A Homeowner’s Guide to Roof Basics

As a homeowner, are you confident in your knowledge of the components that make up your roof system? It’s a whole lot more comprehensive than just shingles nailed to the top of your home. A roofing system consists of several elements designed specifically to work in unison to protect your home and accommodate your home’s needs. Keep reading for our homeowner’s guide to roof basics to learn all there is to know as a homeowner about your home’s roof.

Understanding your Home’s Roof as a Homeowner

Whether you are building a new home or living in an existing house, it’s important to understand what elements comprise your roofing structure. At some point, you might need repairs or even a new roof. Understanding what your roof is made up of can help you make decisions and appreciate your options.

Roofing Basics: What is a Roof Made of?

All roofs tend to have similar elements. Some expand on the options, but most are layered and built with similar structures in mind.

1. Rafters A roof needs something to build on and provide support. Rafters can be designed a number of ways depending on building codes, size of boards, and structural designs.
2. Decking or Sheathing This is a flat surface installed on top of your rafters to provide more support for your roofing elements and to provide more structure and stability to your home. Decking tends to be built from wood.
3. Underlayment Building on top of the decking will be the underlayment. This is a vital portion of your roofing structure. It is often composed of a thin layer of felting or a synthetic material designed to repel moisture. Think of it as another barrier installed between you and the elements.
4. Flashing Flashing is another very important part of your roof. This will provide a secure barrier between structures like ventilation or chimneys and moisture. It needs to be installed right and positioned correctly to give you the best results and not cause spaces for leaks to develop.
5. Shingles Shingles are the most visible part to your roof and come in many different styles, colors, and designs. It’s the top layer of your roof that finalizes the weather, heat, and pest barrier for your home. The most popular type of shingle is asphalt shingles because they work with every budget and give homeowners fantastic value for their house.
6. Ventilation An essential part of your roofing structure is ventilation. We have a number of great articles about roof ventilation and feel it’s something that often gets overlooked. Proper ventilation is key to critical airflow.
7. Fascia This is the outside trim area of your roof. Fascia nicely covers the edge of your roofline where many of the materials meet underneath, secures some of the shingles, and supports your gutter system. Fascia can be wood, metal, or even a composite material.

Other Roofing Terms to Know

• Eaves – This is the section considered the overhang of your roof
• Soffits – A ventilated section under your roof’s eaves
• Gutters and Drip Edges – Not always a necessity, but can mitigate moisture from your home significantly
• Abutment – An area on your roof that joins with another section of the roof, often of varying heights
• Ridge – The top of your roof – like a peak – where both sides of roofing meet
• Valley – The opposite of a ridge, but also where sections of roof meet and are designed to funnel moisture off the roofing structure
• Gable – Looks like a ridge, but considered more of a design quality, it forms an area where two parts of the roof come together and create a triangle-shaped roofing design
• Hip – Also based on a style of roofing, it’s where roofing angles come together on an angle

6 Popular Roofing Styles

While some homes will have a straightforward roofing appearance, many homes will incorporate more than one look to present a more dimensional style to their home.

1. Shed Roof – This look has become popular and is often used on a contemporary style home. It’s one large surface and angles to one area of the home. This can be incorporated in a number of ways on different parts of the home for a modern look.
2. Gabled Roof – One of the most popular roofing styles. At its most basic design, a gabled roof has a couple of angled sections that form a peak at the top of a home. It is an economical design to build and repels moisture from the structure well.
3. Clipped Gable Roof – Similar to its namesake, it has the pointy-end sections kind of “clipped” off to form a flat area at the ends of the roof peaks to give it more of a cottage type feel.
4. Mansard Roof – Certainly a unique roofing style, this look originated from French architecture and can offer a distinctive appearance for just the right home.
5. Hipped Roof – Similar to a gabled roof, but with 4 sloping sections instead of 2, comes together at a peak. It offers a nice visual appeal to a home that is still practical but can cost a bit more considering the extra sections.
6. Gambrel Roof – Another very unique-looking roof that offers more living space because of the roof’s structured design. It’s very specific to the home’s overall design and style, and needs to be carefully considered for homes with a complex layout.

Your Local Austin, TX Roofing Professionals

We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver decades of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this area’s needs. We are a prominent roofing company in residential roof repair and roof replacement. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best product and service in Austin.

When we inspect, install, or repair your roof, we want to provide you with the best options for your roof design, components, and ventilation. We are Master Elite Contractors bringing you the latest in roofing technology, and a member of our local area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community.

Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today.