The first line of defense
We do not recommend that you try roofing repairs. Climbing on a roof is
hazardous, and proper repairs require training and experience. Don’t
risk possible injury. Call a roofer.
Roofing materials add beauty to your home, but the primary function of
a roof is to keep water from getting into your house. It is a key part
of the home’s waterproofing system, so it pays to keep it in good
shape. If water gets into the wood in your home’s structure, the result
can be major, and expensive, repairs.
To better understand a roof system, take a moment to study how it is
built. The roof actually starts in the attic, with a structural support
system that holds it up, and holds it on when windstorms occur. The
support structure may be rafters and a ridge board (in older homes), or
it might be pre-engineered trusses (in newer homes). A flat surface is
placed on top of the structure, called roof deck or roof sheathing. It
can be made from individual boards, plywood, or if your home is new, it
might be a manufactured composite material such as waferboard or
oriented strand board (OSB). This deck provides the surface to which
the exterior roof covering is attached. On the outside, the surface of
the roof deck will be covered with a special material–typically roofing
felt–to seal out water. This material is impregnated with asphalt to
repel water. On top of this is the finish coat: the roofing materials,
which distinguish your home.
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