Many people think that all roofing materials will work on their roof. The main considerations are budget and appearance, right?
Not so.
At the end of the day, the biggest function of your roof is to shed water. The speed with which this happens depends on the pitch of the roof. Therefore, if you have a roof with a mild pitch that sheds water slowly, some materials will automatically be very bad for your home. In this blog, we will explore the concept of roof angle and the materials that work best for each one.
Firstly, when you get into roof pitch, you’ll see designations like 7/12 or 2/12. The first number is the height (vertical) of the roof; the second number is the length (horizontal). For example, a common roof pitch is 5/12, which means that for every 12 feet, the roof drops/rises 5 feet. Extreme roofs can be 12/12 or zero. Most roofs land in the range of 4/12-8/12.
Low Roofs
Roof pitches in the 1/12 up to 3/12 shed water slowly. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for the roof to be sealed – to be watertight. The only way to get this type of seal is with “built-up roofing.” This roofing consists of tarpaper roll and hot tar, and is melted into place with propane torches. You will commonly find this type of roof in contemporary houses and industrial buildings, though it can be used on steeper roofs if so desired.
To explore medium and steep angles, visit our next post! A roof that you can trust is a wonderful thing. At Planet Roofing, we are committed to providing you with just that. Contact Denver’s premier roofing contractor today!