Your roof is an important component of your home that is often overlooked until there is an issue. This part of your home helps maintain the structural integrity, protects your home from the weather and helps ensure good energy efficiency. While many people think of boring asphalt shingles when thinking about a roof, they can be so much more. Installing a custom roof can enable you to install skylights, solar panels and utilize energy-efficient materials to cut down on your heating and cooling costs. Let’s take a deeper look into what actually goes into designing a custom roof.
Architectural Integration
One of the first steps you should take when planning your new custom roof is to understand the architectural design of your home.The outside design of your home will have a big impact on what you can and cannot do with your roof. Since you will want your home’s design to match the aesthetics of your roof, you need to let the architecture of your home dictate the shape of your roof. This shape will then influence the style of roof, materials you use and any additional features you can include.
Choose Your Roof Style
Once you understand the possibilities your home’s architectural design affords your new custom roof, you can start to get creative with the style of roof you will choose. However, it is important to remember that each style comes with its own set of pros and cons that need to be carefully considered. You must keep the main objectives of a roof in mind when designing a custom one so that you do not compromise the structural integrity of your home. Items such as its ability to drain water, withstand extreme weather and help maintain energy efficiency are all important aspects that need to be considered when deciding on your roof’s style.
Material Selection
The next step after you have selected your roof style is to select your materials. While most roof styles can accommodate a large selection of materials, you will need to think long and hard about specific features you want to include with your roof. Certain materials are better suited for some features than others, which is why the features you want to include will help make your decision on which materials to use. For example, do you wish your home was cooler in the summer? If so, then you should consider using materials that reflect sunlight. Do you want your home to have a specific look and feel from the curb? Then you may decide to go with a more premium material such as clay tiles. If you are unsure of which features and functionality are even possible with your new custom roof, reach out to our knowledgeable team and we can help answer any questions you have.
Structural Integrity
Structural integrity is a critical component of any roof design. If you are making dramatic changes to your existing roof design, you may need to add additional roofing materials such as rafters, beams and trusses. Also, you must make sure that your home is able to support any added weight that a new roof will add to the overall structure. This weight is not only limited to the building materials but also includes wind pressure and large amounts of snow. While your existing home will certainly have limitations on how radical you can get with your new design, do not let it limit you from the start as you can always add to the structural integrity to support the design of your dreams.
Climate and Weather Considerations
When designing a new roof, it is important to keep your local climate and weather in mind. Since we get rain throughout the year here in Greensboro, NC, you need to make sure any roof you install has effective water runoff. This will help prevent leaking and pooling whenever there is a rain storm. It will also help reduce your chances of dealing with mold or mildew growth as water will not collect on your roof. Also, you need to make sure your roof has a good gutter system to remove water away from your home’s foundation. This will help prevent serious issues down the line and give you another chance to add your special touch on the design, especially if you use a premium material such as copper for your gutters.
Building Codes and Regulations
Local codes and regulations are a fact of life for homeowners and can dictate the type of roof you have. Before going too far down the design path, you need to check your local regulations to see if there are any fire safety or environmental impact regulations that need to be followed. These regulations can limit your choices in some instances but are fairly straightforward to understand. Also, make sure to check for specific zoning regulations in your area. Custom roofs may require special permits, especially if the roof will alter the height or footprint of your home.
Your Budget
Coming into the process of designing a custom roof with a set budget will help make the process go a lot smoother. While it is fun to dream big and design an elaborate custom roof, the price can balloon rather quickly. When you approach your project with a set budget in mind, you can keep a running tally going as you move through the design process to see if you are close to exceeding your budget. As you start to get close to the amount you set, it can help make some decisions a lot easier. Also, to help avoid being unhappy with the final product, it is a good idea to have a list of must haves with your new roof. By ensuring these elements are included, you will have a better chance of being happy at the end of the project while enabling yourself to find other areas to cut back on costs.
Remember Energy Efficiency
If you are not happy with the energy efficiency of your home, installing a custom roof is a great way to improve it. If you lean on your HVAC system to heat your home a lot in the winter, consider installing skylights to allow more sunlight and natural heat to enter during the winter. Conversely, selecting materials that reflect sunlight in the summer is a good way to keep the interior of your home cooler and lessen your dependence on your air conditioner. Also, you can include additional areas for insulation in your new roof design, which can have a huge impact on your home’s energy efficiency.
Let Us Install Your New Custom Roof
Adding a new custom roof to your home is a wonderful way to dramatically change its look and feel. However, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration when installing a new custom roof. Let our team of expert roofers help you plan and design the perfect roof for your home. We will ensure it matches your architectural design and includes new energy-saving features. Since we also offer expert heating and cooling services, plumbing and electrical work, we can help ensure your new roof will not impact any of these other elements of your home. We pride ourselves on providing a roofing service that is ‘grandmother approved” and always treat our clients with the utmost respect. We will do our best to carefully listen to your needs and get to work to finish the job on time and under budget. Call us today to see how we can help you get the custom roof of your dreams.
