Roof Replacement

Asphalt is known for its primary purpose in serving as water resistant agent in roofing shingles. Asphalt roofing shingles are one of the most popular covering on most residential property in the market. There are two types of asphalt shingles that are commonly used; the glass fiber and the organic shingles.

Organic shingles are basically waste paper thoroughly soaked in asphalt to make it water proof. It is afterwards coated with adhesive asphalt and embedded with ceramic granules. Some granules may have leachable paint ceramic covering to make algae resistant shingles. It is made to protect against damage and discoloration caused by algae on the roof. Although it cannot protect the roof from moss, but definitely it can slow down its growth. Organic shingles contain 40% more asphalt per square meter compared to a glass fiber shingle. Fiber glass shingles are basically built of glass fiber fortifying mat. The mat is created from wet fiberglass which is laid randomly and joined securely with urea-formaldehyde resin. The mat then is covered with asphalt containing mineral fillers which makes the glass fiber shingle waterproof. Organic shingles are normally prone to fire compared to fiber glass shingles.

Asphalt roof shingles protective nature basically came from the long chain hydrocarbon saturating the paper. Shingles behave in a certain way when the weather is consistent, whether consistently cool or warm. Consideration of having the best asphalt shingles in the market is very vital specially when longevity is the issue. The most important thing for you to consider is avoiding the extensive work you are facing in the future if you are not going to prevent damages to happen.

Understanding the Different Categories First

Before you decide to buy an asphalt roofing shingle, you should know the major categories that are available in the market. There are three categories:

• Dimensional Asphalt Roofing Shingles – These roofing shingles are made multi-layered and provides thicker and richer image on your roof. These are basically heavy and is made of having better warranty protections.
• Strip Asphalt Roofing Shingles – These are single layered asphalt shingles basically made to look like slates. They are mostly the lightest in weight among all the asphalt roofing shingles in the market. It is made from a strong glass fiber base. Each and every shingle is designed to fight against blowing off and tearing. Most home builders making economy priced houses go for strip asphalt shingle. Even home owners use this type of shingle as roof replacement for homes that have existing strip shingles on the roof.
• Premium Asphalt Roofing Shingles – These shingles are often related as laminated shingles that have a distinct image and functionality compared to the traditional dimensional asphalt shingles. The Premium Asphalt Shingles provides a more attractive and appealing aesthetics and offers vital operation enhancements such as solar reflectivity probably extend the life span of the roofing system. It is also said to promote lower energy costs which is a real improved function.

Your roof protects everything inside a house. Extra precautions is necessary in safe guarding your home and also to prevent damages to your roof which is definitely a hassle afterwards. Always check for leaks and do preventive maintenance before the winter or storm arrives. Check broken and missing shingles and replace it or cohere it with an asphalt roof cement. Always remember that delaying roof repairs may cause greater damage in the future so don’t think about it after the storm, or you might need to consider bigger repairs afterwards. Always put in mind to pick shingles that can exceed performance standards. You should always be aware of your geographic location for you to be able to choose shingles suited to protect your house from the weather or any specific elements present in your area. Always understand and know what your house needs. Never delay repairs and always select what is the best for your home.

In an average household, everyone is encouraged to save energy in any way possible. This has lead for individuals and companies to produce and use energy in a more conservative fashion. There are several sources of the so-called alternative energy and solar energy is one of the favorite. In recent times, the harvest of the energy from the sun has made another major breakthroughs in the form of the solar roof shingles. Solar roof have been around for quite some time but not everyone has shown some interest in a roof replacement project because of a reason or two.

The introduction of the solar roof shingles have paved a greater way to make a traditional shingle roof turn into an energy producer. It is the newest advancements solar energy had taken recently. Solar power roof shingles are high level shingles that protects the roof from the harmful effect of the weather. It is also designed to control and make use of the power of the sun, making it a usable electricity. It definitely is the newest innovation and diversified green roofing product in the past years.

Photovoltaic shingles or the solar roof shingles uses solar technology to produce electricity from the sun and at the same time protect your roof like what the ordinary asphalt shingle does. It is always necessary to understand and know how these things work.

How Does It Work?

• Solar roof tiles shingles operates like solar panels. They make use of the power of the sun to become its source in order to create electricity.
• Each and every solar shingle is made up of photovoltaic cells. This has been used for a while and is utilized on satellites in the space. Photo is defined as light and the voltaic word means electricity. The process is told by its name, which means they get light and turn it into electricity.
• Every cell on the solar panel roof shingles or even just on solar shingles has kind of material that is known as semi conductors. One of the most popular semi conductors used in photovoltaic cells is the silicon. When the light hits the solar shingle, a part of it is captured inside the silicon semi conductor.  The semi conductor then has energy and when gets loosed, can move freely.
• The free flowing energy electrons are acted upon by the PV cells or the Photovoltaic cells’ electric field and are pushed to go in one direction. Through this, it can create a current that can be utilized for electrical power. Basically, this is how solar shingles work.

Through the years, solar shingles have come a long way when it comes to improvement. In fact it is the best option for making a roof turn into an energy creator. It has made its breakthrough after 2008 when the thin –film solar cells achieved a 19-19.9 % energy conversion through the United States’ Dept. of Energy which is way far ahead from the previous percentage which is just above 10%. This was because they came out by utilizing a copper indium gallium diselenide or commonly known as CIGD solar cells. Right now, because of this, solar shingles became a much more capable of working properly.

There are a lot of things you should consider before you make your decision whether it is necessary for you to use the solar roof shingles. Definitely, the cost is always the no.1 question that pops your head. The amount of money you will spend varies. The cost basically depends on what state you are making your purchase because prices vary from state to state. You should also consider on how big the system you want it to be installed. The prices of this kind of shingles also varies depending on the brand and the manufacturer. To help you isolate things better, always determine how big is the roof that you are planning to do, the pitch of the roof is also important. Know if your state offers tax incentives. Also check if you have a local certified solar shingles installer. Through this, you would be able to identify what option is best for you.

Do you aim to create a great change to the outside appearance of your house? Having new shingle siding installed, home owners may attain precisely that. An effective installation of shingle sidings can greatly improve the aesthetic appeal and increase the value of the property.

You might have been staying in the same house for many years. In that case, maybe it is the moment that the roof of your house needs fixing. Nevertheless, roof replacement is a huge decision which must be made with careful planning and research. Therefore it becomes crucial that you think about a few factors which can help you in getting to a decision.

Siding is an important part of each and every home. Siding does not just improve the aesthetic appeal of your house, it is also an effective tool in creating a warm and insulated place against the cold weather. There is certainly a range of shingle siding to pick from when you have a re-siding project for your house. One option that may be a really great choice is utilizing wood shingles for siding. Wood shingles can simply be nailed to your home and function as siding.

Vinyl Siding

Nowadays vinyl shingle siding is certainly one most favored t option in home siding and for some excellent reasons. Latest vinyl sidings are made in strong PVC plastic, where unlike wood, it will not rot nor would it flake just like cedar shingle. It is affordable to buy, fast to install and is available in a rainbow of various color choices.

On the negative aspects though, even the best vinyl siding is likely to begin to break and look bland within three to five years. Ecologist are not the followers of vinyl siding also , since it generates harmful byproducts.  it can release toxic substances when burned , which makes it hard to dispose of or a possible serious risk to the entire neighborhood in case of a house fire.

Wood Siding

If you set up shingle siding, you build a lovely texture for your house. Wooden shingles likewise have additional insulation. Although the job can go faster with many people, you could set up wood shingle siding alone. It might surprise you to realize that if well maintained and properly installed, the occasional staining, yearly power wash would make it outlast vinyl by ages.

Cedar Siding

For homeowners planning to renovate the outside of their house, cedar shingle siding is a remarkable and unique alternative. It provides protection and elegance to the home. One of the benefits in selecting this siding is durability ,total appealing look and the natural insulation it offers . These benefits improve its reputation among owners. Cedar siding could be stained to offer a number of different colors. The natural warmth it offers helps property owners lessen their whole heating costs. The look of the siding can add value to the home also.

The shingle siding not merely gives you excellent insulation properties. It also helps control the noise from the outside, hence helping to maintain a quiet home. This is very helpful during heavy downpour. You will have a sound sleep throughout the night without any disturbance from the outside. Even the sound of thunder is muffled down to some extent.

Every homeowner should be aware of the available roofing materials. Don’t just rely on the suggestions of the so called  “experts”  because every home requirements are dependent to the personal preference of the owner. You should always have a say on the decision making when choosing the materials to be used. This way, both parties can avoid inconveniences that could possibly strain the relationship between a home owner and the contractor that would directly affect the overall result of the roofing project.

Wood shingles or also known as a wood shake is a substitute for standard asphalt single. This can be utilized in a residential roofing job for the fact that it has a genuine look. Wood shakes carry different colors, widths, thicknesses, and cuts, which results in an exceptional roof full of character. There are many reasons to use a wood shake roof on a residential structure, however you can also find some disadvantages that you must be aware. For a typical homeowner who plans to use this type of material, it is best that you study its overall features and before making a decision. The decision must be well thought of because it is not something that can be replaced easily when a mistake is done. Thus, a smart homeowner should study their homework first and gather enough information for the intended project.

Draw Backs of Wood Shingles

Except if it is efficiently repaired and maintained, wood shake shingles will never last, provided that the  roof is constructed from other materials. Rot, insects, and mold present problems with this kind of shingle. From an ecological point of view, wood shakes are not suitable as they cannot be reused. Additionally, wood is not the perfect material to utilize for fire safety reasons. The wipe-on or spray fire retardants utilized on the shakes last for just a few years and offer less protection towards fires.

Roofers have much more complicated job once they set up wood shakes in contrast to standard asphalt shingles. The caliber of the wood shakes as well as the experience level of the roofer, will greatly affect the overall quality of the fixed roof. The ideal forms of wood shakes are manufactured from large cedar tree and heartwood..

Advantages of Wood Shingles

Wood roof shingles offer energy saving benefits primarily because of it insulating capacity. This also provides the roofing with breathability. Roof shingles are put on felt rows on top of small openings that allows proper air flow. Fire retardant is infused on pressure treated wood shakes, making these to match the national requirements for fire protection. A pressure-treated wood shingle can last longer compared to one crafted from another kind of wood.

As oppose to not being recyclable, wood shakes are made of natural materials, nearly all created from renewable types of trees. When the wood is treated, it is not at risk of weather-related damage. This enables the roof to resist rain, sun, wind, and snow for a longer period without having to be replaced.

Brand new wood shingles or siding clapboards occasionally appear too for new homeowners. A number of household owners opt for the appearance of a weathered wood. When you’re one of them, you may get the same weathered wood shingles look of your newly installed siding and shingles.

Applying the right topical treatments and keeping the roof clear and clean, can help lengthen the lifespan of your wood shake roofing. For that reason, just taking all of these few steps yearly will save you big money in roof replacement expenses. However, when you successfully do all the maintenance needed on your roof, never expect it to endure as compared with asphalt shingles.

In the long run, although wood shakes or shingles have a huge number of benefits, they can be not as sturdy as some other roofing options. This is all down to you if this gorgeous wood shingle roofing is worth for you and your home. They have an incomparable appeal against other roofing alternatives. It remains a favorite with other homeowners who owns a house that demands this type for aesthetic purposes then functionality, in that order.

Metal shingles are often meant to appear like classic asphalt shingles, tiles or wood shakes, however this type of shingles is produced with a higher guarantee to defend against rough weather. A lot consider such shingles to be the top roofing material available today. Contrary to popular belief that it is heavy since it is made of some type of metal alloy, advances in technology makes this type of roof shingle really light, with a high fire-resistant ratings.

Traditional Shingles

Such traditional shingles give a home a timeless look and often comes with permanent color warranty. They could be crafted from an array of metals such as copper, aluminum, zinc, stainless and phosphate coating, as well as alloys of zinc and tin. The various metals could be suitably picked by the potential buyer based on his geographical climate and location.

There are numerous advantages that the home owner could enjoy once they picked metal shingles as their primary roofing material. Regardless of the metal alloy being selected to make such type of shingles, they are highly resistant to the natural wear and tear such as rain, snow, wind, hail and other natural weather occurrences. It is not subject to corrosion and it is insect resistant. With these primary features being mentioned, most suppliers will provide a warranty of up to fifty years.

Which is Better

You may be presented with the choice of selecting metal roofing options. Metal roof shingles are designed to mimic other kinds of roofing shingles. These types of metal shingles are coated precisely enough to avoid corrosion and then pressed to build authentic shapes. Whereas, stone coated steel roofing offers a particular upscale type that can never be mimicked by any type of shingle. Stone coated types are created to match any design of a home. It can effectively match the appearance of the more costly and less robust shingles like the wooden shingles.

Other forms could be displayed by any finish of stone coated metal shingles. A lot of people like the latest appearance of slate roofs. This kind of roof looks like it doesn’t have any specific shingles entirely. Stone coated shingles may not only complement this type of look, but likewise look even better than other kinds of applications.

Other Options

The term “shake” typically relates to a roofing shingle created from timber. Nevertheless, a lot of companies manufacture products called metal shakes, also called a metal roofing shingles made to appear like their wooden counterparts. The correct process of fitting metal shake shingles will depend on the kind of shake you utilize; however the installation process typically follows a standard pattern. Metal shingles are mainly recycled and it is estimated to be 100% recyclable. Fixing is also relatively easy, however consulting a roofing expert may possibly be regarded as a brilliant idea.

No roof can last forever and that is a fact. No matter how convincing any ad that would say their product can last a lifetime, you will come to the point that you need a roof replacement. However , how can you know when that day has arrive? Or maybe if the roof problems could be solved basically with a repair in place of a replacement. Regular maintenance of your roof is the better way to lessen your expenses . Inspect your roof or look at for signs of leaks, and making small repairs when needed. This is best done after a strong wind, hail and snow. You will know it yourself if it is time to check based on the intensity of the weather condition. Don’t wait for the problem to present itself in broad daylight. Preemptive actions can save you a lot of inconvenience and money in the long run.