Metal Roofing Prices – What Justifies The Higher Cost?

Roof Shingles - Aug 18,2012 - No Comment

Metal roofing prices include long term warranties. Given the strong and sturdy nature of metal roofing materials, they usually are guaranteed for 25 to 50 years by manufacturers. Metal roofing materials are resistant to fire and wind damage, and can withstand extremes of temperature and weather including hail, storms, and heavy rainfall.

Properly treated and painted metal roofs will prevent snow from accumulating, and shed it easily when the ice thaws. For this reason, home owners who live in the mountains and colder climates prefer metal shingle roofs. Under these circumstances, metal roofing prices become amortized against the cost of damages or repairs caused by extreme weather conditions.

One more factor lowers the emphasis on metal roofing prices, and that is their environment friendly nature. Consumers who are discerning enough to care about their environment are opting for metal roofing since the material is completely recyclable. Your roof will not go to add waste to landfills and contaminate the habitat, with almost 95% of it being fully recycled for use. What’s more, metal roofing materials can be recycled and used over and over – an important factor in estimating metal roofing prices and one that justifies a higher upfront investment.

In the eyes of many home owners, such benefits of metal roofing outweigh the higher prices. The fact that metal roofs are very low maintenance and will often outlast the rest of the building is an added advantage. And metal roofing is energy efficient. Reflectivity coatings help deflect a large share of solar radiation that hits the building, causing a cooler roof with lesser costs from air conditioning and cooling. The cost savings alone can slash 25% off your energy bill, and despite higher metal roofing prices your roof may end up saving you money over time!

Roofing Prices – Get The Quote

Roof Repair - Aug 17,2012 - No Comment

Roofing prices will differ based on several factors. You can not give an exact estimate of the cost of your roofing but you can do a fair assessment of the cost which is what most homeowners need in order to plan for this major project related to their home. They will need this number in order to plan a budget for it. Homeowners do not want to in a position where they pick a roof and find that they can’t afford it.

It is also not possible to estimate the roofing prices for your home based on what you friend or a neighbor paid for their roof. There are so many factors that make estimating using such parameters difficult. First off, the material choice makes a big difference in price, second the slope of the roof, a steep roof costs much more than a moderate or low roof. The location of the house, the height at which the roof is located all make a big difference to prices.

Your roof might be a simple, straightforward roof with not many features on it. Your neighbor’s roof might be ornate with lots of skylights and dormer windows making it much more expensive to roof than yours. The problem with all these features is that they take more time and effort to roof, second the material needed is more and also, the wastage is higher as the areas around these projections need to be properly sealed and the shingles will be cut to fit to size.

This is just a brief introduction to roofing prices, for a detailed report click here.

Solar Roof Shingles – Getting Electricity From Your Roof

Roof Shingles - Aug 15,2012 - No Comment

Thin film solar roof shingles not only protect your home the way other roofing shingles do – they also generate electricity! Thin photovoltaic cells that are built into roofing shingles can convert sunlight that falls on them into electricity. This is channeled to the home and used to power fans, lights and other equipment – or even directed back to your electric company through the grid and exchanged for credits.

Nothing has quite worked as well as photovoltaic solar roof shingles to generate clean electricity that does not pollute the environment. There is no noise or emission from solar roof shingles. They do not need any fuels and are renewable for as long as they last. A well planned building lined with solar roof shingles can slash power utility bills by as much as 60% easily.

Not only can the domestic needs of a home be covered by solar powered shingle roofs but the excess can be sold back to the electric company and used elsewhere within the network. This further insures the home owner against periods of reduced solar power generation, by letting them buy back power from the grid against credits accrued during times of surplus.

Solar roof shingles have many benefits. They are similar to asphalt shingles and other roofing materials by way of providing protection for a building. Visual appeal is better with newer versions, while older solar roof shingles did look odd on roofs. Modern design elements can blend in nicely with standard roofs, and are hard to distinguish until pointed out.

Solar roof shingles can be used as overlay shingle roofs without having to tear down an older roof. They are relatively inexpensive and lightweight. The additional benefits of cost savings from power utilization and the potential to sell back surplus to the power company are additional benefits.

So if you’ve been thinking about solar roof shingles, ask for an opinion from a specialist to make sure your building is free of shade and has exposure to direct sunlight. Then go ahead and install your solar roof shingles and start enjoying benefits right away.

For more about solar roof shingles, don’t miss reading this free report – click here.

Roof Shingles – An Overview Of Popular Roofing Materials

Roof Shingles - Aug 13,2012 - No Comment

Roof shingles are used to cover roofs and consist of individual members that overlap. Traditionally shingles were referred to wood shingles. Today a range of materials are used to make roofing shingles like asphalt, asbestos, composite and metals. They are usually rectangular in shape and laid in rows starting from the bottom most edge of the roof. As you go up the shingles are laid side by side with a overlap. When it comes to roof installation one basic and first lesson to learn is to employ overlap for everything. This prevents water and moisture from seeping into the home through the gaps in roof. So, when laying out shingles not only should there be overlap on the sides but also when you are placing the next row.

At the ridges, earlier metal caps made of copper or zinc was used. Today, modified shingles with plastic underlay is used. This gives an uniform look and feel to the roof. The metal cap jutting out at top could seriously mar the appearance of the home. But, today’s shingle laying techniques eliminate that need.

Roofing shingles are available in a variety of materials ranging from asphalt, wood, cement, slate to metals. Each type of shingles comes with various ratings for fire, impact and wind. Different standards apply to different regions and states. There might be local variations inside each state too. These standards have been set for maximum safety for homeowners and citizens. So, it is best practice to follow them for the good of your family and the community you live in.

Wood and paper-based asphalt shingles are prone to fire hazards. They are now not preferred because of dangers of an accidental fire destroying home and endangering lives. The manufacturers are coating wood with fire-resistant non-inflammable materials which makes it safer for them to be used.

The natural oils in cellulose structure of the wood keeps it protected. Over time with constant exposure to sun, the protective oils get softened and washed out when it rains. This causes a gradual corrosion in the wood shingles. You will find more erosion along the gutters and other natural valleys in the roof design where there is more water flow. Eventually as the oils are washed out the wood starts to rot, warp and curl. This exposes the nail heads causing them to rust. Water then seeps through the gaps left by the rusted nails and rotting shingles.

The protective nature of the asphalt is because of the long chain hydrocarbons. These also breakdown due to prolonged exposure to sun and rain. The loss of protective oils in asphalt results in its shrinking and other damages described above for wood shingles.

The most widely used roofing shingles are the fiber-glass based asphalt shingles. Asphalt is embedded between layers of fiberglass. This type of shingles is the most popular in the United States because of its affordable cost, wide range of choices available in every color, texture, design and shape. There are literally hundreds of brands to choose from. The most popular brands include companies such as GAF – Timberline, Tamko, IKO, CertainTeed and so on. Every brand has its pros and cons. It is best to choose a brand or model that suits the local conditions best.

The three-tab roofing shingle is by far the most popular roofing shingle. It is also the least expensive of all the different roofing options. Asphalt roofing shingles are made by sandwiching asphalt in between layers of fiberglass. Other materials like paper are also used but the fire hazard is higher in such materials. Asphalt shingles are available in a variety of designs and colors to match the exteriors of your home. By using these shingles in combination with a variety of quality accessories like drains, gutter pipes, air vents, ridge caps and so on you are will enhancing the looks of your home while also being able to add years to the roofing. Well installed and maintained roofing shingles last longer.

It is important to keep the trees away from your homes roof when you are using asphalt shingles. Trim the branches and remove dead limbs. The scraping of the branches against the roofing shingles will damage them leading to leaks and other major problems. Keep the roof area free of debris, loose leaves and mud by seasonal cleaning. For warmer areas light colored shingles that reflect light are preferable. If you want you can also select a darker shade with flecks of white in them which also do the job of reflecting the light. Darker shades with absorb heat help in rapid melting of ice and snow in winters.

Apart from the functionality aspect of protecting the home roof shingles perform an important task of making your homes look attractive. Beautiful shingles laid out professionally help cover any flaws and make your home look beautiful to onlookers. You don’t have to spend a fortune on designer roof shingles or architectural roofing shingles for this. Even asphalt has many options as there are several brands of them available in an enviable array of choices. Timberline from GAF is a much sought after brand for its quality and performance. A little more expensive but with more choices the architectural shingles are also much sought after. They are particulalry great for heritage buildings and older structures.

Costly Roof Replacement Mistakes

Roof Shingles - Aug 12,2012 - No Comment

Read the rest of this article on roof shingle calculator here.

The last of 5 costly roof replacement mistakes are:

4. Conversion

A special number is used to convert the flat, level measurements into 3 dimensional figures using the pitch of the roof as a guide. This number is called an approximate average roofing multiplier. For a low pitched roof, it could be from 1.15 to 1.25. For a medium pitched roof, the multiplier might be between 1.25 and 1.4. A steep roof would have a multiplier of anywhere from 1.41 to 1.7.

The basic measurement of the roof is then multiplied by the approximate average roofing multiplier for the given roof, and you arrive at a new, more accurate figure. If you use the wrong multiplier or do not do the calculations correctly, you can throw off your roof replacement cost budget.

5. Special Features

The measurements of a roof can be altered by special features such as dormers, end-walls, valleys, and chimneys. These must all be accounted for and there is no one neat, simple formula for figuring them in.

If you want to get all your shingles at the same time to get a price break, it is important to figure correctly. If you want to make sure you get enough of the same kind of shingles, you need the proper number. Finally, if you do not want to overbuy, you need an accurate estimate of your roofing material needs. A home remodeling company can help you measure and calculate to reduce the roof replacement cost.

Read the rest of this article on roof shingle calculator tips and learn about other critical mistakes that could become very costly.

By Shawn Michael Hickman

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Michael_Hickman

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Measurement-Mishaps-Can-Increase-Roof-Replacement-Cost&id=5477273

Roof Truss Prices – A Look At Prices For Essential Components Of Roof

Roof Shingles - Aug 09,2012 - No Comment

Roof truss prices are an important component of home construction. The roof trusses which are available in several prefabricated configurations are available. There are several options to help make the roof either cheap and simple or for a few hundred dollars more get a more spacious roof that occupies a lot more area.

Roofs can have single, two or three trusses. They can hips, gables and other extensions. Here are some roof truss prices to give you an idea about the costs involved for different roof trusses. Generally more trusses in a roof structure more is the cost as the complexity of making it increases. On the other hand buying three single trusses is way cheaper but it is not suitable to use them where a treble truss may be needed. 3 attic trusses cost $300 dollar, with each truss costing $100. A double truss costs $600 dollars while a treble truss costs around $1000 dollars.

The above prices are just indicators of what you are likely to see in the prefabricated truss market. If you designed your roof with headroom then suitable roof trusses, attic trusses and other trusses can be ordered to help increase the livable area inside your home. The increased space in the roof can also be used as storage space for a variety of purposes.

These specialized trusses called attic trusses are designed for domestic floor loads have sections for room above the floor of the attic. These have larger timber sections which also take into consideration such factors as insulation and ventilation requirements of the local building codes. The roof truss prices for attic type of trusses are a little higher but the benefits you get from such a roof is immense. There isn’t much difference in how the normal trusses and attic trusses are manufactured.

Even though the prices are higher, it is a very affordable and simple way to increase the floor area inside any family home. If it is done while the home is designed the costs work out much cheaper than if you decide to go in for attic conversion later on in your life when the costs can run into several thousands dollars. Compared to what it will cost you later the roofing truss prices are very cheap.

The attic trusses are designed as one single solid component and there is no need to construct the roof and rafter levels separately as these trusses take care of those factors and reduce your overall cost. Going for prefabricated attic trusses is a great advantage in such circumstances. There are experienced and highly qualified engineers who will translate your every requirement into the perfect truss design for your home incorporating all your needs like dormers, staircases, dormers, skylights, windows and roof lights.

There are top manufacturers of trusses who offer the whole roofing package including attic trusses, standard and dormer trusses, all the timber needed for infills, staircase sections and much more if your order from them. All these are available at reasonable roof truss prices.

What Is the Best Roofing Shingles For Your Home?

Roof Shingles - Aug 09,2012 - No Comment

Best roofing shingles are one of the criteria for homeowners looking to replace their roofs. Asphalt roofing shingles wins the popularity stakes hands down. Over 80 percent of the homes in the USA are asphalt based roofs. The best performing roofs can be explained due to the quality of filler used in it. Good quality translates to good performance. Not only do the filler and amount of materials make a difference but also, the granules used the top layer of the shingles and the reinforcements used in the shingles all go on to help in making the shingles durable, tough and long-lasting. Durability wise both organic and fiberglass shingles offer wonderful service. But, they have to be used in proper locations. Organic is not suited for certain parts of the country. Fiberglass shingles are preferred because they offer fire-resistance and moisture resistance. Organic shingles are in fact not allowed in many parts of the country even though it is environment friendly.

For windy and reasonably dry areas organic shingles are the best roofing shingles. They offer good wind resistance and also resist tearing. They are offer good insulation and can be used in regions that are very cold. Whether you choose organic or fiberglass based roofing shingles remember to check with your local building codes to know if the shingles you chose are in compliance.

To know more about the best roofing shingles for you area, click here!

How Much For A New Roof?

Roof Repair - Aug 08,2012 - No Comment

As a homeowner you wish to know – how much for a new roof? Before calling a roofing contractor this question needs an answer that will give at least a ball park figure. There are many factors most of which are under your control that affect roofing cost and it is not possible to have an fixed number.

In case your roof is old or leaking then you may have to replace it. You will have to look for a new roof. Once this is decided, the next step is to plan your budget and finances. If you make the plans it helps in getting the work on the roof done correctly and in time.

There are no simple and straight-forward responses to queries like – how much for a new roof? There are so many issues and points affecting new roof cost like the roofing material used in making roofing shingles, the quality of these shingles, costing factor, the area of the roof, the style, pitch and complexity of roof all make for different roofing costs.

In a detailed article on the subject we have discussed the questions like how much for a new roof. Click here to learn more about this.