Chapter 24 Further Reading: Roofing Systems
Books
1. "Roofing with Asphalt Shingles" — NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) The NRCA produces technical manuals that represent the professional installation standard. Their asphalt shingle manual covers installation requirements, underlayment specifications, and flashing details in the format used by professional roofing contractors. This is not a consumer-friendly read, but it gives you the baseline standard against which to evaluate contractor work. Available at nrca.net.
2. "Flat and Low-Slope Roofing" — RSI Publications A clear introduction to membrane roofing systems for readers without a commercial roofing background. Covers EPDM, TPO, and modified bitumen installation and maintenance in practical terms. Useful for anyone with a flat-roof section on their house.
3. "Roofing Construction and Estimating" — Daniel Benn Atcheson (Craftsman Book Company) A trade reference that covers both the technical aspects of roofing and how roofing costs are calculated and priced. Understanding how roofing is priced — what the labor components are, how material waste factors in — helps homeowners evaluate proposals and understand cost variation.
Online Resources
4. NRCA.net — National Roofing Contractors Association The NRCA is the professional association for roofing contractors. Their consumer resources section includes guidance on hiring contractors, understanding warranties, and evaluating installation quality. Their technical bulletins (some publicly available) cover specific topics like flashing, ventilation, and material compatibility.
5. Building Science Corporation (buildingscience.com) Joe Lstiburek and his colleagues at BSC have written extensively on roof assembly design, ventilation, and moisture dynamics. Their "Insight" articles and reports address topics like ventilated vs. unventilated roof assemblies, ice dam prevention, and the interaction between roofing and attic systems. BSC content is technically rigorous but written to be accessible to informed non-professionals.
6. Remodeling Magazine — Cost vs. Value Report (costvsvalue.com) Annual survey data on renovation costs and resale value returns across major U.S. markets. Roofing replacement is typically among the better-performing home investments in the survey — useful for understanding how roofing expenditure compares to other renovation spending in terms of recouped value.
7. Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (ibhs.org) IBHS conducts independent testing of roofing materials under wind, hail, and fire conditions. Their FORTIFIED Home program defines elevated installation standards (beyond code) for wind and hail resistance. If you're in a hurricane or hail-prone region, IBHS research is directly applicable to material and installation decisions.
Manufacturer Technical Resources
8. Owens Corning / CertainTeed / GAF Shingle Technical Guides Each major shingle manufacturer publishes installation guidelines, product specifications, and warranty documents. These are freely available on manufacturer websites and are worth reading before a roofing project. Understanding what your warranty actually covers (and what voids it) — including ventilation requirements, underlayment specifications, and installation method requirements — prevents unpleasant surprises.
9. Carlisle SynTec / Firestone / GAF — TPO and EPDM Resources For flat roofing, the major membrane manufacturers (Carlisle, Firestone, GAF) publish technical application guides, detail sheets for penetrations and edges, and contractor certification requirements. If you're specifying flat roofing, these documents describe what correct installation looks like and what warranty requirements apply.
Standards and Codes
10. International Residential Code (IRC) — Chapter 9 (Roof Assemblies) and Chapter 10 (Chimneys and Fireplaces) The IRC sets minimum national standards for roof installation. Chapter 9 covers underlayment requirements, ice dam protection, valley flashing, and material-specific installation requirements. Chapter 10 addresses chimney and fireplace construction including flashing. Available at codes.iccsafe.org (subscription for full text; many municipalities provide local adoptions). Understanding code minimums helps you understand what "standard" means — and where "best practice" exceeds it.
11. ASTM D3462 — Standard Specification for Asphalt Shingles The ASTM standard that defines minimum material requirements for asphalt shingles. Not required reading for most homeowners, but understanding that shingle quality is governed by this specification — and that products can meet the minimum while varying significantly in quality above that floor — explains why manufacturers with similar specifications can produce very different real-world products.
12. Florida Building Code — High Velocity Hurricane Zone Provisions Florida's roofing requirements, particularly the High Velocity Hurricane Zone sections, are the most demanding residential roofing code in the U.S. These requirements — for fastening patterns, wind uplift resistance, and product testing — represent best practice for wind-resistant roofing anywhere. Reading them is educational even for homeowners outside Florida, because they clarify what "properly installed for wind resistance" actually means in precise, quantified terms.