A Guide to Selecting Roofing Materials for Vancouver Homes
The rainforest climate of Vancouver requires homeowners to consider their choice of roofing materials carefully.
The continually moist conditions throughout much of the year can cause water pooling, sags, blockages, mildew, mold and accumulation of debris. Nobody wants that water to find a way through their roof.
While we all know the common roof materials like asphalt shingles and cedar shingles and shakes – and these are good –
Let’s look at some other quality products available:
TruSlate®
TruSlate®, from manufacturers GAF, is a product that holds significant water protection advantages over many products on the market. The system features the UnderBlock UV & Moisture Barrier, which provides a strong layer of protection against Read Full Article »
What Lies Beneath: The Essential Layer of Roof Underlayment
Every homeowner wants to make sure that their roof functions well and provides the utmost in protection. And this is the time of year when issues around leaking and water damage can begin to arise.
Most people tend to focus only on the visible aspects of a structure, not really thinking about what goes on beneath. True to the old “out of sight, out of mind” adage, it’s no different when it comes to roofing. What most homeowners tend to think about when discussing roof replacement of any kind is the uppermost, evident layer; they are often more concerned more with good looks than the role of what can’t be seen.
Right below the surface, however, sits one of the most important components of any roof system.
What is Roof Underlayment?
In the most basic sense, roof underlayment is the layer of material that sits between the roof structure and its final covering, such as Read Full Article »
At the Core: Fiberglass Laminated Shingles and West Coast Roofing
Choosing the right material for the job is usually the first significant step to take before starting any project. When it comes to roofing in Vancouver, it makes especially good sense to find a material that ticks all the right boxes. Skimping on key facets of your west coast home’s roof can lead to inferior performance down the road, including potentially damaging and costly leaks.
When it comes to shingles, obviously one of the most important parts of a residential roofing system, there are many choices as to which shingles style and particular material should be used. An experienced Vancouver roofer knows that one of the best choices for local structures is to install a durable, moisture resistant product for their clients, and fiberglass laminated shingles definitely fit the bill.
What are Fiberglass Laminated Shingles?
Essentially, these shingles start with a base core of fiberglass mat, which is then coated with asphalt and then granules. The fiberglass core has superior strength and Read Full Article »
Shake it Up: Understanding Cedar Shake Service Roofing
When choosing which way to go with a residential roofing job, numerous factors come into play. The time of year affects the decision of when to start a major renovation, especially here on the west coast. The major decision about what material to use for a particular roof can cause headaches if the homeowner isn’t knowledgeable about the standards. Shingles versus shakes, pine versus cedar; the choices can make an uninitiated person’s head spin.
Here we’ll underline the specifics of shake service roofing and hopefully grant some insight into the process. Knowing what to look for when it comes to your roof is paramount to having a quick and efficient installation and a great end result.
Shingles or Shakes: What is the Difference?
They both go on roofs and are both made out of wood, so why the different terms? What separates these two types of roofing materials are Read Full Article »
Roofing Options: the Shift from Tar and Gravel to TPO Membrane
Whether on a residential or commercial structure, a deteriorating roof can cause many problems. Depending on the materials used, having to replace it entirely can be costly. Many legacy buildings have roofs built with outmoded processes, but these days, there are more and more higher-tech options available.
The tar and gravel system was, and in many cases still is, widely used in roofing because of its comparative low cost and good insulation properties. However, new processes involving roof membranes made from a variety of materials can provide the same or better properties, sometimes even at a lower cost.
Particularly, a TPO membrane can be used to replace an existing tar and gravel roof, granting not only savings on materials (tar contains oil and we all know what’s been happening to those prices!), but also in heating and cooling bills throughout the year.
What is a TPO Membrane?
Not to be confused with the similar rubber-based EPDM solution, a TPO, or thermoplastic polyolefin membrane, is a single ply mat that is laid over Read Full Article »
Peak Performance: Which Leak More, Multiple or Single-Peaked Roofs?
Let’s start off with a key point, and that is: many of the causes of and reasons for roof leaks will affect any roof, regardless of the number of peaks it has. With that in mind, here’s a look at the ABCs of what can compromise peak performance and bring up the need to fix roof leaks.
Major Factors for the Need to Fix Roof Leaks
There are three fundamental components influencing tendencies towards leaks in a roof. Here are some of the specifics for each one.
- Quality of the original design.
- Design should be appropriate to the application and environment. For instance, a roof on a traditional Swiss building has an extreme pitch. (Pitch is defined as number of inches in rise over each foot of horizontal distance covered.) A higher pitch allows easier shedding of snow and water.
- Changes in roof slopes and adjacent structures, such as chimneys and vent tubes, have to allow for stresses from built-up snow, ice and wind, and settling of buildings. They must also allow for effective joining and flashing techniques to be done correctly.
- Poor designs may result in settling, distortion or separation of critical areas, causing the need to fix roof leaks.
- Underlying structure must account for proper weight distribution and support, even when loaded with unusual amounts of snow and ice or, especially in Read Full Article »
Regardless of the complexity of a roof, its actual design can determine whether it will tend to leak or resist leaking. A poorly designed single-peaked roof, therefore, may end up leaking sooner or more often than a well-designed multi-peaked roof.
