A rooftop is part of a building envelope. It's the covering on the uppermost part of a building or shelter which gives protection from pets and weather, notably rain or snow, but also heat, wind and sunlight. The word also denotes the framing or structure which supports that covering.[1]The characteristics of a roof are based mostly upon the purpose of the building that it addresses, the available roofing materials and the local traditions of development and wider principles of architectural design and practice and could also be governed by local or national legislation. In most countries a roof protects against rain primarily. A verandah may be roofed with material that protects against sunlight but admits the other elements. The roof of the garden conservatory protects plants from cold, wind, and rain, but admits light.Shack made of date palm branches at Neot Semadar, IsraelA roof structure may provide additional living space, for example a roof garden.The elements in the look of a roof structure are:the materialthe constructionthe durabilityThe material of the roof may range from banana leaves, wheaten straw or seagrass to laminated cup, copper (see: copper roofing), aluminium sheeting and pre-cast concrete. In lots of parts of the globe ceramic tiles have been the predominant roofer materials for centuries, if not millennia. Other roofer materials include asphalt, coal tar pitch, EPDM silicone, Hypalon, reboundable foam, PVC, slate, Teflon textile, TPO, and hardwood shakes and shingles.The construction of your roof is determined by its method of support and how the underneath space is bridged and whether or not the roof covering is pitched. The pitch is the viewpoint of which the roof goes up from its least expensive to highest point. Most US domestic structures, except in very dried regions, has roofs that are sloped, or pitched. Although modern building elements such as drainpipes might remove the need for pitch, roofs are pitched for reasons of appearance and custom. So the pitch is partly dependent upon stylistic factors, and partially to do with practicalities.Some types of roof covering, for example thatch, need a steep pitch to become waterproof and durable. Other types of roofing, for example pantiles, are unstable on a steeply pitched roof but provide excellent weather protection at a relatively low angle. In regions where there is little rain, an almost flat roof with hook run-off provides sufficient protection against an occasional downpour. Drainpipes also take away the dependence on a sloping roof covering.Somebody who specializes in roof construction is called a roofer.The durability of a roofing is a subject of concern because the roof structure is usually the least accessible part of an building for purposes of repair and renewal, while its destruction or harm can have serious effects.Because the purpose of a roofing is to safeguard people and their possessions from climatic elements, the insulating properties of the roofing are a awareness in its structure and the choice of roofing material.Some roof covering materials, specifically those of natural fibrous material, such as thatch, have excellent insulating properties. For those that not, extra insulation is often installed under the outside part. In developed countries, nearly all dwellings have a ceiling installed under the structural members of the roof. The purpose of a roof is to insulate against heating and cold, sound, dirt and grime and frequently from the lice and droppings of parrots who frequently choose roofs as nesting places.Cement tiles can be used as insulation. When installed leaving a space between the tiles and the roof structure surface, it can reduce heat caused by sunlight.Types of insulation are plastic material or felt sheeting, with a reflective surface sometimes, installed below the tiles or other materials immediately; synthetic foam batting laid above the ceiling and recycled paper products and other such materials that may be inserted or sprayed into roof cavities. So called Cool roofs are becoming more and more popular, and in some full cases are mandated by local codes. Cool roofs are defined as roofs with both high reflectivity and high thermal emittance.Poorly protected and ventilated roof covering can suffer from problems such as the formation of glaciers dams round the overhanging eaves in winter, causing water from melted snow on higher elements of the roof structure to penetrate the roofing materials. Ice dams occur when heating escapes through the uppermost part of the roof, and the snow at those points melts, refreezing as it drips across the shingles, and collecting in the form of ice at the lower points. This may result in structural harm from stress, like the damage of gutter and drainage systems. Thanks a lot for reading and visit our blog, do not forget to share this article.