Roofs are more than just two slopes meeting in a ridge at the top, but many homeowners fail to recognize the importance of proper roof design and choose simple, one-size-fits-all solutions that might or might not be a good decision. Your roof plays aesthetic as well as functional roles, therefore the right design provides the right type of functionality as well as the style that best matches your overall building design. The range of available roof styles is extremely wide, so here are a few factors and methods that can help you make the best decision.
The Most Important Factor: Weather Resistance
The first step in the design process should be the selection of the shape that best fits not only your building style, but also your climate zone.
The roof is the component of your building envelope that is the first to get hit by the elements, therefore the design of your roof needs to be able to meet the specific challenges of your climate zone. The buildings in very rainy, snowy and sunny areas, for example, need tall roofs that slope in a steep angle to make sure that all the water and snow can be efficiently shed by the roof and to create a larger space underneath the roof for better ventilation, while the buildings in colder, dryer regions can benefit from low-sloping or flat roofs.
When the roof shape has been selected, the next step is the selection of the roofing material. Weather resistance should be an important factor to consider in this phase as well – not all roofing materials are suitable for any climate zones, some work better in colder regions, while others are great for hot climates. Clay tiles, slate and metal, for example, are excellent for any climate zone, but asphalt shingles work better in moderate climates.
Structural Design
The roof on your building has a major impact on how much energy you will need for cooling and heating your building as well as on the durability of your roof. While both aspects are influenced by the material and the shape of your roof, the design of the support structure is also important. Lakewood roof repair experts will tell you that the design process should involve not only the selection of the shape and of the material of the roof, but the design of all the features of the roof, including the roof vents, the support structure, the rafters, the insulation, the felt layer, the batten.
Aesthetic Aspects
Most roofing materials come in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. If you choose clay tiles, for example, you can choose not only from traditional, terracotta shades, but unusual colors, such as black or white, red or blue and the range of the available finishes is also very wide. If you choose asphalt shingles, you will also have a lot of style options and metal comes in a vast array of styles, too.
There are two approaches to choosing the right roof color: the hue should either complement or contrast the colors featured on the walls. Neutral colors are always a great choice and they come with the extra benefit of working with any color palette on the building.