Roof Repairs & Shingle Project

Roof Repair - Apr 24,2012 - No Comment

The cost of a roof replacement project varies depending on where you live. A roof replacement costs less in the Midwest than it does in the Northeast. In places where the general cost of living is higher, roof replacements will cost more as well. If you live in the Midwest, you will need to replace your roof more often. High speed winds, tornadoes, blizzards, and ice storms will all wreck havoc on your roof. Temperature fluctuations can also damage roofs. In the desert the temperature can be over 100 degrees during the day and drop to 50 or 40 degrees at night. 20-year asphalt shingles in Arizona and New Mexico last on average only 15 years, due to sustained damage from temperature fluctuations. Homeowners in regions with mild weather can get away with more moderate roof repairs, putting off full replacements for longer periods of time.

Roof replacement estimates may vary depending on all of these factors (location, materials, etc.). The final cost once the work is completed may be higher than the initial estimate, as your roof may have some unforeseen damage that will add to the final cost . Underneath the shingles, your roof could be rotted or have water damage. Replacing the roof support system can add thousands of dollars to the bill, depending on the extent of the damage. This is a good incentive to keep your roof properly maintained and have it replaced on time.

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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Costly Mistakes When Using a Roof Shingle Calculator

Roof Shingles - Apr 23,2012 - No Comment

Measuring for a new roof can be complex, and miscalculations can lead to a higher roof replacement cost.

If you want to roof your house by yourself, you will need to understand all the intricacies of measuring your roof. Math calculations must be done to account for special features of the roof after the measurements are done. A professional home remodeling company can make short work of measuring accurately for a roof replacement. Here is what you need to know if you are doing it yourself.

1. Basic Square Footage

You will need a measurement of the basic square footage of the outline of your roof. Remember that this includes every part of the house that is covered by a roof. Include every ell. To do this, you have to measure the length and the width of each rectangle that makes up the base of your house. Figure the area of each rectangle by multiplying the length times the width. Then, add all these figures together.

Read the rest of this article and to learn more about critical and expensive errors when using a roof shingle calculator, go here.

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

Metal Roof Shingles – Why Metal Is Better As Roofing Material?

Roof Shingles - Apr 21,2012 - No Comment

Metal roof shingles are gaining in popularity even though they lag behind other roofing options in terms of adoption by homeowners. The main reason behind the lower adoption being the high price of metal roofing options. Also, many homeowners associate metal roofs with barns and garages. They associate them with loud pinging noises when it rains or when there is a hail storm. It is no longer the case. Properly padded metal roofs make pretty much the same noise as any other roof during a rain storm.

Roof being the most important part of a home the decision to buy one needs to be done with care and deliberation. The roof protects your home from harsh weather, rain, sleet, snow, wind and hail. The choice of a roof is largely dependent on on your local climate and weather conditions. Two of the most commonly used roofing materials in the residential space are asphalt and steel. Composition shingles or asphalt shingles are the most affordable and hence widely used. A homeowner who is considering his/her options when replacing an old roof needs to consider whether to go in for metal roof shingles or asphalt shingles.

Asphalt shingles have cornered the roofing market in North America. About 80 percent of homes and buildings are covered by composition or asphalt shingles. The reason as already mentioned is because of they are so cheap and the choices available are mind-boggling. You can get asphalt shingles in every color, texture, design and price point.

You can opt for the flat, plain shingles which is the cheapest to the more appealing dimensional shingles that offer a more rugged and richer look to the roofs. Most composition shingles comes with a fiberglass core coated with asphalt on the outside. The core gives it flexibility and fire-resistance. The asphalt protects its from vagaries of weather. This has a life time from 15-30 years. You can choose from cedar wood shake shingle look or slate shingle look or even metal shingle look. The makers of these shingles have designed their products to appeal to every section of the population.

Only recently has metal roof shingles caught up with asphalt in terms of the choices available. The makers of metal shingles have started offering their products to match the needs and desires of their market place instead of one size fits all approach of earlier days. Today, it is possible to get metal shingles that resemble wood or slate shingles just like asphalt. Metal is naturally fire-resistant and rugged. It lasts for a life-time and does not need replacement like asphalt if cared for properly.

Unlike asphalt shingles which are susceptible to algae growth metal is immune to algae, fungus, mold and mildew. While asphalt shingles will need an anti-fungal coating metal needs no such protection. The extra coating is expensive but, it gives the home a nice and brand new look if you are opting for composition shingles. Metal roof shingles are naturally attractive. Both types of roof shingles need insulation on the under side to help make the home energy-efficient. Metal needs lesser insulation compared to asphalt.

Metal roof shingles cost around 30 percent more than regular asphalt ones. Depending on your local weather conditions and needs choosing this roof may make all the difference. For example in highly windy areas steel makes for good roofing choice. They can withstand higher intensity winds without getting blown away. Asphalt is lousy in such areas.

Again certain homeowners associations for the sake of uniformity and to enhance the curb appeal of their homes require all homes to follow the norms set by them. So, in such areas it may or may not be permitted to opt for metal shingles. If you local association allows it and your home will benefit by it then by all means opt for metal roof shingles.

Metal roof shingles are light-weight and do not cause an undue stress on the roof structure. It weighs about one-seventh the weight of composition shingle. They are fire-resistant and safer. Homes with metal roofs qualify for lower insurance premiums. If you live in areas were fires are an expected danger then a brick house with a metal roof has more chances of surviving than any other home.

If you expect to live in a home for a long time then metal roof shingles is the most long-lasting option. Else, you will be forced to replace your roof maybe 15 years down the line. It costs more initially but in the longer run the costs actually become cheaper considering its long-life, lower insurance premiums, safer against winds and fire and lower maintenance charges. Most metal roof shingles come with guarantees of 50 years or more.

There are many advantages to metal roof shingles ranging from long durable life, lower cost over the life-time of the roof, better protection against the elements and its fire-resistance properties.

Types of GAF Roofing Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 21,2012 - No Comment

Camelot GAF Roof Shingles

These shingles are sold at a more affordable price than slate or wood shakes. They feature super heavyweight PLUS construction, which features up to a 60% increase in thickness compared with many other premium asphalt shingles. They also feature the Micro Weave core for added protection, Class A fire and wind ratings from Underwriters Laboratories and Algae protection. A special double row of Dura Grip adhesive secures each shingle and it warranted to withstand winds up to 110mph.

Sentinel GAF Roof Shingles

These are the basic GAF shingles, which currently protect over one million homes throughout the nation. They feature a strong Micro Weave core for durability and Dura Grip adhesive to secure each shingle. The Sentinel shingles offer a 20 year limited transferable warranty.

Royal Sovereign GAF Roof Shingles

These shingles are among the most preferred fiberglass strip shingle in their class. Features include an extra-strong Micro Weave core for durability and a 25 year limited transferable warranty. These shingles can be installed over an existing roof and they feature Dura Grip adhesive seals for each shingle.

You can learn more about GAF Roof Shingles, in this free report.

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

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By Steven Briesemeister

Average Roof Replacement Cost – Get A Ballpark Estimate Of Your Roof Costs

Roof Repair - Apr 20,2012 - No Comment

The average roof replacement cost for different roofing materials is given below to help you make a choice on a particular roof type. Take for instance asphalt roofing shingles which costs between $800 to $4000 dollars. Wood shingles cost anywhere from $7500 to $20000 dollars. slate is even more expensive starting prices are in the range of $17000 dollars and higher end slate roofs can cost around $84000 dollars or more. Metal another popular choice is little less costing from $5000 to $20000 dollars for steel and $25000 to $40000 for copper. Aluminum roof prices fall somewhere in between. All the above numbers are for average sized home of 1700 to 2100 square feet roofing area.

Let’s take a look at other factors affecting average roof replacement cost.

Size: Measure the roof. The size plays a big role in cost of the roof. Big roofs cost more. A roofer will inspect the roof, measure it and give you a fair estimate about the cost of roofing it. Roof is measured in squares – a roofing term which is equal to 100 square feet area.

Pitch: Medium and low pitched roofs are ideal for roofing and cost less too. More the pitch of the roof, more the difficulty of laying it. Higher pitched roofs cost more to lay as the roofer needs special equipment and safety measures while roofing it. So, you will find that pitch plays an important role in the average roof replacement cost.

Roofing material: As already detailed in the first paragraph the roofing material type makes a significant impact on the average roof replacement cost. Slate is the most expensive while asphalt shingles are the least expensive. The lowest priced asphalt shingles cost under $1000 dollars. Metal falls on the higher end of roofing material prices but it lasts a long time and hence is considered cost-effective in the long term.

Quality Of Roofing Materials: High quality roofing materials are made to last. They are thicker and heavier and are able to withstand vagaries of nature better. This is particularly true for asphalt roofing shingles where the price varies from $50 dollars per square to $150 dollars per square on average.

Height Of Roof – How high is your roof? A one story roof costs less to lay than a 2 story roof. The higher roof requires the roofer to work on dangerous heights and on average roof replacement cost will naturally be higher for such homes. The labor cost is also higher as the time taken to roof high buildings is more. The roofers have to take extra precautions to work on tall commercial buildings. The risk involved is higher and hence the cost is also more.

Ease Of Access – A roof that is easy to access will naturally have low average roof replacement cost than a roof with difficult access like up a hill or located on sheer rock face!

Old Roof Removal – If you are planning to replace on top of an old roof then the average cost of roof replacement works out cheaper compared to complete removal of the old roof. It’s removal and disposal will cost you at least 1000 dollars more. If you have more than one layer of roofing shingles then the cost goes up proportionately.

Decking – If the decking is damaged or needs replacement your average roof replacement cost will go up a lot more. The plywood sheets sometimes sag, warp or decay due to water seepage or age. These will need replacement and extra time from the roofer.

Reinforcement – Old roofs needs extra labor to reinforce the old structure, framing or deck. The cost will naturally go up in such circumstances.

As we see from the above discussion, the average roof replacement cost is a function of several factors and its cost will vary widely over a large range depending on how each of the above factors are placed in relation to your home.

Buy Cheap Roofing Shingles – A Simple Guide

Roof Shingles - Apr 20,2012 - No Comment

Cheap roofing shingles are a popular choice for harried home owners looking to have a roof repaired or replaced. This is a major project that involves detailed planning and considerable expense. Several roofing materials are available to fit any budget, but cheap roofing shingles are what many contractors recommend for economical projects.

Cheap roofing shingles can be of asphalt, wood, shake, tile or metal. Asphalt roofing shingles are the least expensive, with prices ranging from $50 to $150 per square. Metal and wood shingles are costlier, with low range pricing at $100 per square.

How To Buy Cheap Roofing Shingles?

With the cost of roofing shingles being quite high, one of the first steps towards managing your roofing costs is to correctly estimate the number of shingles you’ll need. This depends upon the area of the roof that needs to be shingled. Measuring the length and breadth of each plane of roof and determining the area will give you an idea of how many shingles are required.

A roofing calculator can speed up and simplify this process. If you don’t have access to one, all you need to do is manually tot up the areas of each plane of the roof after correctly measuring each of them.

After determining the area of roof to be covered with roofing shingles, you’ll have to figure out how many shingles (or bundles of them) will be necessary for each 100 square feet (a ‘square’). Divide the total square footage of your roof by 100 to get the number of squares in your roof, and then multiply it by the number of shingles you calculated earlier. Add an extra 10% to compensate for breakage, wastage and underestimations.

In case your roof is brand new, then cheap roofing shingles must be ordered considering that you will need to lay an underlayment as well.

Ask Your Contractor About Cheap Roofing Shingles

Contractors often keep the extra material from other jobs which they will be willing to let you use at discounted rates. Sometimes, jobs get cancelled after all preparations are made, leaving the contractor with surplus cheap roofing shingles which they may be happy to sell you.

Even if your own contractor doesn’t have cheap roofing shingles, you can check with other contractors in your area. There are listings of roofing contractors by State on websites like Roof Help.

Another place you can find cheap roofing shingles is in home improvement stores when they run clearance sales. Discontinued shingles types and colors that are not very popular usually are offered as cheap roofing shingles. You may even leave word to be contacted in case such sales come along. Store managers will be happy to oblige, especially if you are likely to order a large lot of shingles.

One last option for cheap roofing shingles is an auction site like eBay. You won’t always find the type or quantity of cheap roofing shingles on ebay.com or other such sites, but if you’re lucky you may get a really good deal on them. In all these ways you will be able to get cheap roofing shingles for your building needs.

Concrete Roof Tiles – A Roof For All Occasions

Roof Shingles - Apr 20,2012 - No Comment

Concrete roof tiles are made from portland cement, water and sand. Sometimes other materials like fly ash are added to these tiles. There are very minor differences in the tiles made by different manufacturers. They have similar shape, size and color. So, there isn’t much to choose between different companies making these tiles.

These tiles are usually either flat profile, low profile or high profile depending on the curve when viewed from the back of the tile. The higher the curve the higher the profile. If the rise to width ratio is greater than 1: 5 then they are considered as high profile concrete roof tiles.

Unlike solar roof tiles that available only in one color blue – concrete roof tiles are available in different colors and textures. You could choose between really smooth and rough texture and a host of colors. You will find that the color is part of the tile and it is not something slathered on top of the cement tile. This makes the color long lasting.

When buying concrete roof tiles you get a choice of light-weight or heavier tiles. Choose a tile that meets your local needs and that of your home. Light-weight tiles are not recommended as they easily break and it is tough to walk on them without damaging them. Even a little amount of snow can place undue stress on the lighter and thinner tiles. Heavier tiles on the other hand are durable and strong and can take higher loads with ease. Light weight tiles are in fact expensive and used by homeowners as they feel that the structure of their home can’t take the extra load.

But, experts recommend the heavier concrete roof tiles which are cheaper and use the money saved to strengthen the roofing structure in consultation with a structural engineer. These tiles are extremely long lasting. They are marketed with 50 year guarantees. Even though the roofing material – concrete is long lasting, the underlayment under the tiles will not last long and will need replacement in about 30-40 years. Coupled with bad installation procedures these underlying materials may not last very long. These means the life we are looking at is about a decade or less. The color also starts fading with time due to leaching by the rains and fading due to sunlight.

Concrete roof tiles is notorious for moisture penetration compared to other roofing types. This reason makes it doubly important for the installation to be perfect with right installation procedure to be following and all the underlying battens, flashing and underlayment used should be of good quality. These tiles are single ply roofing systems. And also all kinds of debris gets under the tiles. Rain, snow, leaves, mud, insects, small birds and animals easily get into the tile roof system. These factors are distinct disadvantages but not deal breakers as otherwise the roof is a perfectly good option for many homes.

The following facts explain concrete roof tiles in a nutshell

1. It is one of most difficult roofing types to install.
2. If the concrete tiles are installed properly and with appropriate materils then it works out to be more expensive than asphalt shingles but less costly than clay tiles. It compares with cedar shake shingles.
3. The whole process of installation is slow, time consuming and labor intensive. Cutting valleys is tough around roof bulges and needs a special saw to do this. If you attempt any other method you might end up damaging the tiles.
4. The roofer needs to be skilled craftsman with expertise to do this job right. It takes about 6 months on the job training for a new roofer to learn concrete roof tiles installation.
5. The tile being single ply allows easy penetration which is necessarily not a good characteristic for roofs. Careful drilling needs to be done when screwing or nailing in place.
6. Allows moisture penetration which is again not a good quality about this roofing option hence the stress on good underlayment.
7. Easy to repair and re-install damaged tiles
8. Walking on these tiles easily damages them hence limited walking only is allowed using proper techniques of walking.
9. Lasts from 30-40 years depending on the underlayment, batten and flashing used and how it is installed.
10. It is extremely resistant to fire and has Class A rating
11. Resistant to hail damage.
12. Does not blow off easily in windy conditions if nailed properly.
13. For small areas and for more complicated roofing types as the tiles can be easily cut or made to shape.
14. Snow and water easily slide off this roof.
15. The color starts fading fast and replacement tiles won’t blend in easily for years.
16. Finding replacements of the same color are difficult and you may have to make do with close matches.
17. Suitable for a variety of temperatures from 0 to 120 degrees.
18. The concrete roof tiles can get really slippery in wet weather. It is dangerous to walk on in wet weather.

Roofing Shingles Reviews – Top Quality Roofing Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 19,2012 - No Comment

Reading up roofing shingles reviews help to separate the really good brands from the maze of choices out in the market. There are dozens of companies each offering dozens of different types of roofing shingles. The choice offered helps to decide based on material type, life-span, color, texture and quality. The world of roofing shingles is a very competitive one. So, if you want good quality you have to pay more.

Manufacturers do offer shingles at different price ranges in order to meet the customer demand. It has been noted that most customers are willing to blow 20,000 dollars on a single bathroom or kitchen renovation but are reluctant to spend an extra $1000 dollars on better quality roof. They are willing to settle for a lower priced product and contractors are only too happy to oblige. They don’t lose much as the installation cost remains the same for most roofing jobs. It’s important that customers pick quality over price in order to get long-lasting and trouble free roofing. Reading up several roofing shingles reviews will help them to understand shingles that are best suited for their needs. Here are a few short roofing shingles reviews of prominent companies.

Owens Corning Roofing Shingles Reviews

Owens-Corning Shingles are manufactured to the highest industry standards. They offer 15-20 year warranties on their economy range – Classic 3 TAB,Supreme Fiberglass asphalt roofing shingles. The Berkshire range of architectural shingles come with 50 years warranty. Different shingles from Owens-Corning come with varying wind resistance ratings. All the shingles meet the fire resistance standards. Performance for the different shingles offered varies based on price and quality. Higher priced WeatherGuard have better wind and algae resistance. It has been found that there is a marked variation in performance of brands in different local conditions. Their prices are competitive and they offer a range of products from economy to superior architectural roofing shingles. Their products are suited for residential or heritage buildings or even elegant estate homes. The higher end roofing shingles increase the curb appeal of the home. On an average the line of products from this company gets a rating of 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Tamko Shingles Company Roofing Shingles Reviews

The Tamko Shingles Company is a family owned business that has making roofing shingles for more than 6 decades. Tamko offers 3 lines of shingles. These include the Metalworks – a four way locking steel shingles, Lamarite Composite – these are slate and shakes shingles and the standard 3-tab asphalt shingles. These products come with 30-50 year guarantees depending on type of shingle chosen. Tamko range of architechtural shingles are less expensive than steel shingles and much lesser than original slate or cedar shake shingles. These shingles follow standard procedure, but certain lines of shingles have to follow manufacturers installation procedures. The interlocking steel shingles are not suitable for slopes of 3 and half or less. The Lamarite shingles are long lasting shingles and highly durable. They meet fire resistance and impact resistance ratings. There are a variety of attractive choices for customers to pick from in all their product lines. Tamko gets an average rating of around 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Ecostar Shingles Company Overview

EcoStar come in 5 high end styles mimicking slate, tiles and shakes. Made from 80 percent recycled rubber and plastics these shingles have been given a Class A fire rating, impact resistance of Class 4, and wind resistance of 110 mph. It comes with a 50 year warranty. These shingles are great for extreme weather conditions, are tough and flexible. It is a good higher end roofing solution for steep roofs and even businesses. These are expensive compared to standard asphalt shingles. But, there longer life-span makes up for the initial cost. This needs to be installed only by certified contractors of the company and works with steep pitches. This is not recommended for flat roofs or low pitched roofing. Ecostar shingles can be laid on existing asphalt roofing or over clean decks. This environment friendly solution to roofing gets a overall rating 8 but customers need to go through the warranty conditions with a fine tooth comb to know the conditions under which the warranty will be honored.

Timberline Shingles

This series is manufactured by GAF Corporation. They are the largest supplier in North America. GAF is preferred brand and occupies the number one position because of products are tough and resilient. They have wide range products with differing warranties based on quality and cost. Buy life time, 30 year or 40 year warranty shingles. Prestique HD comes with lifetime warranty that includes materials cost, cost of labor and wind resistance of 130 miles per hour. They have different options to choose from in a variety of colors, styles and sizes. The Timberline designer shingles are heavier and thicker so they last much longer compared to their competitor architectural shingles. If you are looking great value for your money then Timberline architectural series wins hands down. It gets an overall rating of 9.5 because it is one of the toughest shingles around.

The above are just a few roofing shingles reviews. We will be reviewing many more roofing shingles that will help you decide on best roofing buy for your home.