How Is a Shingle Roof Constructed?
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Structure
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Shingle roof construction, like the construction of almost any type of roof, begins with the support structure that will hold up the outside surface. Strong, heavy trusses are laid across the frame of the house to form the basic shape of the finished roof. This is arguably the most important step in roof construction, since the trusses not only add strength to the structure of the building, but they also directly determine the durability of the finished roof. Trusses are often produced by specialty manufacturers and are chosen specifically for the climate in which a building exists and for the shape of that particular building. Once the trusses are in place, smaller boards are placed across them to frame the roof. The smaller boards connect the trusses together for added support. They also create a foundation for the materials that will underlay the shingles.
Underlying
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Most houses and other buildings with shingle roofs use plywood sheets as the primary underlying material for the roof. Plywood is relatively light and manageable while still being sturdy enough to support the shingles that will eventually rest on top. Plywood is cut into large squares or rectangles and nailed to the framing boards across the roof trusses. Roofs that use shingles made of heavy material or weighty ceramic tiles may be built using something stronger than plywood. Whatever the underlying material, it must be waterproofed before the shingles are laid on top. This is achieved by fastening overlapping sheets of felt or tar paper to the underlying material.
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Shingles
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Before the shingles are put into place, a layer of metal flashing is usually laid on top of the waterproofing material. These are large sheets of thin, overlapping metal such as tin, aluminum or copper, which provide even more waterproofing and support for the shingles. Once the flashing is put into place, the shingles are finally installed. Shingles come in a wide variety of shapes, styles and materials. They may be made of wood, slate, cement or any number of other products. The most commonly used shingles are called asphalt shingles. They are made by treating felt paper with a durable, waterproof coating of asphalt. Asphalt shingles are desirable in construction due to their low cost and versatility. No matter what type of shingle is used, they are almost all installed the same way. A non-overlapping horizontal row of shingles is placed around the bottom edge of the roof. Another such row is laid on top of that, and so on until the rows reach the roof's peak. This arrangement forces water down over the shingles and off of the roof. Because each horizontal row overlaps the one below it, water would have to flow against gravity to make its way between the rows. Depending on the type of shingle, the rows are held in place with nails, staples, adhesives or some combination of the three.
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