Editing Roof (section)

==Design elements==
The elements in the design of a roof are:
* the material
* the [[Domestic roof construction|construction]]
* the durability

The '''material''' of a roof may range from [[banana]] leaves, wheaten [[straw]] or [[seagrass]] to [[Architectural glass|laminated glass]], [[copper]] ''(see: [[Copper in architecture#Roofing|copper roofing]])'', [[aluminium]] sheeting and [[pre-cast concrete]]. In many parts of the world [[ceramic]] [[roof tiles]] have been the predominant roofing material for centuries, if not millennia. Other roofing materials include [[Bitumen|asphalt]], [[Coal tar|coal tar pitch]], [[EPDM rubber]], [[Hypalon]], [[List of polyurethane applications|polyurethane foam]], [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]], [[slate]], [[Polytetrafluoroethylene|Teflon fabric]], [[Thermoplastic olefin|TPO]], and [[Wood shingle|wood shakes and shingles]].

The '''construction''' of a roof is determined by its method of support and how the underneath space is bridged and whether or not the roof is ''pitched''. The ''[[roof pitch|pitch]]'' is the angle at which the roof rises from its lowest to its highest point. Most US [[house|domestic architecture]], except in very dry regions, has roofs that are sloped, or ''pitched''. Although modern construction elements such as drainpipes may remove the need for pitch, roofs are pitched for reasons of tradition and aesthetics. So the pitch is partly dependent upon stylistic factors, and partially to do with practicalities.

Some types of roofing, for example [[thatch]], require a steep pitch in order to be waterproof and durable. Other types of roofing, for example [[Pantile (roof material)|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 a slight run-off provides adequate protection against an occasional downpour. Drainpipes also remove the need for a sloping roof.

A person that specializes in roof construction is called a [[roofer]].

The '''durability''' of a roof is a matter of concern because the roof is often the least accessible part of a building for purposes of repair and renewal, while its damage or destruction can have serious effects.