Benefits & Drawbacks of Roof Tiles

Roof Repair - May 01,2012 - No Comment

Roof tiles pale in popularity in comparison to other types of roof shingles. Roof tiles are manufactured from terra cotta or concrete, and are used in some geographic locales that feature architecture that’s characteristic and unique to the area. Tiles give a certain old world charm to a building, creating a feeling of something special and intimate in the neighborhood.

Terra cotta roof tiles are conventional, having been used for hundreds of years in construction. They are sturdy, durable and long lasting, having been proven to be effective roofing solutions over decades of safe existence. Their very endurance has shown how superior they are as a roofing system.

Some roof tiles manufactured to the highest standards of quality and style are ideal for use in certain marine environments where roofs are subjected to corrosion and erosion from salt-laden moisture borne in the wind. Other kinds of roofs get damaged easily under such circumstances, but roof tiles can withstand even their harmful effects. Where there are temperature extremes, with freezing cold in winter leading to thawing of the roof tiles afterwards in summer, tile roofs are again tough enough to tolerate the stress. There are other advantages as well.

Roof tiles are very durable. Most last for 50 to 70 years, even longer. Asphalt shingle roofs, on the other hand, typically last only for 15 to 20 years, and under harsh weather conditions this may be even shorter. In considerations of cost versus durability, the expensive tile roof comes up a clear winner simply because over the long term the home owner saves much more by way of repairs and replacement costs to justify the upfront expense. Roof tiles come in lightweight versions also, which has the added benefit of not requiring any structural modification to the roof frame in order to support the new roof.

Roof tiles come in a range of textures and colors. In style, they range from Mediterranean to Spanish, shake, wood and slate designs, and in different color combinations like traditional reds, greens and blues. You can find shades of gray roof tiles to match different architecture and patterns. Terra cotta roof tile colors are lasting and manufacturers will guarantee this for the lifetime of the tiles. You may use a combination of traditional and risque tiles to create a stunning or eye-grabbing appearance.

For more information about roof tiles and to know what other factors to look for before ordering your roof tiles, be sure to read this longer report.

Use a Free Roof Calculator Online For Roof Estimates

Roof Shingles - May 01,2012 - No Comment

An easy way to benefit from a free roof calculator online is to use it in roof estimates and for calculating roof prices. Whether you’re installing asphalt shingles, clay tiles or metal roofing, one of the first steps in the roofing process is to estimate how much you’ll spend on it.

A free roof calculator tool is of great help for homeowners as well as roofing contractors because it can be used to reliably estimate roof project expenses. The prices include roofing materials, labor costs for tearing down the present roof and disposing the waste, and a contractor’s profit. When a roof calculator is used as a guideline for budgeting, it can be of enormous value to anyone looking to have a new roof installed or a leaky one replaced.

Who Needs a Roof Calculator?

A roof calculator comes in handy not just for home owners but also for various industry professionals. Real estate agents, home inspectors and insurance adjusters all use a roof calculator in their line of work. It can help come up with an estimate for roof replacement costs quickly, which adds value to their clients. And because it is as simple to use as typing in figures into boxes and clicking a button, roof calculator use has surged online with many services offering them even as applications that run on mobile phones to extend their reach.

Indeed there are many smart roofing websites that create roof calculators which can be embedded on various affiliate sites on the Internet, attracting new leads and clients to do business with them later on. For the website owner, the hosting of a roof calculator provides value to visitors looking for information about roofing costs, making this a win-win situation.

How To Determine Roofing Material Needs With a Roof Shingles Calculator

Roof Repair - Apr 30,2012 - No Comment

You can estimate how much roofing material you will need for your roofing project by using a roof shingles calculator. For your convenience a roof shingles calculator will round off the estimates and give you the number of bundles of composition shingles you will need to order.

While most roof calculators will make the best effort to ensure you get a fairly correct estimate, it is mandatory that every home owner checks and double-checks the numbers to make sure you are not exceeding or falling short. A roofing contractor will be able to easily verify the validity of an estimate made using a roof shingles calculator.

Roofing projects are best handled by pros. They are not only more accustomed to working on high and sloping roofs, but also they have leverage with suppliers when it comes to buying materials. They can save you money on buying roofing materials, and time by using the best tools to complete the project quickly.

When you deal with a professional roofer, the one area you would be best informed about is the amount of roof space that needs to be covered with shingles. A roof shingles calculator can help determine this easily.

A square footage roof shingles calculator will tell you how big your roof is. All you have to do is type in the dimensions of your roof and the calculator will spit out data you can hand over to your contractor. In roofing jargon, a square is 100 square feet and is used to refer to roofing area. Shingles made of asphalt, fiberglass or composite material usually comes in bundles that cover one third of a square. Roofing sheets come in rolls that are 3 feet wide and 36 feet long, and can cover 1 square.

Roofing felt or tar paper is used to layer a bare wood roof before laying shingles over it. Felt covers pad the surface over which shingles can be seated nicely. A roof shingles calculator will help you estimate the area of roof that needs to be covered with shingles. It will also tell you how many bundles of roof shingles to order.

For more about how to use a roof shingles calculator, check out this article.

Fiberglass Roofing Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 29,2012 - No Comment

Fiberglass roofing shingles are a great choice for long lasting, economical and quick to install new roofs. Fiberglass roofing shingles are lightweight, inexpensive and are available in a wide range of styles that are compatible with any kind of architecture or home design.

When it comes to choosing a particular type of roofing shingle for your home, your criteria are durability (ability to last for a long time), attractiveness and resistant to weather extremes and fire. Fiberglass roofing shingles fit the bill in all these respects.

Fiberglass roofing shingles were the derivative of insulation material which included fiberglass in the early part of the 20th century. Fiberglass is thin glass fibers made up of silica. It is drawn out into slender filaments which are then bound up together.

Advantages & Drawbacks of Fiberglass Roofing Shingles

Like every other form of roofing shingles, fiberglass shingles too have some pluses and disadvantages. Fiberglass roofing shingles are diverse and come in various sizes and colors. You can find fiberglass shingles to match the look and texture of wood, tile or stone shingles. Fiberglass is fire resistant and does not rot. Warranties are generous and most manufacturers will offer 30 years to lifetime cover.

The properties of fiberglass roofing shingles that makes them attractive to home owners include their lighter weight, lesser price and the range of styles available to select from. Being lighter makes it easier to install fiberglass roofing shingles and there is no need for expensive strengthening preparations for the older roofing frame.

Fiberglass roofing shingles are easy to install and fix. You’ll save money, time and effort by choosing fiberglass roofing shingles. There are a few drawbacks to using this material, also. Wear and tear, thermal splitting and weather extreme related damage are the biggest drawbacks to fiberglass roofing shingles.

There are different grades and types of fiberglass roofing shingles and the types are distinguished by the inclusion of asphalt and other materials. As a responsible home owner, you must carefully go through the details provided by your roofing contractor, and help make decisions that are cost effective, while being something you can be engaged upon.

Materials Used To Manufacture Fiberglass Roofing Shingles

Fiberglass roofing shingles are made up of mats upon which fiberglass is laid before being cut into smaller shingles. Mixed in with this are other extras to make the shingles stronger, harder, flexible or durable. Fiberglass is inherently fire resistant.

Fiberglass shingles are more durable than asphalt shingles. But modern fiberglass roofing shingles have an admixture of asphalt which makes them even more wind and water resistant. In addition to this, the additives make the shingles more flexible and lightweight as well as mold resistant.

Fiberglass roofing shingles are excellent when it comes to longevity. By correct installation you can enhance the lifetime of shingles. Appearance of fiberglass roofing shingles can be tweaked to resemble slate or shake roofing materials.

Fiberglass shingles are inexpensive and sturdy. Warranties cover the reasonable lifetime of the shingle roof. Fiberglass roofing shingles offer a versatile look and can be tweaked to match any other component of the home.

Roofing Shingles Reviews – A Guide To Buying Better Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 29,2012 - No Comment

Roofing shingles reviews will help you pick better type of roof shingles for your roof. A study of over 25 brands was conducted by exposing them to elements, high winds, wild temperature changes, extreme temperatures, hail, storm, rain and much more. Exposed them to high impact, natural and man-made disasters. After all these tests they were also exposed to natural ageing process and the effects of sunlight on the shingles was also tested. Here we will try to sum up our tests and give you a fair assessment of the performance of different roofing options.

When you set out to replace your roof you will find that roofing contractors have certain preferences and push for particular brands. Our answer you don’t have to go by your roofer’s choice. If need be change your roofing contractor. This is because you are paying for this and it is only fair that you get a roof of your choice.

Roofing shingles are sold in squares or bundles. If you have a 2300 square foot roofing area than you will need around 30 squares of roofing material factoring in 10 percent for wastage. You will spend $4000-$10000 for labor. Save some shingles for any roofing repairs later on.

If you are planning on installing heavier shingles then think twice about installing it over the old shingles. The extra weight is not good for the rafters and roof structure unduly stressing them. If there are already two layers of shingles then building codes do not permit a third layer. You need to strip and dispose of old roofing shingles. A complete removal helps you to assess the decking to check for water damage, rot or other problems. You will be spending extra 100 dollars per 100 square feet to remove the old shingles.

You don’t need to install the real thing if you like slate or wood. The cost is extremely high and so are the installation costs. For a much lesser price you can get good quality and similar looking roofing with asphalt-based laminated and architectural roofing shingles. These are thicker and layered and performed well. The 3-tab shingles are similarly priced but are made in single layers and their performance wasn’t so good. Flatter and thinner shingles are not recommended.

Fake slate asphalt roofing is very similar to the real thing and last 30 years or more. The weight is much lesser than actual slate. So, the cost of installation is also lower and you don’t need beef up the roofing structure. It’s cost is higher than asphalt shingles but much lower than real slate. Performance-wise they are better than ordinary asphalt but not same as slate. In terms of impact resistance they are better than slate.

Metal roofs are noisier than other types of roofing. They are available in strips, rolls, sheets and shingles form. The textured metal roofs are much better at hiding any dents caused by exposure to hail storms. You can choose from steel, aluminum, copper and their alloys. Copper is the most expensive metal roofing but it also lasts quite and as it ages it acquires a greenish tinge called patina which is considered attractive. Metal is resistant to fire and also qualifies for energy star rebates of $1500 as it is energy efficient roofing option.

Check for fire rating and warranty of any roofing you buy. The above is just a summary of extensive roofing shingles reviews performed over the last year.

Benefits of Roofing Cost Calculators

Roof Shingles - Apr 27,2012 - No Comment

Online roofing cost calculator scripts are growing increasingly popular. As smart phones with apps are ubiquitous, professionals are using them to help home owners with roofing cost calculations and estimates. And so developers are creating ever more effective and accurate tools and applications that can be downloaded onto mobile phones.

Roofing contractors can take these roofing cost calculator apps on site to the home or construction site and use them to compute estimates on the spot. This can be of incredible value in closing sales and convincing hesitant prospects to go ahead and undertake a project that might otherwise have been put off to later.

Home owners too benefit from having a roofing cost calculator handy with them while discussing deals with contractors. If you haven’t yet made up your mind about having the roof done, then running quick roof estimates can help give you an idea of what’s in store if you do. After all, you can never be too well informed.

Another article you must consider reading is “Roofing Cost Calculator – Find The Cost Of Roofing Using This Tool“

Matching Your Roofing Shingles Needs To Your Roofing Contractor

Roof Shingles - Apr 27,2012 - No Comment

Ok, so you’ve decided about your roofing solution, and you know how to find a good and reliable roofing contractor. What’s next?

Handing over the project, of course!

So here’s what you do.

Get a roofing estimate. Have it in writing. Detail everything including the material to be used, the company or manufacturer or brand that you will use, any guarantees about labor and details of the work involved.

Is the old roof to be removed? Note it. Does your contractor agree to dispose the old material? Record it. Are guttering and decking included in the job? Mention it.

Be sure to verify references from previous clients, and take special care to see how satisfactory the job completion was. If your contractor has complaints or even law suits against him from previous clients, now is the time you want to know – not after he has wasted your time and money!

Take care to evaluate all your research material. Get many more opinions if you still need guidance. Be sure to sweat the small stuff – it could save you big bucks down the road.

Finally, have a roofing contract written and signed, covering all the information on this list. That may serve not only as a memory jogger of what was agreed upon, but also the primary resource you have to seek compensation in a legal manner if ever things go wrong.

Finding and hiring a roofing contractor to get your roof repair or roof replacement project done can seem complex, confusing and chaotic. But in reality, it isn’t that bad – or tough. Just take reasonable care, do your due diligence, and be wise before you get scammed or cheated.

By following the simple and common-sense guidelines in this report, you can ensure that your roofing job goes on smoothly and effectively, while saving you stress, effort and a lot of money!

Roofing Shingles Replacement Project

Roof Shingles - Apr 24,2012 - No Comment

Replacing your roof is an essential part of maintaining your home. A damaged or improperly maintained roof can cause thousands and dollars in damage to other parts of the home. Repairs only go so far, and eventually it will be time to replace your roof entirely. Replacing your roof can seem like a daunting task for the first time homeowner. Choosing between hundreds of professional roofing contractors can be confusing. Thankfully, the project of getting a new roof is not too complicated, and it helps to know what to expect.

The first step in any roof replacement project is obtaining estimates and choosing a contractor. It’s a good idea to research several companies. Make sure they have good reputations and are licensed in your state. Be sure to obtain estimates from several contractors before signing a contract, as roofing estimates can have a wide range. There are many factors that can influence the cost of a roof replacement. It’s good to know a little about them before you get too involved.

The size and slope of the roof, the materials being used, and the region of the country can all affect the final cost of the project.

Read more in this article about a roof replacement project.

By Connie Gallerizzo

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

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