roof-types

Different Types of Roof Materials

When it comes to maintaining the integrity of your home, one of the first places that you should look into is the roof. The roof helps protect the interior of your home from the outdoor elements. Different types of roofing materials are available in the market today. Choose one that will work best for the style of your home and your budget.

Tiles

Tile roofs often come in forms of clay or concrete. Fired clay tiles such as the Spanish style red barrel tiles come from soil or mud made into clay, placed in molds and baked in high heat. They are durable and can last for several decades. Clay tiles are traditional roofing tiles that complement Spanish-Mission or Tuscan style homes. Modern versions of tile roofs come from concrete made into cement tiles added with coating. Lighter types of cement tiles use fibers or cellulose for more strength. Tile roofs come in different styles and colors. Some tile roofs come in barrel or concave shapes while others are flat. The most common types of color are red, gray and brown.

Tile roofs are non-combustible, long-lasting and durable. They provide enhanced circulation by allowing ambient air to circulate below and above the tile, which helps release solar heat readily. Tile roofs, however, can be costly to purchase and install. They are also heavier and take longer to install than other types of roofs.

Shingles

Shingle roofs come from different materials such as wood, slate (stone) and asphalt. Wood shingles made of cedar, spruce or treated pines are smooth on both sides. Cedar shingles are brown or reddish when new, but turn gray in the first year. Wood shingles can shrink, warp or splinter over time. They are also susceptible to termite infestation and fire.

Sediments of clay or volcanic ash and fine silt deposited on ancient sea bottoms create slates. Slate shingles are very durable and can last for many years; however, just like tiles, they are heavier per square foot than asphalt. Colors range from different shades of gray, green, purple and cyan.

Asphalt shingles are the most commonly used type of shingles. Reinforced with fiber glass or paper, they are more durable than wood and much lighter than slate. Asphalt shingles can last up to 30 years and are cheaper and easier to install than shingles made of slates and wood. Staggering multiple layers of materials that include asphalt can produce laminated shingles that can add color and depth to the roof. From afar, these laminated shingles can look like expensive slate roof.

Metals

metal-roofingMetal roofs have come a long way. They don’t just come in corrugated tin barn style, but they also come in high-tech finishes that look like clay tiles, wood shingles or slates. Some metals roofs get multi-layer factory finishes to give them a more realistic look similar to granular stone.

Metal roofs are fire-resistant, lightweight and durable. They are faster to install than tiles or shingles because they often come in longer sheets such as the standing-seam roofing. Aluminum, steel copper and alloys are some of the materials used for metal roofs. Galvanizing or applying coats of paint make them resistant to rusts.

A qualified metal-roofing contractor can install metal roofs quicker than an unseasoned do-it-yourselfer. Repairs and modifications can be trickier than asphalt or wood shingles. Metal roofs are generally less expensive than tiles and slates, but cost more than asphalt.

 

References:
http://www.nachi.org/roofs.htm
http://www.nps.gov/hps/tps/briefs/brief29.htm

roofing-contractor

Buying New Roofing: Useful Tips

Every home is incomplete without a roof. Eventually, it is the only imaginable thing, which shields you against the furies of nature and gives that added feature of security to your home. Repairing or changing your roofing is something that you should do wisely lest it leaves any discrepancy, since roofing can cost you quite a lot even if you opt for the cheapest.

Buying tips

Prepare yourself for some research on finding out the best roofing contractor. Make sure that you collect a minimum of five or more bibs from well-establishes companies. Collect and compare their brochures, their method of work and their services including the warranty. Make your-self well versed with the materials used for the roofing.

Always make sure that you engage someone who has a steadfast establishment. A reliable contractor is someone who has a residual business with corporate contact numbers and a valid business license, provided your state requires it. Avoid anyone who insists on making deals only through calls. Just in case, something goes wrong, you can easily locate your contractor if you are well aware of his position.

roofing-worksRoofing can sometimes turn out to be a damaging act for the laborers. To get around with this problem, make sure that you hire a contractor who has insured his workers. Always insist on seeing the insurance proof beforehand, so that you may not land into any legal problems, if any of the workers, gets hurt at your home. Always make sure that the insurance lasts in term with your roofing job.

Do not hesitate to inquire about the financial stability of your contractor. There is no point in hiring someone who would leave your roofing task unfinished because his business went haywire. Make it a point to hire someone who would aptly finish your roofing job up to the last.

It is advisable to have the schedule and procedure up on paper before you begin the roofing. This even includes details about the payments, the time needed to finish the roofing and the method of the task. This is because many people approach state consumer rights agencies stating that roofing contractors have duped them. Having an agreement in writing will avoid such troubles.

Another good tip will be to make some researches about your roofing contractor. Approaching former clients and asking about their experiences in dealing with that particular roofer, will help you build some confidence over your choice.

Always be cautious if the contractor is prepared to accept any of the lowest prices that you are willing to pay. There are cases where roofers charge less because they hire average workers or else do not bother about the insurance.

Keep in mind that a little research beforehand will save you the aftermath of having a shabbily done roofing job. Not only will it help you to get the best possible roofing company but it will also give you roof that would last for a number of years.

fiberglass-roof-panels

Fiberglass Roofing Offers Advantages

With a history dating back to 1938 fiberglass roofing is not a new product. It has stood the test of time for several good reasons: cost, doesn’t rust, many fiberglass roof panels allow natural light through and some even have a UV filter within the panel. They’re a little bit tricky to work with, but the results make up for that!

Fiberglass roof panels can also be used for other projects such as a pergola, small greenhouse/garden shed or “heat grabbers” that use the dark or smoke colored panels. Fiberglass panels are typically 2-3 feet wide and can be in a variety of lengths from 8-16 feet while some heavy panels can be up to 38 feet long for barns and industrial buildings. Fiberglass roofing is a viable way to keep rain and snow out while letting some natural light in, reducing the amount of electricity needed.

One of the more common types of panels found is a corrugated fiberglass sheet often found in DIY hardware outlets. These let the rain funnel into the channels and drain to the end for those wishing to add a gutter on the end it’s easy to divert the water into a tank that recycles water for plants, pets and other uses around the home.

Many people discount these for a few reasons they can crack if a tree limb or other object falls hard on them and if they do the ability to shed water, even if repaired, is never quite the same. However they are also inexpensive and easily replaced, removing one sheet and inserting the other. When installing roof panels it’s best to use washers and drill, rather than drive, holes to keep it from splintering and breaking near the edges under stress. If you’re using it as a “poor man’s skylight” on a deck with a metal roof, for example, an easy extra security is tucking the edges of the fiberglass sheet UNDER the metal one, allowing for extra stability all the way down the sheet.

Many people find the cost and usefulness of a fiberglass roof attractive as well as the low maintenance, but simply don’t like the panels for a roof. You’re still in luck! Fiberglass shingles offer an alternative and, as a relative newcomer to the building world, offer alternatives in design and colors. They can offer fire resistance and are light weight with good wear against hail, snow and ice. Of course every building option can have drawbacks and these do too. Thermal splitting can be an issue and, as with the panels, nailing and placement instructions should be followed for maximum durability of the roof.

There are many advantages to a good fiberglass roof that make it an option worth checking out for your next project.

roofing-problems

Five Ways to Spot a Roofing Problem

A roof is a commonly overlooked part of the home. How can a person spot a bad roofing problem before it is too late? Can many problems be fixed before it is time to re-roof the house? Here are five major signs that a roof problem may exist in ones home.

Sign #1

The roof is leaking when it is raining. This sign cannot be ignored for long and is easily found and repaired. Check the attic when it is raining and pin point the leak, patch it as soon as the rain stops save money by fixing it yourself.

Sign #2

roofing-do-it-your-ownBare spots in the shingles. This can be that a shingle is worn out and needs to be replaced or simply that the shingle in question is no longer there. This problem can be solved as well by replacing the bad shingles as they occur, this will save a bundle on roof replacement. Replacing shingles is easy to do and requires only the basic tools – a hammer and roofing nails.

Sign #3

The roofing shingles may be curling or pointing upward. If it is not the entire roof and only a few shingles, these too can be replaced one at a time. If not replaced, they can cause water damage by having the water come in up underneath the shingles. It is much easier to replace shingles as they go bad than to replace the wood underneath the roof.

Sign #4

Another common problem shingles may develop and a good early warning sign would be a downward curling of the shingles, this too can be a problem depending on the weather.

This problem can be tackled on a needed basis as well and took care of as it arises. In this tough economy, every cent saved is important.

Sign #5

Broken shingles can be detected from the ground in most cases. They may have chips or pieces broken out in corners or the middle of the shingle. This too can be a problem that is easily taken care of.

Conclusion

Roofing problems should never be overlooked. Finding these problems requires one to look up from time to time. Humans do have that ability but seldom use it, prevention is the key to saving money. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Before attempting to climb onto the roof think about safety and when in doubt call a professional roofing contractor.