What Are the Different Types of Roofs?
Roofs get sorted two ways: by shape, which is how the roof slopes, and by material, which is what covers it. Once you know the shape of your roof, you know which materials can go on it, since a shingle roof, a metal roof, and a flat roof each fit different buildings. A-J Roofing & Waterproofing Co. has installed flat, shingle, and metal roofs since 1983, and here's how the main types break down.
Different Types of Roof Shapes
A gable roof has two sloped sides that meet at a ridge, with a triangle of wall at each end. A hip roof slopes down on four sides, and it holds up better in high wind than a gable roof does.
A shed roof slopes down in one direction, and you'll often see it over porches, dormers, and additions. A flat roof looks level from the ground, but it still has a slight slope so water can drain off, and you'll find flat roofs on commercial buildings and some homes.
What Goes on a Shingle Roof?
Shingles are pieces that overlap and interlock to carry water down a sloped roof. A shingle roof works on low-slope and steep-slope roofs, so it fits gable, hip, and shed shapes, and it belongs on a sloped roof rather than a flat one. Shingles come in asphalt, wood, clay, rubber, and metal, and each one lasts a different length of time depending on the material and how well it's installed.
The Two Main Types of Metal Roof
A metal roof comes in two main types. An exposed fastener system shows the screws holding the panels to the roof, and a concealed fastener system hides them inside the system, so you see smooth metal from the ground.
Our ES1 Certified sheet metal shop bends steel and aluminum in-house in over 35 colors, including shades that match stone. The same shop makes the flashing and trim that go around chimneys, walls, and roof edges, so every piece on your metal roof matches.
Flat Roof Materials We Install
Water moves off a flat roof more slowly, so the process differs from that on a sloped roof. Here's what we install on a flat roof:
- EPDM, TPO, and PVC membranes are single-ply roofing that comes in black, white, gray, or tan.
- Roof coatings are another option we apply to flat roofs.
- Rolled roofing comes in long rolls and is used to cover some low-slope roofs.
- Low-slope metal roofing gives a nearly flat building a metal roof.
The right pick for your building comes down to the roof's slope, its size, and how the building is used, and we go over each option with you on-site.
Shingle, Metal, and Flat Roof Installation in Nebraska
A-J Roofing & Waterproofing Co. is a family business founded in 198. Our in-house crews handle every installation, not subcontractors, and we take the time to check every seam and edge using higher-grade materials.
Call (402) 476-7905, email office@a-jroofing.com, or contact us online for a free roof estimate. We work out of 550 West 'P' Street in Lincoln and serve the greater Lincoln, NE, area within a 75-mile radius.
