Your roof is a complex system of many components that work together to safeguard your home from the elements. One missing or damaged part could compromise the overall performance of your roof. Read on as A1 Siding and Roofing, residential and commercial roofing expert, discusses the major parts of your roofing system.
Shingles
Shingles form the outermost layer of your roof. They’re often made of asphalt and other fillers that help keep the system durable and blow-off resistant. Traditional asphalt shingles have more asphalt applied at the bottom, which serves no real purpose.
GAF Advanced Protection® Shingle Technology has created a more efficient design that replaces excess asphalt with glass fibers for maximum strength and durability. This residential roofing system also complies with AC438, the first shingle tests used to predict long-term shingle performance.
Decking
The roof decking is the base of the whole system, which supports everything laid over it. This component is usually made of oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, but polystyrene, concrete or metal can also be used.
Underlayment
Felt is the most commonly used underlayment material. It’s made of durable paper saturated with asphalt, which acts as a barrier in case of broken or torn shingles. The underlayment is rolled onto the decking horizontally with a significant overlap, which helps the roof shed water and prevents it from seeping through the seams.
Drip Edge
Also called eave flashing, drip edge consists of angled aluminum strips, which prevent water from building up. It’s nailed into place over the underlayment on the sides of the roof’s edge and beneath the underlayment of the eaves.
As a GAF Master Elite® roofing contractor, A1 Siding and Roofing offers Timberline® Lifetime shingles and other high-quality systems to help keep your home dry, safe and comfortable. Call us today at (603) 684-2444 to learn more about our products and services. We serve residents of Manchester and nearby areas in NH.
