Without our roofs, we’d be out in the cold — literally. Life would be infinitely harder and intensely uncomfortable. Every day we come home and walk about our homes in relative comfort. We sleep, knowing we won’t be hit in the head by hail or wake up when snowflakes hit our nose. We can eat without water hitting our hamburgers, and leave all of our belongings out without having to worry about the wind carrying them away. Planet Roofing and Solar of Denver offers residential roofing, commercial roofing, multi-family roofing, and solar panel installation. In this blog post, we’ll explore just exactly what your roof does, and if you’re looking for a new roof, contact Denver’s best roofing company today!
WHAT IS A ROOF?
A roof is the uppermost part of a building that encloses the space (and everything in the space).
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF A ROOF?
- Protection. A roof’s main job is to protect its occupants from the elements, which includes rain, snow, wind, sleet, frost, heat, and the sun. A roof encloses space and protects the contents in the space as well as the occupants within the space. A good roof also protects the building as well and promotes the longevity of the structure.
- Insulation. Roofs also provide insulation, which is keeping heat inside the structure during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Certain roofing materials – especially those of fibrous origin – offer strong insulation. Usually installed underneath the roofing material, roofing insulation is often felt or plastic sheeting with synthetic foam material or recycled paper products added in the roof’s cavities to help insulate odd angles. Insulation helps to prevent weather-related problems.
- Drainage. While protecting everything underneath it, a roof deflects whatever hits it away from the building. Water (and its much prettier version, snow), however, can become a problem when large amounts of water collect on a roof. A drainage system must be in place to allow the water to flow off and away from the building, reducing the likelihood of water damage and the need for repair. Metal roofing materials are extremely effective in the snow due to its durability and its smooth surface, which allows snow to slide right off.
- Ventilation. Ventilation, while not technically necessary to a roof, is one of the best modern additions to a roofing system for energy-efficiency purposes. Ventilation in cold weather allows a roof to stay cold, which helps to prevent the formation of ice dams, one of the major sources of roof leaks. Ice dams are when snow begins to melt and pockets of water sit on your roof, which may begin to leak in your home, causing damage to the roof and the internal space. In hot weather, ventilation is used to allow hot air to escape from the roof or attic and reduce the building’s cooling load and therefore cooling costs of the internal space of a building.
As the best roofing company in Denver, Planet Roofing and Solar offers roof inspections to ensure your residential, commercial, or multi-family roof is functioning properly. In a roof inspection, even small issues can compound quickly. Visit our promotions page for the latest offers on roof repair, hail damage, or complete roofing installations, and contact us today!