Roofing Materials For Your Home

Most builders will present you with a standard list of building materials to be used in the construction of your new home. After carefully reviewing the plans that you have purchased, the builder will evaluate the specifications of the designer or architect and present you, the homeowner with the recommended materials.

You do, of course, maintain the right an ability to modify the materials used in your new home in accordance with the plans you have provided. You also have the ability to request plan and project modifications necessary to accommodate material substitutions.

One place where you might choose to go beyond the standard materials is your roof. Considering that the point of building the new home is to “put a roof over your head,” you want to ensure that the roof over your head is in good condition for years to come.

Roof Decking is the material that is placed on top of the roof joists and under the shingles or other exterior roofing material. The most common material used as roof decking is regular old plywood. Some builders will attempt to replace plywood with particle board in their materials selection list. Another new alternative material for roof decking is Radiant Barrier Sheathing.

The advantage of using radiant barrier sheathing is that it actually reflects heat that is stored in the attic back down into the house. It serves to also reduce the temperature in the attic space, which can reduce cooling costs during the summer months. Other new materials are available and should be considered as a material alternative and for future cost reduction.

It is very important to ensure that when your builder is placing the roof decking, that it goes all the way to the edge of the roof and fits under the flashing. If this is not the case, it will undoubtedly result in a leaking roof that will need repairing soon after installation. If you are hiring a separate roofing contractor, as many new home builders will, be sure to investigate their references and the number of repairs required before the estimated life of the roof.

Roof felt is the material installed on top of the roof decking. This provides a base for the placement of the shingles. Most commonly, 15 pound felt is used; we recommend requesting 30 pound felt.

As for the finished roof, it is important to select the highest possible quality of roofing shingles. Because labor costs are so high when it comes to installing a roof, you can actually save on the cost of your roof installation when you choose a better material.

In conclusion, choose the right materials for the roof of your new home! We recommend working in conjunction with the designer of your home plans and the builder of your new home to determine the choices. Contacting a roofing specialist might also be a consideration for you, even if it’s just for a materials consultation.

This home building article by:
Michelle McClory with BuildingPlans.com

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