A roof is made up of a superimposition of elements that form a watertight and resistant whole: under-roof screen, insulation, roofing, rainwater drainage system. This blog tells you everything you need to know about a perfectly waterproof and well-insulated roof.

 Contents

 – The rainwater drainage system

 – Roof waterproofing

 – Insulation

The roof is the first protection of the house. It allows water to drain away, preventing it from getting inside and damaging the building’s structure. The roof insulates from the cold and heat outside. It is, therefore, necessary to choose it carefully and ensure that it is perfectly watertight.

 The rainwater drainage system

 The slope of the roof

 The slope of the roof allows the evacuation of rainwater, ensured by a system of pipes and waterproofing.

 The gutters

 Gutters and downspouts are used to evacuate rainwater that runs off the roof. They are most often made of PVC or zinc but are also available in aluminium, galvanised steel, copper, wood and composite materials.

 Find our dossier on gutters to find out everything you need to know on the subject.

 Good to know: also think about equipping your roof with a strike guard, eaves or snow guard to complete your water drainage system. 

 Watertightness of the roof

 Roof sealing elements are intended to protect a building from rain, snow and wind.

 For a well-sealed roof, the roofing must be perfectly finished, and the roof must be well ventilated. Also, think about the under-roof screen to improve the water tightness of your roof.

The importance of ventilation

 Good air circulation is essential to prevent mould and ensure the durability of the various sealing elements. The installation of a ventilated closet is an interesting solution. There are other solutions, discover them here.

The under-roof screen and other waterproofing elements

 The under-roof screen protects the structure against water, snow, dust, sand and small animals. It prevents the roof from lifting in the wind and improves the ventilation of the roof.

 – Under-roof screen

 – Vapour barrier

 – Roof flashing

The particular case of flat roof waterproofing

 The waterproofing system for flat roofs has some unique features. We recommend that you hire a professional to carry it out.

Insulation

 With a poorly insulated roof, 30% of the house’s calories escape through the roof. The role of insulation is to conserve heat in winter and cool in summer, thus reducing heating and air-conditioning bills, ensuring a comfortable living environment for the inhabitants and keeping the house in good condition.

There are two types of insulation:

 – from the inside, i.e. under the roof. This is the classic method;

 – from the outside: this solution is more efficient and has the advantage of preserving the interior volume, but it is also more expensive.

We will come back to this in our next blog on:

– Roof insulation from the inside;

– Roof insulation from the outside: which technique to choose?

In the meantime, if you are looking for a roofing professional, please contact Absolute Roof Restorations. With more than 20 years of experience., they will help you with roof leaks, cracked and broken tiles, gutter cleaning, storm damage, valley iron replacement, roof re-bedding and repointing, roof painting/respraying, pressure washing and cleaning/water blasting, demossing, fascia and scotia replacement, and more.

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