Everyone knows that a roof is designed to keep things out. However, some things need to be able to get through as well. Light from skylights, air from vents, electricity and data from cables and other essentials have to get through the roof surface and into the building. In order for this to happen, it may be necessary for a Houston roofing service to install a utility port through the roof. Although any rupture in the surface of the roof creates a pathway for the elements, the roofers will be able to safely install the utility assembly and shelter it completely without risking damage to the surface.
Fortunately, skylights and other large roof assemblies are well designed for this purpose. Most skylights and exhaust fans are procured with a box assembly, allowing simple installation once the area is properly prepared. The skylight is aligned against the lowest layer of the roofing surface. Then the flashing base is integrated into the roofing material with the desired fasteners. There may also be an adhesive applied beneath the edges to aid with leak proof installation.
The roofing contractors from Houston Restoration Services of Houston would be happy to answer any question you have about residential roofing or storm damage.
On roofs with shingles, the flashing base around the box is often inserted so that it is completely covered on the top and rides above the shingles on the bottom edge. Metal roofs may have a simpler system whereby the base is bolted on top and then sealed. Flat roofs, especially those made with tar and gravel, may find the edges of the skylight naturally covered by the roof surface to the point that no further adhesion is needed.
Utility ports and vents have similar installation processes to skylights, although they are usually much smaller and therefore less difficult to maintain. Large ventilation ducts may be almost identical to exhaust fans for these purposes. Vents for toilets and sinks are often little more than a pipe, and they are usually covered with a pipe casing. Modern pipe casings are usually made of PVC or galvanized metal, but copper and lead are both used for similar purposes. They are placed on the roof according to the same principle as the larger assemblies, with the flashing base extending beyond the lower edge if shingles are used.
Items such as antennas or cable connections will usually be installed simply by drilling a hole through the roof surface in the appropriate area and covering it with a shingle or other piece of roofing material. Roofing cement or tar may be used to ensure the hole is securely sealed.
