A Guide to Building a Roof
The roof is one of the most important aspects of a building, providing both protection against the elements and a weather-proof outer shell. As such, it's the first aspect to tackle on a construction site. Roofing styles and construction differ according to climate, product availability, and local customs. The following guide will provide you with the basics of a typical roof. Roofs are important components of any building, and their design varies from type to type. Depending on the structure and function of the building, roofs can be flat, pitched, vaulted, or domed, or a combination of these forms. Different forms serve different purposes, and the roof structure may also include windows, openings, ventilation, and communications infrastructure. Roofs may also admit sunlight, allowing a garden conservatory to utilize natural sunlight. There are many types of roofs, with different materials used to construct them. Depending on the climate, different roof styles can provide different degrees of protection from the elements. In areas with low rainfall, houses have low-pitched roofs, while houses with higher rainfall have steep-pitched roofs. The longhouses of Papua New Guinea, for example, have a high-pitched roof that sweeps almost to the ground. In areas with high rainfall, such as Germany, the highest-pitched roofs are very common. A roof structure is generally supported by walls, but in some buildings, the walls and roof may be interrelated. In general, long beams of strong, rigid material support the roof structure. Bamboo and timber are both flexible and can create a variety of roof shapes.
