Your roof is an integral part of your house. More than any other structural element, the roof is the sine qua non of home as shelter. Its trusses and tiles shield you more from the harshness of weather than even your home's walls or windows. Of course, you want this protection to be solid and last for many years — and not just for reasons of physical comfort. Re-roofing is a costly and disruptive process, and repair work alone can put a significant dent in your savings. Don’t be caught short by a crisis: regularly inspect the soundness of your roof and use only quality materials when undertaking any type of repair or replacement work. These precautions are especially important in California where a roof must be secure enough to withstand the lateral shaking of an earthquake. To learn more about roofing, be sure to take a look at the following online resources:

• Is Your Home Protected From Earthquake Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Retrofit is brought to you by the Institute for Business and Home Safety. This guide contains a section on roof systems that provides a simple overview of what seismic retrofitting steps you might need to take. Remember: “Your roof structure must function like the top of a box, keeping the walls tied together and preventing your home from coming apart at the seams.” Don’t overlook the necessity of an earthquake-proof roof!
  
  
• Preservation Brief #4: Roofing for Historic Buildings, produced by the National Park Service’s Heritage Preservation Services (HPS), is an excellent guide for owners of old homes. Of course, practical considerations are of utmost importance, but don’t let a new roof spoil the integrity of your historic Edwardian. Take a look at this Preservation Brief for detailed descriptions of historic American roofing materials, as well as guidelines for deciding on whether to repair or replace.