Special Considerations When Choosing A Roofing Material For A Minimal Modern Home
by William Gerard
Minimal modern homes have a one-story structure with a simplified floor plan and minimal ornamentation. The architectural style, which reached peak popularity between the 1930s and 1950s, favors function over form. Minimal modern homes typically have wood or vinyl siding and a side gable main roof with a cross gable roof as a secondary roof, often over the front porch or entryway.
If you own a minimal modern home and are in need of a new roof installation, a few characteristics of the house and roof style can help determine the best roofing material for the job. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind while meeting with your roofing company.
Does Your Home Have Natural Windbreaks on All Sides?
Gabled roofs have two steep sides that can help speed up oncoming wind. The increased speed can then cause damage to lightweight roofing materials like asphalt shingles. The minimal modern home often has a modified gable roof style where the slopes are a bit shallower than normal, but the wind risk can still present a problem, particularly if you have a cross gable.
The presence of a cross gable, combined with the main roof, means that there are angled sides pointing in four different directions. While a traditional lone gable roof would need windbreaks on two sides to prevent any potential wind damage, your home would need windbreaks on all four sides.
If asphalt roofing is the only material that fits into your budget, you can still consider going this route with the understanding that you might have some repair work and shingle replacements in the future.
Does Your Roof Have Sufficient Bracing for Heavier Materials?
The lack of ornamentation on the minimal modern home might inspire you to go all-out with a roofing material like slate or clay tiles that could add both style and visual dimension to your roof. The problem is that gable roofs tend to have minimal bracing so that the roof doesn't take up much indoor space. Slate and clay tiles are both heavy roofing materials that require enough bracing to hold up the material and any potential snow and water that might sit on the roof for extended periods of time.
Ask your roofing contractor to evaluate your existing bracing to see if a previous homeowner might've added bracing over the years. Or you can see if you could add the bracing required to hold up the heavier material with the understanding that you will lose some indoor living or storage space.
Contact a company like Jerry's Roofing for more advice.
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About Me
Do you know how to tell if you have problems with your flashing, loose shingles, or damaged tar pitch? Well, I didn't either until I experienced some of those issues on my own. One day, I realized that my roof was leaking and that I needed to find a solution fast. After contacting a professional roofing company, they were able to solve my troubles and teach me the signs of trouble. I want you to avoid the same types of hassles, which is why my blog is filled to the brim with information about roofing and home ownership. You never know, these tips could really come in handy!