Raw Enterprise- Grenada Roofing - Grand Mal, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies

Protect Your Roof

The construction of a roof is determined by its method of support and how the underneath space is bridged and whether or not the roof is pitched. There are two parts to a roof, its supporting structure and its outer skin, or uppermost weatherproof layer. In a minority of buildings, the outer layer is also a self-supporting structure. The characteristics of a roof are dependent upon the purpose of the building that it covers, the available roofing materials, the local traditions and wider concepts of architectural design and practice. The pitch is the angle at which the roof rises from its lowest to highest point. There is a required minimum slope of 6 inches in 12 inches, a pitch of 30 degrees, is proportional to the amount of precipitation. Houses in areas of low rainfall frequently have roofs of low pitch, while those in areas of high rainfall have steep roofs. Roof pitch is partly dependent upon stylistic factors, but has more to do with practicalities.
The main engineering consideration is to hold the roof down, keep out water and withstand the uplift forces of high wind speeds.There are a number of structural systems employed to facilitate this, including the use of rafters, tie beams and joists serve to transmit the weight of the roof to the walls of the building, wall-plates set at the top of the wall, hammer-beams, which spread the weight down the wall to create an equilibrium between outward and upward thrust, king posts which transfer the weight of the roof ridge and various types of trusses. The large area of a roof repels a lot of water, which must be directed in some suitable way, so that it does not cause damage to the building. If the water expelled from the roof, runs down the walls, it may seep into the mortar or through panels. If it lies around the foundation, it may cause seepage to the interior, rising damp or dry rot. For this reason, most buildings have a system in place to protect the walls of a building. Gutters and drainpipes are use to remove the water from the vicinity of the building. In many areas, rainwater collected from the roof is stored for domestic use.

Types of Metal Roof

Corrugated galvanized iron describes the original product that was wrought iron plate coated with zinc and then roll formed into corrugated sheets. Coated galvanized steel and Zinc/aluminium (Zinc 55% / aluminium 43% / silicon 1.6%) are not the same product as galvanized steel and are not compatible. Available under various brand names, galvalume etc, are designed for harsh weather conditions. As homeowners learn more about these products, the demand for high-performance roofing material has grown increasingly popular for residential and commercial roofing in recent years.
Generally, metal roofs are relatively inexpensive building material, zinc galvanized steel was the most extensively used roofing material, now replaced in popularity by inherently durable steel. Sheet materials like stainless steel, copper, zinc, aluminium are inherently durable; the oxidization of the base material forms a protective patina. Standing-seams and Bermuda panels metal, coated with an alloy of zinc /aluminium which increases the thermal efficiency in high temperature areas, resists fading and ultra violet penetration. Metal roofs are used almost universally to cover buildings because of their high strength to weight ratio. The panels are lightweight (1.5 pounds per square foot) and are available in a variety of earth-toned colours,is coolest in light colours, though there are some manufacturers now using paint systems, which have reflective pigments, so they are reflective of radiant heat even in darker colours.They come with a 120-mile (190 km)-per-hour wind rating with a 20 year to lifetime warranty, Depending on both the method of installation and the moisture barrier protection.
Test results show over 90-psf uplift, which is very strenuous, the coatings and fixings on steel roof sheeting are designed for different environments including the harshest weather condition. In addition, metal roofing will for the most part be just as wind resistant after many years of use, The durability of a roof is a matter of concern because the roof is often the least accessible part of a building for purposes of repair and renewal, while its damage or destruction can have serious effects. Do your homework regarding roofing options, and then share questions, concerns and ideas with your roofing contractor, who will be the most qualified expert to help you decide what material is best. Depending on the area in which you live, hurricanes, high winds and heavy rain can cause tremendous damage to your home.
Roofing manufacturers have responded to homeowners’ wants for good looking, high-performance roofing materials. Design flexibility features, large sprung curves, rolled bull nose shapes, energy efficiency, fire and spark resistant and coated with high reflective values to steel sheeting which increase the thermal efficiency of buildings in high temperature areas. New construction or roof replacement project presents homeowners with an opportunity to choose roofing materials that both complements the home’s design and offers durability. No matter the condition of your existing roof, exploring high-performance roofing options should be top priority.
Although no roofing product can guarantee damage will not occur in the event of hurricanes or other extreme weather, high-performance roofing materials offer the ultimate in protection by providing durability, long-lasting beauty and wind resistance.
If you’re not considering a roof replacement this year, roof care should still be on your radar as lack of maintenance is another primary, yet non-weather-related reason for roof repair or replacement. Weather-related wind and water damage are consistently the top causes of property damage. To help minimize damage to your home during potentially destructive storm seasons, make sure your home’s primary level of protection, your roof is in the best condition possible