Planning the house of your dreams can be really exciting. You have an idea as to what you want it to look like when it's done, and what kinds of features you want to have. But when it comes to the practical aspects, it might not be so easy or nearly exciting. You are going to have to look at everything that is involved in your house and make decisions about what kinds of materials you want to use and which ones will work best. That includes what you should do about your roof. While you may have an architect draw up the plans for your house, you should talk to a roofing contractor before you make any final decisions. There are several things you should talk to the roofer about. 

Roof Sheathing

The sheathing of your roof may also be called the underlayment. The sheathing is made up of all the stuff that is between the roofing joists and the roofing material. That generally consists of a deck of either plywood or oriented strand board, or OSB. Both of those things are manufactured woods. They are both sturdy, but OSB tends to be a little lighter and a little less expensive than plywood. The deck is attached directly to your joists or trusses. On top of the decking, roofing felt or tar paper is laid down. That material acts as another layer of protection in between your house and the outside. Its job is to help keep water from getting into the house. Once the felt has been plaid, it's time to put the roofing material on, which would attach through the felt and into the roof deck. 

Snow/Ice Buildup

If you live in a place that gets a lot of snow and ice, you need to worry about what impact that can have on your roof. Ice dams on your roof can force water under the shingles. However, there are things that you can have added to your roof while it is being built that would help to avoid ice dams from forming. That can include having heat cables installed on the roof in a zig zag pattern. When the cables are turned on, they will melt anything on the roof and keep ice from forming. 

When you are making plans for your new home, you want to make sure that you are being practical, and not just dreaming of all the features you'd like. Talk to a roofer about what you need for your roof. A business like Hinkle Roofing & Construction Incorporated has more information.