A house is what makes you happy because it is not just an ordinary building – it is your home. However, the house is also an inexhaustible source of obligations because it requires maintenance. Although most of us are not thrilled with tasks such as roof maintenance, the fact is that it is a necessity when you have a house. That’s why you should decide on the type of roofing that will require less maintenance. So, let’s find out what type of roof is easiest to maintain.
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There Is No House Without A Roof
A house is not a house if it has no roof. And indeed, whenever you visualize a house in your head – that will be the first thing you think of. Not only is it necessary, but it provides your home with an authentic look and functionality. However, during construction, we also have to decide on the type of roof that will cover our house. Roofs can be divided into several categories. However, we usually divide them by shape – flat and sloping, vaulted or dome. Pitched ones generally have a slope of 30-60 degrees – especially if they are covered with tiles. By flat roofs, we mean those with a slight slope, from 3% to 10% – while more sloping ones can have angles of over 75 degrees.
Roofing Is What’s Important When Talking About Roof Maintenance
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The roof covering protects the structure and the entire building from external influences. Of course, today, we have several types of coverings available. And why is it so important? There are many reasons for that! By choosing good roofing, we not only protect our home and ensure energy efficiency – but we also make an impact on a global level. Nowadays, we know that coverings influence global warming. Today, it is increasingly common not to recommend, or even ban, materials that absorb heat and create the so-called ‘hot islands’. First, this includes materials such as asphalt or roofings with black insulation – which have a much higher absorption power than concrete or tin roofings.
The Roofing Color Is Significant Too
The color of the roofing is also important – so, for example, the state of California has announced radical and rigorous regulations in this regard. Namely, all roofs on old and new buildings will have to be painted white or rendered green. That suggestion followed the publication of scientific results that replacing asphalt with concrete and painting the roofs white in the 100 largest cities in the world would reduce the temperature of the entire planet by 1 degree Celsius.
According to DomRoofing, when we choose the type of roofing for our house, we will take into account maintenance – as well as how demanding it is. Therefore, here are some suggestions for high-performance, but minimal-maintenance roofing materials.
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Metal coverings
Metal roofing has a long tradition, especially in European architecture. Even medieval churches were covered with lead or copper sheets – and the use of metal sheets is still very present today. Metal roofing is still one of the most valued construction crafts. Such roofs can last a very long time – especially when they are made of quality raw materials and adequately protected with chemical agents, patina, or coatings. Steel or galvanized aluminum, copper sheets, impregnated sheets, or sheets enriched with titanium, etc. – are often used as metal roof coverings that require minimal maintenance. Of course, this kind of roofing has its drawbacks. Namely, there are limitations in the appearance and shape of the roof, poor sound insulation – the appearance of noise, the appearance of condensation, etc. They require an ideally prepared roof structure.
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Slate roofing covers
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This is probably one of the best materials for this purpose. Namely, slate is a sedimentary rock that can be found in various colors. Although we will most often see it in black – today there are other combinations, for example, silver-white shades, red-brown shades, or green shades. The slate has a rough surface. From a construction point of view, slate is an outstanding material. Due to its natural composition, it is easy to shape and fits perfectly, so it is ideal for roof coverings. In addition to the roof, slate is suitable for making facades. It gives construction objects an irresistible look and beauty while being very durable.
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Clay tiles
Clay has been used for centuries as a roofing material. Thanks to its properties and wide range, clay tile is a flexible choice – because it fits into a wide range of architectural requirements and styles. Ceramic tiles are durable and provide good insulation of the roof surface – so it is suitable for any climate. They can come in a variety of shapes and colors, including the attractive orange-red color most commonly associated with terracotta – but also resembling metal plates. Of course, this type of tile has certain disadvantages. They are limited regarding the slope of the roofing because they require a greater slope than other types of tiles and especially metal sheets. If the roofing is more complicated, there is often a need to cut tiles – so a larger amount of waste may occur. They are vulnerable when it comes to hail. Some types of clay tiles change color after some time due to the appearance of microorganisms.
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Shingles
Roof shingles are similar to roof tiles, but they are flat and much thinner. They are produced as individual units and placed in an overlapping pattern up to the top layer of the roof – so they keep rain and moisture off the building they cover. Shingles can be made from various kinds of materials such as asphalt, wood, slate, and clay. Asphalt shingles are fireproof and also resistant to rain, hail, and wind. Wood shingles are not commonly used because they are susceptible to fire and termites – but they are durable, weather resistant, and provide insulation. Slate is very durable and can withstand freezing temperatures in alpine regions. Therefore, shingles made of different materials do not require any principal and significant maintenance and can be a profitable choice.
Source: mydecorative.com
Conclusion
Choosing the best roofing is essential when building a house. Even if you repair it, make sure you choose roofing that will be appropriate for the climate in which you live – and that will require the least possible maintenance from you. Since maintenance is still implied to a greater or lesser extent – it is always advisable to hire professionals for such work.
