Roofing supplies include a wide range of materials and items necessary for roof construction and maintenance. This consists of not only shingles but molding, lumber, pipes and vents, roofing cements, ladders and all the necessary tools , even roofing nails.

One of the most important roofing supplies is, of course, the top roofing material. This is considered the roof proper and includes wood shingles, ceramic tiles, asbestos shingles, metal roofing sheets and tiles, rubber roofing sheets and shingles, and more. Location is a prime concern when selecting roofing material, so that the roof will stand up to the local elements and issues that interact with a roof.

The frame or support structure of a roof is lumber. This generally consists of a triangular truss and a lattice of beams. The roof itself is then laid over the frame. Lumber is used for other elements including the cornice, part of the frame that overhangs the wall, the fascia, which is the underside of the cornice, the eave, beam ends of the wood frame that allow water to drip away from the roof, and the soffit, which is the underside of the eave.

Pipes and vents stick up from the roof. They help the house breathe, and are also the way out for smoke from a fireplace or cooking hood, as well as for hot air from the attic. The bottoms of pipes and vents are always sealed with a boot, or metal strip, that includes a lead based or plastic sealant. These pipes and vents have one way shields sealed with rubber so that the air or smoke can escape, but water doesn’t flow into the pipe or vent.

Roofing tools include the ladder to climb up to the roof, as well as other items necessary for both installation and removal, as well as for regular maintenance. These include simple items such as a broom and bucket to hold waste shingles, a slater’s hammer that includes a hammer as well as an ax and blade, a slate cutter to cut through shingles, seaming pliers to grab shingles, and a hip runner to install the ridge cap, the portion of the roof that caps the seams.

When it comes to roofing nails they must be long enough to extend through the shingles and get about 3/8 inch below the underside of the shingle. Anything that interferes with the nails biting into the wood could cause the nail to spring out of the shingle, and eventually the loss of shingles. This includes shingles with ridges, some under shingle materials, and of course nails that are too short. A good roofer can drive a roofing nail with one solid hit. A homeowner doing it themselves should be able to drive most roofing nails with one hit within a few minutes of work.

Like a well roofing supplies are a deep subject, but satisfying when you get to the bottom of it.