The Variety Of Roofing Materials May Surprise You

By: N. Messe Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Ever since man decided to have shelter he has been aware of the roof over his head. First it might have been the stone of a cave. Then, over time he must have decided to improve upon it. Eventually thatching a roof with grass or leaves became a good way to keep out the elements. Eventually what we now know as much more advanced technology came along and we now have a variety of materials available to suit the place and condition in which we live.

Thatching is one of the earliest forms of roofing and is still practiced in some parts of the world. Banana leaves are used in the Amazon, coconut palm fronds in the Caribbean and Sri Lanka, as well as some parts of India and the Philippines. Savanna grass is used in Africa for thatching. In Britain thatched roofing was very common until the 19th century and even now thatched huts are found in the English and Irish countryside.

Water reeds and straws of wheat and rice were also used. Thatched roofs have a life of thirty to fifty years depending on the material and the workmanship. But in places where there is plenty of rain and sunshine, thatching lasts only about a year. The great advantage of thatching is the excellent insulation from heat and cold that it provides.

Slate was once used in Britain, but it has been more or less discontinued as a readily available roofing material because of the extremely high cost. Even with a life expectancy of over a hundred and fifty years, people these days can't afford such a long term investment.

The materials used for roofing have always been and still are those things which are available easily and serve the purpose. Durability is a major consideration. Ceramic tiles, asphalt shingles, concrete, metal shakes or shingles, seamed metal and asbestos are some of the roofing materials now used around the world.

Ceramic tiles were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has a life expectancy of between twenty and sixty years depending on the quality, but the cost of ceramic tiles for roofing is very high. By way of contrast, asphalt shingles which are very common in Europe and North America are made of bitumen and fiberglass mat. It is comparatively cheap, but has a limited life span.

Concrete reinforced with fiber or steel is durable and widely used in some areas. Metal shakes and shingles are highly durable. Metal sheets can be fabricated to lock together and can be easily installed. The costs for these are on the higher side. Mechanically seamed metal is durable and suitable for low pitch roofs. Asbestos is comparatively cheap in both cost and installation but many people avoid it for health reasons, and it is essentially banned in many countries around the world.

Plastics that seal with heat like synthetic rubber are very useful for large warehouses and stores which have plain roofs with no protrusions. The sheets can be fused together using adhesive tapes. Heat welded asphalt sheets and thermoplastic sheets are also suitable to cover large open areas. Fiberglass felt coated heavily with asphalt is another useful commercial roofing material, although its lifespan is shorter. Galvanized steel sheets last longer than ordinary steel and aluminum sheets and can be effective for leak protection in rainy areas.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Nick Messe is president of The Lead Frog LLC. Northern Virginia Roofing has been doing NW DC residential roofing and commercial roofing projects in the DC metro area for more than 40 years. Northern Virginia Roofing is the only 6 time national award winner in the DC metro area with 20 year labor warranty held by the manufacturer - www.nvroofs.com