The basic function of any roof is to provide protection from the elements for people and their possessions.
roofs
can also provide insulation, retain heat in winter or cool air in summer. Certain roofing materials, especially those of fibrous origin, offer strong insulation. Roof, which covers the top of a building, serves to protect against rain, snow, sunlight, wind and extreme temperatures.Roofs have been constructed in a wide variety of ways: flat, inclined, vaulted, vaulted, or in combinations as dictated by technical, economic or aesthetic considerations. Today there is a wide variety of roof coverings, each with its own advantages depending on the use. The most common roofing materials available include asphalt, wood, metal, clay, cement and slate, glass and plastic, and liquid plastic coatings. Prehistoric Greeks used thatched roofs with protruding eaves, supported by dry clay bricks.
The eaves were long enough to protect the mud bricks from the rain. Synthetic roofing products simulate several traditional roof coverings, such as shingles and slate and wood slats. However, they don't necessarily have the same properties. This publication is part of a monthly series that explores the historical applications of construction materials and systems, using resources from the Construction Technology Heritage Library (BTHL), an online collection of ACS catalogs, brochures, trade publications and more.
The BTHL is a project of the Association for Preservation Technology, an international building preservation organization. Read more about the archive here, You Can't Underestimate the Role of the Roof. It protects the interiors of a building and its occupants from the forces of nature, protects vital utility systems and helps define the aesthetics of the exterior. The need for roofing has generated its ubiquity and, by extension, has fostered a strong market for roofing materials that vary in performance and physical characteristics.
The biggest advantage of a flat roof is the expense. From construction and installation to materials commonly used for flat roofs, they are relatively inexpensive. Flat roof insulation plate costs approximately 80 cents per foot. Metal roofs, such as copper and zinc, are versatile, beautiful and highly durable, as well as being highly energy efficient, lightweight and recyclable, making them an excellent choice for the current green building trend.
Ancient civilizations discovered new building materials to use in their walls, which could support heavier roofs in new ways. The 20th century also saw the development of roofing materials with varying levels of durability and fire resistance, as well as the introduction of roof-related components such as gutters, downspouts and flashings. The lattice-shaped structure would support the shingles, roof beams, and frame, and transfer its weight to the vertical pillars of the structure. Therefore, it is important to never block ceiling ventilation sources, such as louvers, vents or ceiling vents, even in winter.
Flat roofs are usually covered with felt and tar, while pitched roofs are usually covered with shingles or sheet metal. While this method is faster, it does not allow inspecting the roof covering or repairing water damage, often associated with worn shingles. As the heated mopping bitumen melts with the saturation bitumen in the roofing felts, the layers are welded together. However, archaeologists have found evidence of a very early use of roofs made of a wide variety of substances, including animal parts, wood, rocks and clay.
In the 20th century, a large number of roofing materials were developed, including bitumen-based roofs (already used in previous centuries), rubber and a range of synthetic materials such as thermoplastic and fiberglass. Forms of insulation are sheets of felt or plastic, sometimes with a reflective surface, installed directly under shingles or other material; synthetic foam wadding placed on the roof and recycled paper products and other similar materials that can be inserted or sprayed into roof cavities. In most cases, the International Building Code and the International Residential Code establish the minimum R value required within the roof assembly. These new dry bricks also proved useful for building flat roofs, which virtually every Egyptian home had.
Green roofs are covered with plants and can improve air quality, reduce water runoff, and insulate homes to reduce urban heat islands. The mansard roof is a type of gable roof with two slopes on each side, the upper one being less steep than the lower. . .
