The majority of roofs today  are typically comprised  of five basic components. These roofing components are the roof covering, sheathing, roof structure, flashing and the roof drain system. Should  any one of these components fail or if they are installed improperly  your roof could fail and begin leaking . Let’s find out just why each of these components is so critical .

Let’s start  with  your roof’s  drainage system. What we’re talking about here are your roof’s basic design features such as the shape of your roof, the slope and the characteristics  that would affect its ability to shed water. Typically  your roof is a variation of either a gable or gambrel style roof. The basic job  of the shape of your roof is to cause   water to run in the right  fashion, out and away from the edifice. A steeper roof makes this more easy to accomplish . Certain elements create extra challenges such as roof valleys and roof penetrations like chimneys, skylights and plumbing system ventilation pipes. All of these elements require extra tending to avoid leaks.

The rafters and trusses that make up  the skeletal shape of the roof are called the roof structure . Just like the bones in human anatomy  the roof structure component is what gives the roof its durability and enables it to  support   the loads that a roof is typically subjected to. Not only does the structure have to support the weight of the sheathing and roof covering but that of snow loads and wind which can excert enormous stress on a structure. Your roof structure must be engineered to support every possible load that it could be subjected to over it’s lifetime .

The roof sheathing is the next component of your roof. Sheathing can refer to  plywood, boards, toungue and groove boards or even SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) that combine structure, insulation and sheathing all in one laminated panel. The purpose of the sheathing is to provide a strong, smooth surface area that the roof covering will  be associated to. The sheathing must be fastened  properly with adequate fasteners configured and engineered for the purpose .

Earlier we mentioned  some special challenges such as roof valleys or roof penetrations. These difficult areas  must be addressed with carefully applied flashing. Roof flashing is made of metal or sometimes copper sheeting. By carefully overlapping,  the flashing carries  water away from the affected  areas and onto the roof covering where potentially damaging moisture can be ushered off of the roof.

The portion of the roof that everyone sees is called the roof covering . The most common roof coverings are asphalt shingles, wood shingles or shakes, tiles, slate or metal roofing. Each type of covering serves a purpose and has both strengths and weaknesses . The type of roofing that  is right for your particular application is a subject that is best discussed  with a professional roofing contractor. A reputable professional will be knowledgable with the roofing types and application techniques that will behave best for your structure. They  will also be able to scrutinize and address each of the other components of your roof and determine if repair work is necessary.