Many people believe that a roof is one thing. It is actually a roof system that consists of several components working together to protect your home. It is important to be familiar with the five components of a roofing system to ensure you hire a professional roofer who will do a great job.
The Florida Shingle Roof System’s Five Components
- Decking
Decking is the foundation layer of your roofing system. It is made of plywood or composite sheeting and is attached to the roof’s beams. Decking must be the right thickness to protect your home from hail and falling branches. If your roof leaks for a long time, decking can become damaged. This could lead to additional costs when it is finally fixed.
- Underlayment
The next layer in your roofing system is the underlayment. The decking is covered by the underlayment. It is designed to protect the decking from water damage and prevent wood rot. The first waterproofing layer in your home is underlayment. It is typically made from wax or tar paper.
- Flashing
Flashing is a metal strip that strengthens your roof system at key points and roof transitions. Your roof should have to flash around valleys, roof edges, and roof-to-wall transitions. Flashing also needs to be applied around skylights, chimneys, dormers, or skylights.
- Shingles
Shingles are the next layer in your roofing system. They are also the most important component of your roof. Shingles protect the roofing system from wind, rain, sun, and the elements. Shingles are placed so that rain or other debris doesn’t penetrate the underlying components. A typical roof will include a row of starters shingles at its edge, normal shingles on its roof field, special hip and roof cap shingles at the top of hips and ridges.
- Ventilation
The ventilation system is the final component of a Florida roof system. To allow heat and moisture from the attic to escape, the roof should have a row of vents along its ridge. Florida roofs are particularly important because a well-ventilated roof can help you save a lot of money on cooling costs. This component must be installed correctly as a poorly placed vent can leak heat or not properly evacuate it.
What’s Next?
Contact Us if you have any questions about installing a roof on your Florida house. KCG Roofing is proud to have been serving the wonderful people of west-central Florida for over 40 years! Ask about our financing options.
This post was written by a roofing professional at KCG Roofing. KCG Roofing is a premier roofing contractor that does Sarasota roofing! KCG Roofing has the experience and expertise to replace or repair your roof with quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. All our roofs are backed by a 15-year leak-free guarantee, the highest in the industry. We have been family-owned and operated for over 40 years.