Elements of a building. Roofs and floors

A roof is the covering on the uppermost part of a building. Depending upon the nature of the building, the roof may also protect against heat, against sunlight, against cold and against wind. There are many different types of roofs available. Any discussion of different types should also include two aspects of roof type – the shape of the roof itself and the roofing material used to cover it. The shape is determined by the design of the house. The materials used are also quite varied and may be determined by things like cost, climate, neighborhood covenants, and local building codes.

Common types of roofs include lean-to, flat, front or side gabled, cross gabled, pyramid, mansard, tent, hip and others. These are all descriptions of the roof shape, but within each shape, there are a lot of variations as well. Another way to look at roof types is the roofing materials themselves. Examples of commonly used materials include asphalt shingle, tile and man made versions of these materials. Tile, metal, and other man made materials tend to cost a bit more but also tend to be the most durable. Traditional material such as asphalt shingles is usually less expensive but not so durable.

Floors divide the building into storeys. They form the basic structural components of a building, together with ceilings and walls. The construction of the floors in a building depends on the basic structural frame that is used.

A wide variety of materials is used in modern floors. Concrete and wooden floors are usually covered with carpets, rugs, and other floorings for aesthetic reasons and to increase durability of the surface, absorption of sound, and ease of maintenance. Wood is still extensively used in residences, especially as parquets (short, hard pieces of wood assembled in geometric patterns). Wood tiles and prefabricated parquets can easily be installed on existing floors.

Tiles also play an important role in modern buildings and homes. Of all floor coverings, they are the most resistant to water and humidity, and they are easy to clean. Glazed ceramic tiles are used wherever highly sanitary conditions are required, such as in hospitals, laboratories, swimming pools, and public toilets. In the house, tiles are used on the floors and walls of kitchens and bathrooms. Synthetic, resilient floorings include linoleum, asphalt tiles, vinyl asbestos and pure vinyl tiles and rubber.

Notes:

Gabled roof – остроконечная крыша

Asphalt shingle – рубероидная кровельная плитка

Resilient flooring – упругое покрытие пола

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14