Roofing, Flashings, and Chimneys

Introduction

The principal function of the roof system is to safeguard against and manage the weather elements, particularly precipitation, thereby protecting the inside and structural components of the home. For the purposes of a house inspection, the roof system consists primarily of the roof coverings, flashings and chimney.

As well as protecting the inside elements of the home the roof components must also be designed, in conjunction with the gutters and downspouts, to direct rainwater and runoff far from the foundation area, to simply help reduce steadily the potential for soil erosion, compaction and water entering the basement area.

Because of the important functions this technique provides, it's condition ought to be assessed regularly, and maintenance provided when and wherever necessary.

Roofing

You will find two basic types of roof construction, sloped (also called pictched) and flat. Most sloped roofs are covered with individual items of shingling material overlapped to avoid water penetration. flat roofs are basically watertight membranes that should have just enough slope to permit water to perform off. The slope of a roof can be a factor in the endurance of the roofing material. The life expectancy of a roof covering is also dependent upon the kind of material used, the caliber of workmanship, contact with sun and wear from tree branches, snow/ice and wind. Like, south and west roof faces have an increased wear factor than north or east exposures, highly reflective shingles generally have a longer life span, and cement or slate roofs last much longer than standard ashphalt shingles (and cost a lot more!)

Asphalt shingling is the most common roofing material utilized in residential construction in Canada. Other forms of covering for sloped roofs include asphalt roll Calgary Roofing, concrete or clay tiles, wood shakes and shingles, and slate shingles. There are also fibreglass shingles, metal shingles and metal sheet roofing systems.

Flat roofs are built up with layers of molten asphalt and felts, or covered with a membrane of modified bitumin or asphalt base, or plastics or rubber. The majority are heat-sealed and some are glued.

Flashings

The goal of flashings is to avoid the entry of water at areas on a roof where two components join together or intersect (i.e. one roof to a different or a chimney through a roof). Flashings could be made of galvanized steel, tin, aluminum, copper, lead or lengths of roll-roofing. The decision of flashing material is likely to be based mostly on the construction of the roof and the material used for the roof covering.

Flashings will expand and contract, metal in particular, with heat from the sun and air temperature changes. They are also expected to go and stretch with typical building shifts. The areas where flashings are needed are usually very vulnerable to water penetration. There's a higher danger of water leakage and wood decay from a damaged, loose or poorly constructed flashing. For all the above reasons, regualr monitoring and routine maintenance of the flashing areas is issential to preventing leaks.

Chimneys

The most common materials utilized in chimney construction are masonry and steel. Masonry chimneys could be brick, block or stone and are often stuccoed or parged. Chimneys often have more than one flue. A flue is just a separate and distinct channel for the smoke internally of the chimney. Typically, each appliance within the house will need to have a different flue. In certain cases, two gas furnaces on the same floor within a residence can share a standard flue, as can a fuel furnace and a fuel warm water heater on a single level. Some wood furnaces are made to share a flue with an oil furnace, if at the same floor level.

Some flues are unlined in that there is masonry exposed internally of the flue. Unlined chimney flues are most frequent in houses built before the Second World War. These unlined masonry flues have performed reasonably well for fireplaces and oil-fired furnaces, however most have deteriorated beyond a secure condition. Gas appliances require the right liner.

Flue could be lined with clay tiles or metal liner. For more information about chimneys and chimney liners, refer to the "Heating" section.

Considerations

The part of roofs that is most susceptible to early deterioration is the area round the flashings (chimneys, plumbing stacks, the intersection of several roofs, skylights, etc.) It's not uncommon for these areas to develop a trickle well before the remaining portion of the roof material has aged significantly. Also, since these areas are frequently made from metal they may be more suceptible than the rest of the roof coverings to damage from wind and expansion/contraction from freeze/thaw cycles. So while flashings may appear fine on your day of an assessment and the roof may be relatively young in age, the flashings must certanly be monitored on a typical basis (at least semi-annually) to detect any changes in condition that may indicate maintenance or repair is necessary. Leaks left unattended may cause serious harm to other parts of the roof and structure.

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