Raise The Roof

The roof is one of the most important structures of a building. Besides aesthetically being like the icing on the cake, it is the first line of defense against the elements and the essential shielding fortification that turns an abode into a safe-haven shelter.

A roof serves to protect against rain, hail, snow, sunlight, wind and extreme temperatures. From flat, gabled or hipped, to metal, tiled or shingled, roofs are more than just an external covering. They are complex constructs requiring extreme attention to detail, inside and out, so they remain sealed and secure. A roof needs to be durable, yet flexible; quick and easy to install, yet long-lasting; built high quality, yet affordable.

It could be argued that more damage is done to buildings by failed and leaking roofs than any other single system of the structure. Therefore the correct construction components are critical in ensuring failsafe results.

Of course the visible outer layer is what people usually talk about when discussing roofs. Steel is the most common roofing material used in Australia. Clay, concrete and terracotta tiles are popular, while shingles can also be seen from up above in suburban areas. But as we know, a lot more goes into the construction of a roof than just that top coating.

It all starts with the right supporting framework. Its internal supports are the roof’s foundations, and the trusses, braces, fasteners and tie downs is what literally holds the whole thing together, or even more so, the whole roof up. Modern products are now being engineered to withstand more pressure, to hold stronger for longer, and to be assembled with less manpower.

To then maintain the integrity of the roofing structure it’s important that all critical areas have been properly sealed. Weatherproof roof flashing products protect roof systems from the damaging effects of water, debris and even pests. All cracks, crevasses, joints and intersections need to be airtight to produce a fully insulated and stable rooftop. There are some quality solutions out there to help bind roofing enclosures, ensuring they can withstand the harshest of conditions and last the test of time.

In this issue of BCM For Tradies we take a look under the hood and explore the newest roofing components on the market.