Friday, August 29, 2014

Roofing your House The Right Way


An essential thing one must do is to decide on the right type of roof and setting the roof up in the right way. Once you have decided that your house requires roofing, you should know some of these factors that influence roofing like Aesthetics in color and design style, quality of insulation, flexibility and durability. The climatic condition of the area where your house is present is one another important thing to consider while selecting the kind of roof your house will require. 

Asphalt Shingle

A commonly popular roof that is being used is Asphalt Shingle. You could get this roof in any kind of coloring styles and designs. The reason for the Asphalt Shingle roof being famous is that they are reasonably priced for house owners looking to save some money while roofing. The Asphalt Shingle roofs’ price depend on the lifetime that you want your roof to stay good. It is best to choose a particular roof that would have a lifetime of at least fifteen years, which gives a value for your money.
Metal Roofing

Metal Roofing is a good option when your house is situated in places like high altitudes or hills or mountains, where you expect dense rainfall and moist or foggy conditions throughout the year. Metal Roofs are maintenance friendly, rainproof, and will not have any issues with mold (like in asphalt roof). Metal Roofing comes in limited colours, compared to Asphalt Shingle.
Slate Roof

Of late, Slate Roofs are really getting famous day by day, as they are aesthetically remarkable and enormously durable. Due to it advantages, the Slate Roofs are high costly. If you have the budget and want your home appear luxurious, go for the Slate Roof.
Spanish Tile

Spanish tile is one another extraordinary but impractical is the Spanish Tile. You might have seen this Spanish Tile being used across house in Southwest countries. But these Tiles are not a perfect choice, as they are less durable and are very costly. If your house is not a Spanish house, this particular Spanish Tile is not actually going to suit your house accordingly.
Wood Shingles

Wood Shingles is the last option you might want to look into, before you end up deciding the roofing you want to have. But it is better to avoid such a Roofing style, as Wood Shingles will provide your house with charisma style, and not any other advantage you would get. Wood Shingles are high-priced to purchase and to set it up. Insurance companies will charge more, if you consider Wood Shingles for Roofing your house. One better idea to get the attractive look, together with the impressive durability and a better lifetime, you could chose Asphalt Shingle that appears like a Wooden-like.

Take some time to think about the geographical location of your house and calculate the budget that you are ready to spend for Roofing your house and then decide on the option that you want to select. Consider the Prevention of Leaks, attractiveness, durability, styles, color, designs, etc, while deciding on an option. It is better to hire a Roofing service provider and consult him or Click Here to know more details about what kind of roofing you would want to get your Roofing for your home.


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Sunday, August 24, 2014

Useful Advice and Tips on Home Roofing


You need unique skills and strength to carry out home roofing on your own. So make sure you can honestly say to yourself that you have both skills and strength before you decide to tackle a do it yourself roofing work. Moreover, one of the most significant aspects of your house is the roof. The inside of your home and much of its content is going to get damaged if the roof leaks. Therefore, most roofing tips highly advise that you don’t try to tackle this project on your own unless you are already skilled in roofing a home. Also, home roofing is extremely dangerous. One mistake and you can find yourself in the hospital or worse. So let us have a glance at the things to know about common roof leak locations and roofing tips on how to fix them safely. 
Advice and Tips on Home Roofing

Safety is Paramount

Safety is the basic thing when it comes to tips on roofing. Fussing to try and find a leak as soon as it happens is something that could put you in the hospital. The best option to spot a leak is not about being nosy on a roof while it is still raining or covered with snow and ice. It is highly dangerous to try fixing a leak temporarily. There is no short cut if you want to do it correct. Just be patient and careful to wait for the natural green light to arrive.
Safety Measures

Being on a roof will put the body in positions that are not comfortable or safe. To put off slipping, see that you use rubber sole shoes. Also, always work with a buddy and use a harness.
Get the roof Sprayed

To find the leak, take a garden hose and go up to the roof and start spraying in diverse locations. Wait if it's wintertime because it is not safe to run water on the roof when it's freezing out.
Clean up the Gutters

Clogged gutters are one of the most common areas and causes for roof leaks. During rain, gutters that have not been cleaned can cause the water to build up.
Steer Clear of Dry Rot

Rather than being related to any kind of water damage, dry rot is in point of fact linked to lack of aeration. There is a chance that the plywood might be deteriorating, if a roof repair is exactly in the middle of the house’s roof. In actual fact, the roof will drop in and cause the roof shingles to become brittle, break and then seep out. To avoid dry rot, you need to install a ridge vent, which will work only if there is a soffit vent. To make cool air enter via the bottom and push out the hot air through the top, holes have to be drilled through the soffit vents.
Put a Stop to Ice Buildup

Ice can easily build up beneath the gutters, shingles and roof membrane in the winter season. The ice over there accumulates and when it arrives at the wall line (the spot where the house is warm) it causes an internal drip. This problem can be avoided by using good ventilation, ice and rain shields and also by setting up a drip edge.
Fix the Roof Boots

Obvious places for potential leaks include flashing, roofing, ice damping and skylights. The rubber boots is something folks miss time and again. It is where the fence for the roof comes up that you locate roof boots. They will cause major leaks if they dry up. Purchase a new roof boot in a local hardware store to carry out a quick fix. You may have to remove some of the shingles, lay a better tar under it and put it back in place.
Examine the Materials

Most tips on roofing will tell you that sometimes shingles can be faulty and will begin to crack after they've been nailed down; this is a fact indeed. Another issue that plays a big part in leaks is faulty roof installation with nails and shingles. Nails could get nailed very low and it will begin pushing back up. Before getting on the roof, always make sure to verify the merchandise.
Check the Valleys

A valley is where the intersection of two roofs comes together. It is also called the ridge, which is again where two roofs meet at the top. Valleys are very frequent places where leaks happen since that is where the water from the whole roof goes to and it will start splattering backward and forward.
Get Rid of Leaks

When you see a leak during roof installation, it's important that you don’t get discouraged. It's a process of elimination. You've covered one spot, set up the shingles back and given it a watertight sealing so at least one spot is eliminated. You can try other areas now.


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Saturday, August 23, 2014

Home Roofing Cost Calculator for Estimating Roofs


Usually the roofing cost calculator is a tool that is web-based. Apart from helping those who are looking to change or alter their roofs save cash, it also helps those who are looking to build houses save time. There’s no wastage of time, as people need not personally meet any professional contractor any more, to get help in gauging their house’s roof specs. As they won’t have to shell out cash on professional home roofing cost calculator any longer, they would also save money. And despite the fact that the roofing cost calculator could be completed by the proprietor of the home on his own, even with little acquaintance with roof work, it can nevertheless get reasonably precise measurements and offer its users an assurance that they won’t place orders for excess of roofing materials. 
Home Roofing Cost Calculator

Making Accurate Measurements before Purchasing Roofs

The home roofing cost calculator is one of the latest advanced tools that you find on the web - it allows home builders or users to check the overall dimension of the roofing supplies suitable for a certain type of project through the web. The user just has to enter the dimension of the house’s roof surface (measured typically in Sq Ft) and the tool will produce the length of roofing material scrolls, the amount of composition collections of shingles, quantity of fifteen pound felt and also the thirty pound felt needed for the dimension.

Prices of roofing materials are calculated using roofing cost calculator for the things required for new roof installation: 

Ridge Vent

You will have to think about Cobra ridge ventilation or something that is similar. Usually, Soffit vent costs should not be included when you are making the calculations. 

Roofing Shingles

The total bundles required to setup new roof. 

Drip Edge

Drip edge white aluminum metal set up on all roof edges that are exposed -- gables and eaves. 

Roof Underlayment

For example, we can include Water and Ice Shield alongside the roof’s eaves in roof estimating. Please note that Water and Ice shield is mandatory as per Building Code in various places, to help avert ice dams. And we can also include thirty pound felt underlayment with (double layer) fifty percent overlaps, which is a prerequisite for setting up new roof in some places. 

Hip & Ridge Cap Shingles

Although a lot of roofing service providers time and again use three-tab shingles for Hip & Ridge, makers of asphalt shingles ask you to use Cap Shingles if you want full warranty. 

Other accessories

For example, aluminum pipe flashings, galvanized roofing nails, roof caulking tubes and so on.

As in any other calculator, to be able to do its job well, the roofing calculator requires a precise gauging of the roofing. Even beginners can accomplish this, as far as they are acquainted with the pitch (or the rise & run of entire roof area). Run is actually the size of space between the outside edges of the perimeter stud wall up to middle of your house, while the dimension of the interval from the stud wall up to peak of your roof is the rise. Since it’s been planned for personal utilization by an expert roofing contractor, the roof calculator software is guaranteed accurate. A home owner can buy the correct roofing without going for a pricey assessment, by using home roofing cost calculator.
Effective Gauging for Business

You can also use roofing calculators as supplementary software apart from calculating the roof job quotes, for service providers who deal with the trade online. Contractors can speedily deal with material estimations with no wastage of time or cash, when they use a roof calculator. As you can get these roof estimating calculations now through the very handy roofing calculator, the rigorous work involved in counting the ridges is reduced. Roofs in distinctive styles can currently be rapidly measured, as they are calculated in partitions. The roofing contractor will discover that it is more expedient to put up roofs for sale online, particularly considering the time that you save by not doing the roof job assessment manually. A roofing materials calculator also gets rid of the necessity for the back jobs through the virtual filing cabinet, apart from considerably lessening the work of the contractor.

If you are situated in a different part of the country, your roofing prices may be somewhat lesser or higher based on the exact geographic location. All the roofing materials calculator figures aside, remember that materials like Clay Tiles and Natural Slate are very weighty and may necessitate additional strengthening of your current roof. You can think about using metal roofing to bring in looks and styles of Slate, and get the Tiles done at the tiny proportion of the load, and at a lesser price.


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Thursday, August 21, 2014

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Basement Waterproofing Contractors


If you are looking for a contractor to waterproof your basement, you may not know where to start. Do you open the phone book and choose the prime contractor on the list? Are you looking around online for the best deal?

The good news is to find the best basement waterproofing contractors is actually quite easy. Just make sure you avoid these common mistakes when hiring a contractor.

Basement Waterproofing Contractors

Mistake # 1: Choosing a contractor based solely on price.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to get a good deal, but never forget, there is no truth in the saying “You get what you pay for.” Do not choose basement waterproofing contractors simply because they say they have the lowest price in the city. Choosing a contractor based solely on price will reach an inexperienced contractor who cuts corners and does shoddy work.

Instead, you want to find a reputable contractor that offers a fair rate that meets your budget. Get estimates from the best contractors in your area, and find the price that includes most of the services of an experienced contractor at the best prices.

Mistake # 2: Not asking for referrals.

One of the biggest challenges is separating marketing hype from reality. Any contractor may claim to be an expert in basement waterproofing, but unless you can actually prove these claims are pointless.

The best contractors can provide plenty of references from previous clients who have used their services. In fact, many contractors even publish testimonials from satisfied customers’ right there on their website, which allows you to see which have helped a lot of people like you in the past.

If the contractor does not have testimonials or references, take your business elsewhere.

Mistake # 3: not get written.

Before hiring a contractor, you need to know exactly what services you will be receiving, the price they are getting at, and when they will be completed. Never just reached a verbal agreement with a contractor, and you can always say later “never agreed with this”.
Get everything in writing: services, pricing, and deadlines. Make sure that the contract signed by both parties, and keep a copy of the contract somewhere that will not lose it. If the contractor is going to his word, show the contract to ensure that it adheres to the agreement.

Mistake # 4: Not looking at the credentials of the contractor.

Never hire a contractor qualified independent certified not to do work from home. Reputable contractors basement waterproofing is registered (and in good condition) with the Better Business Bureau and several housing associations and local nationals.
Certifications are important because they speak directly to the quality of the construction contractor. If the contractor does not have any credentials to show you, find one that does.

Mistake # 5: No interior systems compare available.

There are several systems available interior waterproofing contractors. The first is designed to sit right on the floor slab on the floor and wall meet. The holes should be drilled in each block core to allow drainage. This system is called the motherboard and is primarily designed to control the water trapped in the block walls only. Any water under the floor should reach its highest level and be ready to get out in the lounge before I could get to this type of system. This method is simpler and less costly to try to waterproof a basement and is a very poor at best.

Second is what is known as a system of drainage channel or channels to be placed at the base of the wall in the footer. The holes should be drilled in each block core to allow drainage. This system controls the water trapped in the wall, and the water below the floor. However, the water level should rise until it reaches the system allowing the water to remain in contact with the floor slab at all times. This causes the vapor transfer at home, wet spots on the ground, and possibly ground water, soil if cracks are present.

And finally, the more efficient interior drainage systems are a perforated drain pipe installed inside and along the perimeter of the base. Tile drainage works most effectively when placed under or next to the foundation footer, instead of on top of the footer. This system allows you to lower the water table additional effective 6.8 “below your basement floor. Keeping your basement dry and away from water as much as possible is vital to prevent the transfer of moisture in your home from top. This system and the systems, especially, require the installation of a sump pump and crock.

Make sure you understand the system being installed or recommended by the contractor and if it will effectively prevent the problems you are having.

Besides avoiding these common mistakes, another thing you can do is give you plenty of time to plan before hiring contractor’s basement waterproofing whenever possible, do not rush into anything that’s when you make mistakes.

Instead, take your time in hiring a contractor to make sure you find the best worker for the job.

Find basement waterproofing contractors today.


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Thursday, August 14, 2014

How to Get your Home Roofing Estimates Done


When it’s time to find a new roof for your home, finding a low roof estimate may seem like a difficult task, but it’s actually quite easy. The ploy to finding a top-quality roof for your house lies in seeking multiple home roofing estimates, knowing what to ask, and in the end, finding a reliable roofing contractor. Receiving and comparing roofing estimates is all about finding a reputable roofer and knowing the kind of services you can expect from them. You need to know a few easy steps that can take the estimation job out of acquiring bids for the roof replacement. So, here is an article where you can get to know the fundamentals before asking for bids from the roofing contractors. 
Home Roofing Estimates

First of all you should know that home roof replacement requires a lot of research. You will be doing research to determine the type of roof you like and get yourself acquainted with the standard industry practices in roofing installation. As a bare minimum, try to find a business that will take away the shingles on hand, examine the bare roof decking to see if there is any dent, apply the roofing felt, set up drip edge flashing down the length of roof edges and use the shingles.
Choosing the Right Estimate

When seeking multiple home roofing estimates, it’s important to go to a variety of roofing contractors. Finding quotes from large contracting firms, small size companies, and independent contractors is the best way to comprehend the whole pricing range of roofing. Large companies may be able to offer lower prices for home roof replacement, but may not be able to provide the level of unique service that an independent roofer can. Similarly, a small company may not have the experience needed to take on your specific project. It’s important to know exactly what you need from a contractor before jumping into this vital step in home improvement.

Begin by asking for recommendations from family, colleagues and friends. Other than that, a lot of metropolitan areas encompass online ratings websites that can give priceless advice on roofing firms. Also, you can search for roofing firms in your neighborhood, although any firm that you are not well acquainted with ought to arrive with photos of the job they've already done and references. Ask each business to give an estimate in written form. This home roof replacement estimate should list whatever is incorporated in the cost and the things that are excluded specifically. The estimate ought to have a time span to get the job done. In addition, request info on written warranty and also a copy each of the firm's business license, general liability certificates, and worker's reimbursement insurance certificates. Decline any party that can't present all these papers.
Do a Thorough Check on the Background

Gather references from the service providers whose bids you’re taking into account. Even if you’re able to get a recommendation from a well known acquaintance, contact the given references and inquire about the time frame, quality of the job, and professionalism of the team both personally and in the roofing work, and anything else that you want to get cleared. Contact your region’s Better Business Bureau to verify for any unsolved grievances against the party you are looking at. Evaluate the given home roofing estimates by having a look at the cost and the class of shingle. The shingles arrive according to years of warranty -- thirty years is the minimum warranty usually for laminate shingles and fifteen years is the smallest for the three tab shingles. The prices go up when the warranty period is more, so it is quite important to think about the total duration want to be in your house.

Inquire the contractor you are planning to get about how he/she will guard your yard from trash and the number of passes that will be done with a nail magnet after the work is over. Look for somebody who will place tarps on the shrubs alongside the rim of the house and who can do two to three passes using a nail magnet, even though it is better to do it as many times as necessary.

See that you ask the home roof replacement company to set up step flashing anyplace a vertical surface like a wall meets roof. Settle on the most excellent spot on your residence for placing a construction garbage bin. Typically, placing the bin in the driveway is good for the landscaping. Check whether any of the home roofing estimates incorporate inserting plywood beneath the trash bin to defend the driveway. It is good to go for firms that set up water proof membranes in any valley areas that might be there in your house’s roof.


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Picking the Right Roofing Supplies for Your Home


Replacing the roof could be an incredible way to add value and artistic appeal to your house, whether or not you are constructing a new house or trying to make enhancements to your current one. To avoid covering this heavy price within the near future, you need to spend cash on quality roofing supplies that last. Investing in a roof is something that can stay on your home for a really long time; it isn’t a temporary choice. Here are some guidelines that will help you in selecting the right roof for your house.
Picking the Right Roofing

First of all you should think about whether or not you would prefer natural roofing supplies or synthetic ones. Synthetic roofing supplies might have appeared counterfeit some time ago; however, they look like the real deal these days. They’re just designed to withstand weather better. Mostly, shale roofing or synthetic slate is going to be the ideal option for you, but it is possible to look into that much more just before you make an actual choice about your roofing. Next, you would like to think about the look that you want for your roof. You will find so many distinct colors, patterns, and styles of roofing supplies to select from, so you must have no limit when it comes to design. You’ll be able to get supplies that look like slate, wood, as well as other natural elements that are really in-style at the moment.

There really should be some info out there for you on whether or not you would like a neutral roof or something that will make your home stand out a bit. If you desire to plan just a little more before creating a decision, you’ll be able to ask for samples of the roofing you might be thinking about. To safeguard your property from damage, you will need to pick the right roofing supplies.

You could have a massive mess to clean up and a lot of mold to worry about if water leaks in from your roof. To avoid such problems, you should use supplies which are durable against possible extreme weather conditions. Your safety and security is just as critical as the curb appeal of your residence. Although with the availability of some wonderful choices, you need to have no issues getting the right roofing supplies.
Locating Your Roofing Supplies

Whether the job is the result of hurricane-damage or a planned construction, getting the right roofing supplies is vital for the success of your roofing project. Whenever repairing defective roof areas or attaching extensions on home or commercial buildings built in certain historical period and compliant to certain specific architectural techniques of that era, it may require a substantial variety of roofing materials so as to be in a position to fit in the old with the substitute in a manner which preserves the spirit of the era, while go on to offer trustworthy roofing for a long time. The look and sturdiness of the roofing supplies used can considerably perk up the worth of a house on the whole whilst becoming pleasing aesthetically.

A bulk of the key roof materials firms offer ground-breaking solutions that arrives with an extensive life warranty, promising that the spending is first-rate value. For the most part, whenever it is about retail business roof materials suppliers, the presentations on the roofing supply’s installment and durability are typically given to those who are looking for it.

A period roofing restoration is something distinctive, and will almost certainly involve tiles made to order, or employ a particular group of novel and reclaimed resources like nib tiles or clay peg, weathered concrete or completely natural slate. Flat roof work requires a variety of solutions; best brands of polyester/glass felt and also the felt trims, along with insulation boards for plywood and chippings.

A high quality roofing supplies firm will be able to transport all the goods required for the work, which entails accessories such as flashings, tec screws, fillers and ridge, hooked fastening nuts and bolts, caps and concave washers. There will almost certainly be accessible Trafford tiles, galvanized sheets, metal pvc coated sheeting, non-asbestos sheet, and lots more. Wide-ranging inventory implies that the products are at hand right away. Roof battens, flash strap sealing strips that are self-adhesive, even the best polymer paints should be easy to get most of the time.

A lot of roof supplies companies present online shopping and comprehensive particulars to help guess the precise supplies vital for a work, and also help find out the amount of a certain item the roofing project will need. Professional roofing services actually consider this a fundamental task. Some companies have quote forms on the internet that you just fill up to obtain a quote.

Taking into account the cash required for a residential or commercial structure, top notch roof supplies can augment that spending, and transform any roof renovation work far less complex to complete on time. That could lessen work labor delay costs and hassle. Roof replacement and refurbishing can be stressful and pricey; therefore having easy access to first-rate resources will have a positively effect on the project’s outcome. Always go for sturdy roofing materials and roofing supplies that match not only the look of the roof but also your budget.


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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The Different Types of Roofing Materials


Whether you are building a new property or replacing the roof of an existing one, the roofing materials you pick are very important. Not only does the roof protect your property from the elements, rain, snow, wind and so on. But it also forms part of the insulation of the building and that can have an effect on your heating bills. There is also an insurance implication; clearly there is a bigger fire risk if you have a thatched roof rather than a tile roof. Let’s have a look at the various types of roofing materials in this article. 
Types of Roofing Materials

Types of Roofing Materials

These days there are various kinds of roofing supplies and materials available and where the building is situated depends greatly on the type of roofing material you use. If you are familiar with an area you will be aware of the roof most of the properties have and that is obviously a good starting point in exploring the kind of roofing resources you need. If you aren’t a specialist in roofing it is advisable to consult professional roofers in the neighborhood and ask for their recommendation. 
When fitting the roof you have to make a decision on whether you are going to do the work yourself or contract a specialized roofing agent. Keep in mind that even if the best roofing materials are used, if they aren’t fitted in the approved manner they are going to be a squander of cash and seeking to repair or restore the roof’s parts after it is installed can cost too much and bear out to be quite tricky. Whether you are having a new building constructed or if you’re looking to modernize an existing construction, knowing the different types of roofing materials will greatly help augment the effectiveness and the life of your roof.
Shingles or Slate Tiles

This is a fashionable kind of roofing supplies that is employed in older houses. Slate presents superior defense when it comes to damage from fire, they are unyielding to trouble from insects and decaying, and they do give you a lengthy lifetime. A few of the disadvantages include the fact that they are quite weighty, and a number of roofs might require extra repairs to hold up the extra heaviness of the tiles. You have a restricted number of colors and you can actually break the tiles by treading on them. The slate tiles actually present an only one of its kind and very well-liked appearance for your home even today. Therefore, if you can pay for the roof upgrades and also the price of the installation and materials, you ought to be thinking about installing this kind of roof material.
Metal

From time immemorial, sheet metal has remained a well-liked roofing material. It is energy efficient, allowing to reflect heat and maintain cool in the home. Moreover, they are durable; being able to endure more or less anything that hits it. Also, they are made from a huge quantity of recycled stuffs. They will last for quite a long duration and this will only make things even better. With the ups come the downs, and suitable insulation will be required in colder settings. Although it does aid to reflect warmth, cold weather can effortlessly freeze up a metal roof. Metal roofs are also very pricey, costing more than more or less every other kind of roofing material given that the setting up process is best left to a specialized roofer.
Tiles Made of Clay

Clogged gutters are one of the most common areas and causes for roof leaks. During rain, gutters that have not been cleaned can cause the water to build up.
Steer Clear of Dry Rot

Clay tiles are usually utilized in hot climates, particularly in southwestern US. These are intricate tiles of clay that offer incomparable security for the house. Such tiles are impermeable to rot, fire, mold, insects, and also time. Having one of the highest life duration of any other kinds of tiles you will observe for a roof, the clay tiles can bear the trial of time. Resembling all things else, you have quite a few drawbacks to this kind of roof material. It is heavy for starters. Most probably, you will require supplementary roofing supports for on hand constructions. Also, they easily get damaged. In a lot of instances, tiles will rupture if you march on them; making the roof bound work rather tricky. Also, the clay-based tiles are quite pricey.
Asphalt Shingles

These are the most widespread kind of roof materials employed, and they are the most common for a reason. They are reasonably priced, arrive in an assortment of colors, are durable, adapt well to almost any kind of climate, and hold up for an extended time span. Although asphalt shingles are somewhat pricier than composite shingles, which are prepared from a mixture of materials, they are well worth the additional spending.
Wood Shingles

More commonly recognized as wood shakes, these look grand and work great to help keep the house energy well-organized, offering more insulation for your attic than most other kinds of roofing materials. Apart from all that, they present an extensive assortment of textures, and colors, sizes, and width; there is no chance of having two wood shingles roofs which are precisely identical. The problem most folks have is that wood shingles need plenty of adequate maintenance, as well as sealing, cleaning, shingle replacement and rot inspections. Such a roof is also prone to putrefaction, mold, insect holes and mildew.

So, make sure you do your homework, whatever the kinds of roofing materials you are trying to get. Chat with professional roofers and after it is set up your new roof ought to last right through your life with few repairs related issues.




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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

A Guide to Common Home Roof Styles and Types


A roof can be the most unique element of your home or business, and really affect its overall look and style. Since all roof types are customized to meet certain needs, it is worth getting to know the diverse roofing styles accessible, and how they vary in form, detail and design. Furthermore, the choice in roof style can very much affect the cost of your construction or restoration plans, as roofs are made from a wide assortment of materials and substances. Read on to get an idea on the common roofing styles available. 
Home Roof Styles

Gable Roof

A gable roof has two sides sloping up that meet in middle at the ridge. To be a spot on gable, both sides have to slope at the identical angle. Seen from the end, the form of a gable roof looks like a well proportioned triangle. Actually, the gable roof is the most popular type of roofing in America. These home roof styles are well-liked in areas that get considerable snowfall.
Cross Gable

Cross gable home roof styles are all about two gable roofs set at right angles to each other, offering more attractive house shapes and styles. This roof design deals with heavy rains with a least of fuss.
Mansard Roof

Typically, mansard type of roofing has four double-sloped sides, the slope on the lower side being considerably steeper compared to the one over it. Usually, the higher slope is not noticeable from ground level, as it is slanted only to the extent necessary to make the water run-off. The framing is very realistic, as it can enlarge the upper stories with no disturbance caused to the building’s height and doesn’t entail any difficult framing, thus saving cash and time.
Hip Roof

A hip roof is a roof type where all the sides slope down to walls, typically with a fairly gentle slope. As a result it’s a house with no other perpendicular sides or gables to the roof. A square hip roof is in the form of a pyramid. The hip roofs that you see on rectangular houses will usually have two triangular sides and two trapezoidal ones. A hip roof on a rectangular plan has four faces. They are always almost at the identical slope or pitch, and this makes them to be symmetrical about the centerlines.
Saltbox Roofs

These home roof styles are formed by the addition of a shed to a fundamental two-story house. This just makes the gable roof deeper on one side, giving the roof its typical uneven shape. The straightforward design offers great water proofing and heat insulation. The main disadvantage however is restricted attic space.
Gambrel Roof

This one is a two sided variety of roof with each side having a double slope. Slopes on the lower side are placed steep, whereas the ones on the top are flat comparatively. Usually, Gambrel roofs arrive in symmetrical form. You can actually portray the gambrel as a merger between a hip roof and a gable, as its sharp slopes work against extreme weather impact like those you see in a gable roof, whereas the flatter top slopes give the extra head room that you get in hip roofs. These roofs are directly related to colonial structural design, and have turned out to be pretty trendy for homes.
Flat Roof

The flat roof home roof styles are a sort of cover for a house or construction. Contrary to the sloped roof, flat roofing is nearly horizontal and sometimes perfectly horizontal. In general, materials that coat the flat roofs let water to run off without restraint from a very minor inclination. More often than not flat roofs employ a gravel and tar surface which, as far as there was no pooling of water, was enough to avoid penetration. On the other hand, these surfaces would tend to fall short in colder climates, in which case ice dams, etc. can actually obstruct the flow of water. Similarly, they tend to be sensitive to drooping of the roof reversing the fine grading of the surface.
Bonnet Roof

You can consider Bonnet as a customized hip roof style although it isn’t the most common amongst roofs. Very common in French Vernacular structural design, bonnet home roof styles come with two slopes for all four sides of the structure. In essence it is the converse of a mansard roof, considering that the upper slope is a lot steeper compared to the slope on the bottom. Usually, the bottom slope hangs above the building to envelop a porch that is open sided and offer protection from the rain or sun.
Shed Roof

A shed roof is a type that covers a shed with a tiny structure that is usually used for storage. Shed roofs can be built in a number of different ways, which differ in complexity. There are issues in each roof style and you need to consider all that when you are setting up a shed roof or adapting an on hand shed roof into a different design. A contractor may have precise advice for a particular region or structure.


photo credit: erix! via photopin cc
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Monday, August 4, 2014

Metal Roofing Benefits


Metal Roofs have several benefits, among them cost effectiveness, rust resistance, improved roof longevity, and improved durability to severe weather such as wind, rain, hail, earthquakes, snow and fire.  Additionally, stone coated roofs have several more benefits.

·    Superior Rain & Wind Durability

·    Superior Hail Durability

·    Superior Earthquake Durability

·    Superior Snow Durability

·    Superior Fire Durability

·    Superior Cost Effectiveness

·    Superior Rust Resistance

·    Superior Longevity


Rain & Wind – When wind driven rain blows sideways at 100 miles per hour, a lot of damage can be caused by even the smallest drip. Metal roofing products are designed to overlap side to side and top & bottom in a stair-step fashion, fastened to a batten system, and secured to your home's framing members in such a way that even the most ferocious rain has no chance of penetrating the roof. Wind doesn't have a chance to catch the bottom edge of the panels because they are fastened to your home in such a way that virtually eliminates any blow-off.

Hail – You've seen the damage on the news when hail wreaks havoc on businesses, cars, and homes. Some insurance companies frown on replacing roofing material with the same roof that was just ruined. Ask your insurance company what they will do if you replace your roof with a our roofing products come with a 2.5 inch hail warranty and have a UL 2218 Class 4 Rating.

Earthquake – When the earth shakes in many parts of the world, heavy weight roofs come tumbling down, crushing practically everything below them. Wouldn't you rather feel secure in the knowledge that the roof above you is one of the lightest on the market today? These roofing products, at about 1 pound per square foot, weigh less than 30 year dimensional shingles and between 5 and 8 times less than concrete tiles. Metal roofs are fastened to the framing members of your home, thereby adding shear strength to the entire structure, helping hold it together.

Snow – Heavy snow loads can cause destruction by crushing roofing materials, breaking off the bottom roof edges, or worse yet, sliding down the slick roofing, endangering all those beneath. Metal roofing products are engineered in such a way that even the heavy, wet snows of Lake Tahoe's "Sierra Cement" won't damage them. Even with all that weight, the harmful effects of "freeze-thaw," and the intense sun of that clear mountain air, metal roofs prevail!

Fire – Obviously, steel doesn't burn! After many house fires we see on the news, often we hear the interviewed firemen say "the reason we lost this house was because the roof was made of wood." Metal roofs eliminate this hazard and are class "A" fire rated... the best rating you can get!

Cost Effective - The initial cost of installing a metal roof may be more than with other roofing materials. However, the money a homeowner can save overall is significant, because a metal roof will be the last roof you ever buy. A metal roof adds to your home’s beauty and to its resale value. In addition, insurance companies in many states will lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums by between 5% and 36% for the proven protection of metal roofs. Finally metal roofs reduce the Energy consumption by up to 30% with the Energy Star program, which also allows for a Tax Credit each year. In the case of a new home, a metal roof will reduce the Dead Load of the truss package, therefore reducing the cost. In the final analysis a metal roof is the best investment you can make in either a new home or when re-roofing an existing home!

Rust ResistanceMetal roofs are coated with zincalume, a proprietary coating that offers significant rust protection. Thereafter, they are either coated with premium quality Kynar paint, or with a stone (or granular) coating, to enhance the look and longevity of your roof.

Longevity - The average life of a non-steel roof is approximately 12 years. For example, asphalt, or “composition” shingles can require re-roofing every 10 to 20 years or sooner! Compare that with a metal roof that includes a warranty that is good for 50 years! 



 Photo Credit : freeimages.com
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