One of the first things you have to do when you get a new roof is pick out the roof shingles. The shingles are the main component of a new roof, but there are other parts to know about too. Here are some points to know about asphalt roof shingles and the roof parts that work with them.
The Shingles Warranty May Require Underlayment
Whether underlayment is required or not, it's usually a good thing to have on your roof. The underlayment is a barrier that's put on the roof deck before the shingles. The purpose of the underlayment is to protect the deck from water damage. If a shingle works loose, or if wind drives rain under the shingles, the underlayment may protect the roof long enough for the rain to stop and the roof to dry out before water damage is done. This protects the roof and the shingles.
Shingles Need To Be Installed A Certain Way
The manufacturer of the shingles may stipulate whether staples or nails are to be used to install the shingles. They may also require a specific number of nails per shingle. Local building codes might also have regulations on how to install roof shingles so they tolerate strong storms. Once the shingles are on the roof, a codes inspector checks the work and makes sure the proper installation technique was used.
Shingles May Be Delivered To Your Home Early
Your roofer may deliver the roof shingles a few days before the work on your roof starts. They might be lifted to your roof so the stacks of shingles are out of the way. However, care has to be taken to be gentle on the shingle granules by not stacking the shingles too high and by not keeping them stacked for too long. It's normal for shingles to shed granules right after they're installed, but the roofer doesn't want excess shedding since the granules are important for protecting the shingles and for providing color to your roof. If the weather outside drops too cold at night, the roofer may need to store the shingles in a warmer place than on your roof.
Flashing Also Protects The Roof And Shingles
Like the roof shingles and underlayment, flashing is an important component of an asphalt shingle roof. Flashing is usually made of metal, and it wraps around the chimney and lines the valley on the roof. It overlaps the shingles and protects the area where it's installed against water damage. Your roofer can buy flashing pieces that are already made or create them from sheet metal before applying the flashing to the roof. Flashing has to be nailed down and sealed with adhesive to hold it in place and keep rain off of the roof deck.
When you have something you like inside a jar, you probably put a lid on it — right? In a way, you can think of your house in the same manner. You like and value the items inside, along with the inside of the house itself. So, it only makes sense that you would protect the interior of your home with a lid. That lid is your roof.
Keep that perspective in mind as you read this blog. Learning more about roofing will feel more interesting if you remember what a roof does: it protects the inside of the home and the people who live in it.