If your roof requires extensive work soon, you may wonder if you can make it impervious to water during the repairs. You can waterproof your roof or make it water-resistant. Each type of technique comes with its own innovative features and benefits. Learn more about the differences between waterproof and water-resistant and how they affect your roof below.

How Do Waterproof and Water-Resistant Roofs Work?

Although waterproof and water-resistant appear to mean the same things, they don't. In order to choose the right repair method for your roof, you must learn the differences between waterproof and water-resistant first. 

Waterproofing is a technique used by contractors or other sources to permanently keep water and moisture out of a structure. Unless a structure is compromised or damaged, water and moisture can't successfully pass through it. Contractors often waterproof structures that constantly come into contact with or encounter water, such as a basement, crawl space, or roof.

Water and moisture can penetrate a water-resistant structure over time. Water and moisture can pass through a structure worn down by age or physical damage. If you live in a location that doesn't receive lots of water during the year, you can use the water-resistant method to protect your roof. 

While both methods can protect your roof from water and moisture over time, only one method will work best for it. A roofing contractor can help you select the best water protection method for your roof. 

How Do You Choose the Right Method?

In order to select the best water protection method for your roof, a contractor will consider the following things:

• location of your home
• weather conditions in your area
• condition of your roof

If you live in a rain-prone region of the United States, a contractor may suggest you waterproof your roof. To do so, a contractor may:

• install a waterproof membrane on your roof
• replace all of the shingles on your roof
• apply acrylic asphalt sealant over the surface of the shingles

If you live in a relatively dry region of the United States, a contractor may: 

• replace all of the damaged shingles on your roof
• reinforce the gutters around your roof with covers 
• coat the entire surface of your roof with acrylic asphalt sealant

A contractor will discuss the methods above and how they work in greater detail after they arrive at your home.

For more information about this, contact a local company like Iman Roofing.