Roofing felt is the base material (underlayment) put down over the plywood panels on a roof. Despite the name “felt,” it’s not the felt you think of as felt. Roofing felt is made from either wood cellulose or fiberglass that is coated with a protective layer of bitumen (asphalt) to repel water that gets underneath shingles while still allowing the material to “breathe.”
ETFE is short for Ethylene Tetra Flouro Ethylene, which is a transparent polymer supported by a cable net system or a series of inflated cushions. This type of roofing is an increasingly popular alternative to glass and plastic for large spans over commercial and public buildings, as well as for building facades. It transmits more light than glass, provides better insulation, and costs less to install (24% to 70% less). How strong can a foil material be, you ask? Strong enough to support 400 times its own weight and to last 50 years.
A concrete roof can be either a solid slab of concrete (typically several inches thick) which is then covered with a finish, roofing tiles, or shingles; or it can be comprised of concrete roof tiles. Concrete tiles have become increasingly popular for both traditional and modern-style buildings. They do a very convincing job of simulating clay tile, shake roofing, slate, and stone.
A roof coating is a fluid-applied protective membrane that covers the entirety of a roof. These coatings have enough elasticity to allow them to expand and contract with changes in temperature. A roof coating serves as the top layer of a composite roof membrane and its underlying system, protecting it against UV rays, rain, hail, and other physical damages. Applying a roof coating will improve protection from hail, high winds, and hail. Coatings can also be used to increase the maximum lifespan of your asphalt roof and increase energy savings. Although some roof coatings can be walked on, none are designed for high traffic.
“Barn” or Gambrel roofs are constructed with steep low slopes and more shallow top slopes to maximize the interior space. The term “barn roof” is a term commonly used as shorthand for what is known as a gambrel roof, which has two sloping sections per side. This type of roof is often used for barns because it allows for more space on the upper level than a gable roof, which has the more conventional A-frame design.
A gambrel roof is a variant of the gable roof, having two sloping sections per side with the upper section being less steep than the lower section. This type of roof got its name because its shape was thought to resemble the hind leg of a horse, which was at one time known as a “gambrel.” Gambrel roofs are common to homes built in the Dutch colonial style and for barns. The steep slope of the lower part of a Gambrel roof allows for more vertical space in the attic area of a home (or barn).
Aluminum roofing is fabricated in sheets that connect together to cover the roof of a building. It is the lightest metal available for roofing and has a high strength-to-weight ratio—which makes it an ideal choice for roofing over existing shingles. Because it’s more malleable than steel, it can be shaped into more complex forms. Aluminum roofing stores very little heat and it cools quickly once the sun goes down. Aluminum roofing panels are available in a wide range of colors to work with virtually any design palette.