Know Your Maryland Roofs

The roof is the largest single structural component in your home, but it is not one single piece. The roofs installed by the roofing contractors at DryTech Roofing are complex systems with multiple components that must all work together to successfully protect your home from the elements. In a region like Maryland, where we see four distinct seasons each with unique climate challenges, there is an ever-present need for durable, weatherproof roofing systems. That is why we at DryTech Roofing take such great pride in our ability to design and install fully-functional systems for Mays Chapel, MD homes.

We don’t expect you to become a roofing expert like the professionals of DryTech Roofing. But the more you know about your roof and its composition, the better able you’ll be to make decisions about investing in the best roof for your needs and budget. That’s why we’ve prepared a brief overview of the many parts that go into your home’s roofing system.

Here is a list of components that typically make up Maryland roofs:

• Roof deck – Flat panels, usually made of plywood, that are nailed to the rafters to form the base layer of the roof.
• Underlayment – Special layer of felt paper or rubber membrane installed over the roof deck to help seal and protect it against water, snow, and ice.
• Water shield – A specially-formulated rubber membrane that is typically placed along the bottom edge of the roof and in critical junctures— like valleys— and around vents to help seal out water.
• Starter strips – Securely fastened line of shingles placed at the roof’s lower edge, a starter strip is better able to withstand winds and resist water intrusion.
• Shingles – Today shingles can be formulated from asphalt (still the most popular), fiberglass, tile, wood, metal or slate. They are installed in overlapping rows to direct rainwater and snowmelt down and off the roof.
• Flashing – Aluminum, sheet, metal, or copper seals that are placed around vent pipes, chimneys, and valleys to prevent water from entering the gap.
• Ventilation – Proper ventilation helps to balance the temperature of the roof deck and the attic, helping to prevent the formation of ice dams, to lower moisture levels, and to extend the life of the roof.
• Shingle cap – A specially-made shingle that is placed at the roof’s peak to cover and protect the seam where courses of shingles meet.
• Chimney Cricket – A cricket is a ridge structure designed to divert water on a roof. Generally found on the high side of a chimney or the transition from one roof area to another, the cricket is normally the same pitch as the rest of the roof, but not always (see image below).

GAF Materials Make All the Difference

A roofing system can have all of the components mentioned above, but unless the materials used to create them are of the highest quality, the roof will not be up to the standards of DryTech Roofing. We install full roofing systems using materials from GAF, the nation’s leading producer of high-quality roofing materials. As one of the only GAF Master Elite roofers in Maryland, our reputation for building superior-strength, aesthetically-appealing roofs is well-established. And thanks to our full certification from GAF, we are able to back up every roofing system we install with industry-leading warranties.

To learn more about roofing systems, specifically the unique ideas behind Maryland area roofing systems, give DryTech Roofing a call or request a quote today. When you turn to DryTech, we’ll work hard to EARN your business.

FREE Estimate From the Leading Roofers in Mays Chapel, MD

Have an aging or leaking roof? Don’t want to keep climbing up there and patching cracks, just to have them reopen? Contact DryTech Maryland, and leave the roofing to us. Call (240) 491-5600 for a FREE Estimate from the most trusted Maryland area roofers.