Roof Adaptation: Making Your Roof More Resilient

Most of today’s roofing systems are designed to adapt to known conditions like high speed winds, prolonged exposure to UV radiation and extreme temperatures. However, roofs can be adapted to unique conditions and improve their resiliency. In today’s post, roof repair and installation contractor The Great American Roofing Company takes a look at how roof adaptation works.

What is Roof Adaptation?

Roof adaptation is a design process that incorporates features that let the roof adapt to specific local conditions. The objective is to make the roof more resilient, in anticipation of unexpected weather events. When applying adaptation principles towards roofing, one must take into account factors like climate and building structure. The immediate environment must also be considered, as a building located in an urban environment would have different requirements for adaptation compared to one located in the suburbs.

Adaptation and Roof Replacement

Roof replacement is a good opportunity to apply adaptation principles. As adaptation is geared towards improving roof resilience, the new roof’s design must be able to fulfill the following conditions:

• The roof must still be functional. Most roofs are designed, even warranted, to withstand the highest recorded weather conditions in the area. However, extreme weather conditions can happen, and a resilient roof must still allow the building to be occupied after such an event has passed.

• The roof must fulfill all its functions as a roof. A resilient roof must be more than just a shelter after an extreme weather event. This means the roof must also have functional ventilation and insulation, with framing that isn’t compromised. A roof leak may occur but it shouldn’t reduce the roof’s functionality.

• The roof must not impair the building’s occupational capacity. Fortifying a roof may require compromises to the structure — the frame may require thicker lumber or the outer roofing materials may need to be more robust than standard materials. For example, if the attic space is intended for use as a living space, the resilient roof design must not reduce or eliminate its occupational capacity.

To incorporate these conditions to your roof replacement plans, you need to work with a roofing professional from design to completion to ensure optimal results. Our team at The Great American Roofing Company can help you with this, and more. Give us a call at (201) 825-2955, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.