We can forget about the roof most of the time. It sits overhead. We only see it when arriving home, usually, and even then, for mere seconds at a time. “There are roofing repair companies near me?” you may ask, since you so rarely need to worry about your overhead protection.
Your roof is, however, undeniably essential. If your roof malfunctions in any way, you will suffer. With that in mind, let’s get to know your roof a bit better. What might be news to you?
1. A Metal Roof is Safe in Thunderstorms
This may seem counterintuitive, but wood is just as likely to be hit by lightning than metal. Since metal is not combustible, it is actually safer in an area like Cincinnati that is prone to lightning strikes.
2. A Thatched Roof is Waterproof
The reed used in thatching is naturally waterproof, so a roof made from thatch is actually extremely water-resistant at the very least. It is also notable that, since the reeds are bundled incredibly tightly, the water just runs right off.
3. Water Moves Across the Roof Before it Comes In
If you have a leak that is dripping into your attic or through your ceiling, you may assume the hole in the roof would be directly above it. That may not be the case at all. That water may have entered your roof 15 or 20 feet away, and seeped through long shafts of your roofbeams before dripping down into the interior of your home.
Clay is the Oldest Known Roofing Material
Clay tiles have been used in the manufacture of dwellings since around 10,000 B.C. Thatch goes back to around 5,000 B.C., but clay extends back five millenia more – that’s more than 12,000 years of clay-based roofs.