Reasons for Roofing

Insulation

• One of the key reasons for roofing is to provide insulation to a home. One of the major differences between types of roofs is the degree of insulation each one provides. Roofing, along with internal insulation below it, prevents warm or cool air from escaping. This is particularly important in colder climates, where roofs that allow rising heat to escape force homeowners to run their heaters more often. Insulation from roofing also helps protect a home against noise from wind and rain.

Protection

• Roofing also provides physical protection from the elements. Rain, snow, ice and debris all collect on roofs and run off following the design of the roof. Sloped roofs help prevent snow and ice buildup from placing excessive weight on the structure of a roof or home. The multiple layers that compose modern roofs keep water out to avoid rotting, discoloration and mold growth inside homes.

Appearance

• Another reason for certain types of roofing is the appearance that a roof gives a home. Traditional roofing styles, such as Spanish tile, are central elements of design styles that architects and builders use to make homes more distinctive and appealing. The color and pattern of a roof can reflect the natural landscape, match other elements of the home or evoke a specific design style or period.

Environmental Effect

• Building a home has an immediate environmental effect. This includes both the effects of producing materials that go into construction and the effect that the home has on the site where it's built. Environmentally friendly roofing uses materials that come from renewable sources. Some types of roofing, such as grass-covered green roofs, actually provide homes for birds and insects in areas where homes have cut down on the availability of natural habitats.