Rooftops for Houses

When prehistoric humans needed protection from inclement weather, they took refuge in caves. Over time, the caverns were insufficient for the demand, either because they were far from resources or because they were too small to house a large population.Around 10,000 or 9,000 years ago, by serendipity, we discovered agriculture and became sedentary. So we need to build a shelter for ourselves, near the arable land, thus emerging the first houses. These were built of wood, stone, and adobe, while the rooftops were made of forage. Over time, rooftops materials and designs have diversified, achieving better quality constructions

Currently, the most used materials for the construction of rooftops are fiberglass, concrete, wood, carbon fiber, and steel.Each material is used depending on the budget for the construction, the style of the country or region, the climate, the type of construction, and the preferences of both the owner and the architect.One of the oldest styles of rooftops still in use is Tiled rooftops, which require a variable slope, always greater than 15 degrees. Some of the types of Tile rooftops are:

French tiles: prevent rainwater leaks, an insulating barrier can be placed under the tiles, French tiles are considered light

Glass roof tiles: their main function is to illuminate spaces, by allowing sunlight to pass through, they are resistant to weather factors

Concrete tiles: they prevent leaks, they are not porous, they are excellent thermal insulators.

Clay tiles: they offer great beauty and aesthetics, although their fragility to break is a questionable issue, currently there are tiles made with a clay base and special additives that provide greater durability.

Fiber cement tiles: they have great flexibility, they are composed of a cement base, this type of tile can be reinforced with materials such as polyvinyl to improve its properties.

Plastic tile: they are resistant, light, based on polymers, are resistant to ultraviolet rays, thermo-acoustic, stainless

Metal tile: they are made of galvanized steel, they imitate clay roofs, they are lower cost and easy to install, thanks to their modern manufacturing. This type of tile is economical, thanks to the overlapping mechanism required for its installation.

In the case of very high constructions or those that need to support a lot of weight, the use of tiles is not recommended. In these cases, it is preferable to use concrete or prefabricated rooftops reinforced by wooden, steel, or prefabricated beams. However, in the construction of family or semi-detached houses, the use of tiles is more common, reinforced with wooden beams or sidewalks; being even more frequent in cold areas, since a house with sloping rooftops conserves heat better.

In addition, it is possible to add gutters to rooftops that allow better removal of dirt and prevent water from accumulating, increasing durability. If a felt paper is also added, the resistance against humidity and snow is even greater, preventing cracks and leaks, but the temperature inside increases, something that is not beneficial in tropical areas.

Gutter Installation for rooftops is a simple process that allows rainwater or snow to be carried down to the ground. It also conducts much of the dirt carried by the wind to rooftops. A wide gutter prevents this dirt from accumulating, although it must be cleaned from time to time. A good Gutter Installation for rooftops is one that achieves great functionality without damaging the aesthetics of the house. The less number of rivets and corners it has, the more aesthetic the installation will be. If the homeowner is unable to put on Gutter Installation for rooftops, he should seek the help of a specialist, even though this is a simple process.

In terms of design, rooftops are very varied, depending on factors such as the climate, the type of construction, the style, or the materials. Although currently the most commonly used for homes are Flat rooftops and Gable rooftops, in the past it was more common to find styles such as the A-Framer Roof, Vault, or Arch. The ease of construction, functionality, and simplicity have favored Flat rooftops and Gable rooftops prevailing over other styles.

Which rooftops to choose for the construction of your house is a complicated issue. Each style has advantages and disadvantages. Each architect and the owner must evaluate them to make their choice according to their needs and budget. Home Stratosphere magazine conducted a survey on which styles of rooftops were most popular among people and then made a description of each of them.

The A-Frame is very easy to identify. It's a steep, pointed roof that extends to the ground or close to the ground. The roof makes up much or all of the walls of the house. It's a very simple roof design and is inexpensive because the roof serves as both roof and walls. The bonnet roof is identified with the extending ledge around the base of the roof. The other part of the roof can have many designs such as hip, gambrel, or gable… when adding an extended ledge, it becomes a bonnet variation of that roof design.

The butterfly roof is an inverted gable roof. It's a V-shape. It's a rather odd-looking roof design and is not used much. However, one benefit of the butterfly roof is you end up with tall ceilings on two sides of the home. A curved roof adds an extremely modern, interesting feature to any building. Modern roofs take advantage of the flexibility of metal materials, creating one large curved structure. Curved roofs do help to reduce resistance to wind, but are mainly chosen due to the stunning aesthetic look they can add to a building.

While plain-looking below, the flat roof is frequently used on modern and mid-century-style homes and can be a striking design if you like the modern look. Box gable roofs have two sloping sides that meet to form a ridge, with a triangular extension on either side that is boxed off from the walls. This type of roof is popular for areas with cold weather conditions, providing a stable design that deals well with rain and snow. In recent years, the popularity of simple Rooftop designs has increased. A simple design lowers construction costs while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic. The lighting and temperature inside must also be taken into account when choosing rooftops

At present, rooftops does not have the sole purpose of protecting us from inclement weather. A good design increases the durability of our home, as well as its comforts. The aesthetics of the building and the neighborhood are also affected positively or negatively depending on the design.