Get matched with top roofers in Theodosia, MO

No, there’s no specific building code that requires a roof overhang. However, installing your roof with the standard 2-inch overhang is good practice, as it helps direct runoff away from your fascia boards and roof decking and into your gutters. Some overhang is especially important in areas that see heavy rainfall and snowfall, as the risk of water getting under the roofing material and causing water damage is much higher.

There should be small gaps between your roof and the walls of your home, and other buildings. These small gaps let building materials shift, expand, and contract with weather and other outside forces, and they prevent moisture from wicking down walls from roofing and gutter systems. Without these strategic gaps, your home’s exterior and its finishes can sustain water damage, decay, peel, delaminate, and crack. However, there is a fine line between a smart gap and a problematic gap—all  gaps should be small, intentional, and covered or filled in with foam insulation to prevent pests from using them as access points.

Asphalt shingles blister when air gets trapped between building materials, either within the layers of the shingle itself or in adhesives on the undersides of the shingles. As the roof heats up in direct sunlight, the trapped gas expands and creates a bubble in the roof. Eventually, the bubble can pop, leaving an exposed area of decking and underlayment.

Clay tile roofing is more susceptible to damage from impact than something like a metal roof or even asphalt shingles, so they aren’t ideal in areas that see frequent windblown debris or hail. Clay tile roofs are also an average of $8,000 more expensive than asphalt shingle roofs, so up-front cost is an important consideration to make before committing.