Roofing Guides

Roof Types Explained

Roof "type" means two different things: the shape of the structure and the material covering it. This guide covers both, with what each costs and how long it lasts.

Parts of a Roof

Every part of a roof has a name, and knowing them makes contractor estimates far easier to read. This is the full anatomy, from the deck up.

Roofing Services and What They Cost

Roofing companies sell a narrower set of services than most homeowners expect. Here is what each one covers, what it costs in 2026, and when it is the right call.

Types of Roof Vents

A roof needs two kinds of vent, not one. Air has to get in as well as out, and most attic ventilation problems are a balance failure rather than a shortage of vents.

Roof Flashing Types

Most roof leaks are not failures of the roof covering. They happen where the covering stops: at a wall, a chimney, a pipe or a valley. Flashing is what closes those joints, and knowing the names makes a roofing estimate readable.

Types of Roof Shingles

Nearly every shingle sold in America is asphalt, and the choice within asphalt comes down to three grades. The other materials are a much smaller market that costs two to five times as much and lasts two to five times as long.