Roofing Pricing, Cost Estimates and Research

Roofing is responsible for several important functions. Most importantly, it serves as the structural support of your home. In addition, the roof controls water ingress, air flow, water vapor diffusion, heat flow, and offers surface protection. However, in order for a roof to function properly, the right roof materials and components in the assembly must be selected based on the properties that make them suitable for these various tasks.

The price of a new roof system varies widely, depending on such things as the materials selected, contractor doing the work, location, local labor rates and time of year. It is important to keep in mind that for each roofing material, there are different grades and corresponding prices. There also are a variety of roof styles and shapes to choose from. You need to look at the full product range and make a choice based on your budget and needs.

Roofing Shapes

There are many different distinct shapes for roofs these days, some more common than others. We have provided our users with a list of the most popular roofing shapes today and some details about their appearance and construction.

• Gabled - Constructed with a single slope on each side of the ridge, creating a triangle portion on the side of front facade.
• Side-Gabled - Non-gabled side faces the front and contains the front doorway.
• Front-Gabled - Gabled side faces the front and contains the front doorway.
• Cross-Gabled - Perpendicular wings are added to the main section forming two individual sections with their own gabled façade.

Important Aspects of Roof Assembly

Roof Insulation: Insulation controls heat flow both into the building and out of the building. There are many different types of thermal insulation that are used in roofing. Keep in mind that moisture resistance is an important property to consider when selecting roof insulation because water has a much higher thermal conductivity than air. Insulation options include cellular glass, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, phenolic foam (air filled/gas filled), wood fibre board, and mineral fiber.

Vapour Barriers: The vapour barrier is responsible for limiting diffusion of moisture from inside the building into the roof assembly. Generally the vapor barrier is located on the warm side of the thermal insulation so that its temperature will not fall below the dew point temperature of the inside air. This is how condensation in the roof is controlled. There are several different materials to choose from.

Top Cover: The top covers are responsible for protecting the underlying roof components from UV radiation and physical damage. They come in several types including liquid applied coatings, factory applied mineral and metal surfaces, gravel and pavers. Keep in mind, liquid applied coatings require a certain amount of maintenance. Also, gravel and pavers are more resilient but have the disadvantage of adding to the vertical load on the structure.

Looking For More Information About Roofing?

Roofing or re-roofing your home is a great investment. You'll want to make sure you are choosing the right roofer for your house and your budget. We offer Free Roofing Price Quotes from local, prescreened roofing contractors.