from recycled materials, making them more environmentally friendly.  Painted aluminum and steel roofing are often made from recycled drink cans.

To choose the right roofing material for your Virginia home, first consider the architectural style and the type of roofing “look” that is right for the house. Then evaluate the natural materials and the metal simulations.  You should be able to find a roofing material that matches the style of your home, fits your budget and provides better insulation for your home.  This will make the home more attractive, more comfortable and more energy-efficient.

What Happens When a Roof Doesn’t Have Proper Ventilation?

One of the most important aspects of the way your Virginia 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 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 a 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 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 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.