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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

 

The Parts of Your Roofing System

 

 

• Decking/Sheathing – The structure of the roof itself is called the decking of the roof.  This gives the roof its shape and support.  Laid on top of the roof deck is the sheathing.  This is the plywood that lays flat onto the structure where you will nail in place all of the other roofing materials.

• Underlayment – Once the sheathing has been nailed into place, it must be covered in an underlayment material.  This black paper (usually a felt material) helps protect the wood it sits atop of from any rain or moisture that might squeeze passed the shingles.

• Flashing – Like any structure, there are going to be areas of the roof that are “weaker” than others.  In the case of a roof, there are areas that aren’t protected from precipitation as well as others.  These areas include: hips, valleys, around chimneys, etc.  To ensure water doesn’t penetrate these exposed areas, a metal sheet known as flashing is installed underneath the shingles. This will divert rainwater away from the exposed areas toward the gutter system.

• Shingles – Now comes the most known piece of the roofing system — the shingles.  The shingles are what give the roof its unique look, as well as helping protect the structure from the elements of Mother Nature.  Shingles can be made from a variety of materials, including: asphalt, cedar, slate, aluminum, etc.

• Fascias & Soffits – Roofs extend outward from the side of the house, leaving a few feet of additional roof. The face of the edge of the roof is known as the fascia. The underneath of the edge of the roof is known as the soffit.

• Roof Vents – Every properly installed roof should have an attic space with the proper ventilation.  This will protect the attic space from enduring extreme temperatures by ventilating the air out of specifically designed roof vents.  Without the right number of roof vents, the underneath of the roof that lives in the attic can become damaged.

• Gutter System – Yes, the gutters hanging on the edge of your roof are a part of the overall roofing system.  They have the important job of channeling rainwater away from your roof to help prevent leaks.  The gutter system is made up of the gutters, downspouts, elbows, gutter extension, splash block, etc.

Knowing what each part of your roofing system is and does is something every homeowner should know.