Roofing Shingles For Sale

Roof Shingles - Mar 05,2012 - No Comment

Roofing shingles for sale can save home owners a lot of cash when it comes time to replace an existing leaky roof or install a new one. Asphalt shingle roofing is the most popular choice when it comes to roofing systems. These shingles are available in multiple styles and at various price points to appeal to all budgets. They have generous warranty terms of 30 to 50 years.

Roofing shingles for sale come in all variations and styles to fit and match architectural and color schemes of different constructions. For those who want thin and light shingles, the fiberglass composite shingles make for an ideal choice. Each square needs 3 bundles of these lightweight shingles to cover, and the weight can be between 80 and 100 pounds. Not only do the lighter roofing shingles place a smaller burden on the roofing frame but it is also easier for roofing contractors to carry up to the roof.

Organic shingles are another kind of roofing shingles for sale. These are heavier and more durable than fiberglass versions. They have a mat backing of felt or paper into which asphalt is embedded along with mineral granules that prevent fungal and algal growth. These shingles are more flexible and water absorbent. As a result, they are more prone to warp and damage in time.

Shingles reflect these variations, with geographic locales stocking the forms that are more suitable for the local weather and climatic conditions. For instance, organic roofing shingles for sale are more often used in the northern United States while fiberglass composite types are popular in the south.

Roofing shingles for sale must comply with standards and guidelines established by local governing bodies. ASTM D-3462 is one such standard for fiberglass roofing shingles. Organic roofing shingles are governed by ASTM D-225. Municipalities and local bodies insist upon roofing shingles meeting the criteria set down for safe construction, and it is up to home owners to consult with building inspectors and contractors to ensure that their homes meet these norms. If you’re doing your roofing project yourself, be sure to check your labels to see if all criteria are met. Also check with your local building inspector.

You can save a lot by buying roofing shingles for sale. It is true that you may not always get the best quality material or the style or color that you most desire. But by being patient and watchful you will be able to get a good deal for a significant cost saving. Places to look out for roofing shingles for sale are from roofing contractors who may have surpluses from other projects, ebay and other online auction sites and clearance sales at warehouses who are looking to get rid of older inventory.

Whatever shingles you decide to buy and where you choose to source them from, you must read the packaging labels and consult with an expert or inspector before finalizing your decisions. Picking the wrong shingles or installing them in a manner that doesn’t meet the prevalent guidelines can lead to costly revisions that neutralize any cost advantage you got by buying roofing shingles for sale.

Tile Roof Repair – A Beginner’s Guide

Roof Shingles - Mar 04,2012 - No Comment

Tile roof repair is an unavoidable aspect of any tiled home. Most experts and manufacturers assure you that tiled roofs work well without any problems for up to 15 years. But you might find that your tiles have started leaking within 10 years of installment. Tiled roofs are vulnerable to rain and heavy winds. Eventually these tiles get broken or cracked due to these weather conditions.

The damages may cost you in thousands of dollars. Home owners usually prefer tiled roofs because it gives their home a classic and trendy appearance. Tiles come in various colors, sizes and shapes. They also add an elegant touch of detail to even the simplest houses.

Tiles are one of the most common materials used for roofs. Unlike the shingles, the tiles are heavier and require extra materials for installment. Tile roof repair is an expensive process since it involves a lot of extra materials and labor other than just the tiles. Usual problems with the tiled roofs are that cracks keep appearing on the tiles. These cracked tiles should be removed immediately since it will put the entire roof in danger of collapsing.

Replacing or repairing a single tile is not a problem and can be done easily with minimum costs. But the replaced tiles won’t have the same color as the rest of your roof since it depends on the length of exposure to the sun and other weather conditions. There are many options available for repairing the tiles like filling a sealant inside the cracks of the tiles. The choice of replacing or repairing is left to the home owner. If the tile has very bad cracks, then it is best to replace them.

Maintenance of tiled roofs is important since it can help you avoid any problems before they turn into a bigger expense. Always keep checking your tiles every day. Best place to inspect your tiles is from the attic or from the roof. From the attic check the tiles and look for any cracks or water straining.

Tiles, like steel sheets and other corrugated material, deteriorate over time and hence looking for cracks on a regular basis is important. Use a flashlight and look for cracks across all the tiles and if you find any tile with hair line cracks, then get them replaced immediately. You can also inspect your tiled roof from the ground level. Tiles that are broken or shifted can be found and replaced.

Once you are done with checking the tiles, estimate the damage. If there are too many broken tiles, then it is best ask for professional help. If there are only a few and the damage is not too much then, it can be done easily. Just try to replace them yourself. Be very careful while doing the replacement because you might have to walk on other tiles and might end up breaking them as well. Consider the weather conditions and decide if doing the replacement is suitable at that time. Have the necessary materials ready for immediate replacements should the need arise.

Tile roof repair is a delicate process and depending on the situation must be done by the right people or accredited members of associations, who are experienced and qualified. Repairing the damaged tiles immediately is necessary and will help prevent further damages to the roofing and other parts of the house.

How To Compare Roofing Shingles & Find The Best Roof Shingles?

Roof Shingles - Feb 28,2012 - No Comment

It is important to compare roofing shingles in order to locate the best choice from among the wide range of roof shingles available in the market today. Often when home owners compare roofing shingles, price is the primary factor that guides a decision. Cost of roof shingles can vary widely, with a 3-tab asphalt shingle costing much less than, say, a slate shingle.

Other factors on which to compare roofing shingles include the climate tolerance and resistance of each type, architectural style and the effect the shingles have on the environment. We’ll explore the types of roofing shingles, covering all the price ranges and looking at other variables as well.

Asphalt Shingles

The most popular type of shingles that come in different styles is asphalt shingles. This is ideal for all kinds of climate, resistant to even heavy winds, and can be easily maintained. Asphalt shingles are 3-tab styled, and are available in a range of different colors. Textured shingles are not available. They are manufactured as laminated shingles that mimic natural roofing material like stone and wood.

For higher end buildings which need an attractive look, architectural shingles are preferred rather than the low cost 3 tab asphalt roofing shingle. Asphalt shingles are also reinforced with organic materials as well as fiber glass to improve fire resistance and resist mold and fungus. These shingles are environment friendly and can be recycled. When you compare roofing shingles, asphalt shingles are often a popular, inexpensive and functional choice.

Synthetic Roofing Shingles

Costlier than asphalt roofing shingles, the synthetic variety is designed to mimic other natural shingles like wood, clay and slate. Colors and styles are available across a range, and the shingles can resist any climatic variations. Being relatively new to the market, it is not possible to say how long lasting this type of roofing shingle will be. Recycled material is used in their manufacture.

Metal Roofing Shingles

When you compare roofing shingles, metal roofs are not often popular because of the higher cost. Metal used to be only for office and commercial building roofs, but these days even residential buildings have metal roofs. Panels or shingles are available. The shingles are versatile and can be designed to match any look and feel.

Metal roofing shingles are durable and can tolerate harsh weather. Metal shingles resist fire and heat, moisture or fungal growth. However metal roofs are more expensive, a point which costs it when you compare roofing shingles. Metal shingles can be fully recycled.

Wood Shingles

Another choice when you compare roofing shingles is wood. These are far more expensive and also very beautiful. Maintenance can be costly. Rot, mold and insects can damage wood roof shingles. Fire rating is poor also, with moisture and heat being harmful to wood shingles. In select constructions, wood shingles are a good choice.

Slate Roofing Shingles

One more option while you compare roofing shingles is slate. This is very durable and lasts longer than the life of most buildings. It requires little maintenance and the only drawback is the higher weight which necessitates major preparation of roof trusses before installing these shingles.

When you compare roofing shingles, you’ll thereby find various factors upon which to base your analysis. Eventually, be sure to pick the right kind of roofing shingles for your home.

Roofing Cost Calculator – Find The Cost Of Roofing Using This Tool

Roof Shingles - Feb 27,2012 - No Comment

Most roofing cost calculator tools available today are web-based. Seeing the growing popularity of smart phones and needs of professionals to access these tools on the go – many of the tools developers have come up smart applications that can be downloaded on the mobile phone and used by roofing contractors when at the client site. This is invaluable help in closing quick sales.

Not just professionals, even people who are in the market to build new homes or those who wish to alter their roofs or relay them find roofing cost calculator an great aid because of the ease of calculations for different specifications. For instance you check the cost of roofing for different roofing materials. You don’t have to get the quotes from a professional or invite one over to know how much it would cost to replace your roof. If you are just considering things and are not yet decided about changing or relaying the roof then it would be big waste of time and effort for the roofing contractor to make the trip to your home. Instead the homeowner can themselves do the preliminary estimations.

There are other advantages to using a roofing cost calculator. It helps in making assessments about the amount of roofing material to order, the ball park figure about labor costs, the cost of disposal of old roof and so on. This will help the homeowner with being assured that he/she is not being taken for a ride when roofing contractor gives estimates about roof cost and so on. Neither will they have to fear that they are ordering more than the required amount of materials.

The tool is simple and straightforward. Any homeowner can be trained to use in less than half hour or so. The prices of roofing materials, the cost of labor will have to entered into the tool and saved for use whenever needed. You can take the help of a roofing contractor or local trade journal to find the prevailing market rates for these and enter it into the tool. Next measure the dimensions of the roof, the length and breadth of different planes in the roof measured in square feet should be entered into the roofing cost calculator.

Once this data is enter the roofing cost calculator comes up with the such numbers of bundles of shingles to order, the number of rolls of underlayment to be bought, quantity of felt paper to buy and so on. This is handy to make quick comparisons and also price estimations. You can cross verify any numbers quoted by your roofer or the local hardware guy where you are ordering material.

Not just the major materials a roofing cost calculator is also useful in finding the cost of other items needed in installing a roof like ridge vent, turbine, drip edge, ridge cap, roof underlayment, flashing, gutter and lot’s more. Ice and water shield is for example used to prevent ice dams and is a requirement in many states by law. Hip and ridge caps can be fashioned out of roofing shingles by roofers themselves but, since the warranty becomes invalid if the ridge caps supplied by company are not used, calculating its cost is a big help too.

You need galvanized nails for the roof of one inch or more size for regular shingles and bigger sizes for flashing and other areas. Several boxes of nails will be needed for the roofing job. Your roofing cost calculator will give you an accurate number of boxes of nails to buy for the job. Else, you might run out of nails in the middle of the roofing job and need to run to the supplies store for more.

By putting up the roofing cost calculator online it’s makes the job of service providers like real estate agents, insurance adjusters, roofing contractors and others easy. The homeowner themselves arrive at the numbers using your tool and save you time from having to visit their homes. They can calculate the number by tapping a few numbers into their phone or laptop and get the valuations needed almost instantaneously. There is no time wasted in going to the client site and then going back to home or office to finish the calculations. The contractors job of material estimation is also made easy. The mind numbing task of counting ridges is completely eliminated. The distinctive styles of roofing are now estimated rapidly by counting the partitions.

Remember that materials prices, labors costs will vary with where you live. So, you need to keep your roofing material cost tool updated if you are going to use in a different location than your local area.

Rubber Roofing Shingles – Exciting New Technology for Innovative Roof Solutions

Roof Shingles - Feb 27,2012 - No Comment

Rubber roofing shingles are manufactured using new technology that recycles products to generate shingles that look almost identical to the conventional cedar shake, tile and slate shingles but cost just a fraction of their price. Rubber roofing shingles are not just cheaper but also considerably lighter.

The manufacturing process for rubber roofing shingles involves recycling plastic bags, rubber tires and polyvinylchloride items like pipes. To create a texture that mimics natural shingles, other components will be included such as saw dust for cedar shake look-alikes and slate dust to create recycled slate shingles.

Rubber roofing shingles are suitable alternatives to just about any kind of conventional roof shingles. They are especially suited for re-roofing projects involving older or historic buildings where it is desirable to create a look and feel resembling the older roof, but economic realities make it difficult to invest such a large amount in getting genuine slate, wood or metal roofing shingles.

Rubber roofs are also very resistant to pests, and do not crack, peel or chip off the roof. They are fire proof and water proof, avoiding the dangers of a leaky roof and offer excellent insulation to the building. Because of all these benefits, rubber roofing shingles are gaining popularity among informed home owners.

Manufacturing Process for Rubber Roofing Shingles

Recycled tires are used to manufacture rubber shingles. The tread is sliced into pieces and then buffed to outline the rubber shingle, which is later coated with suitable material like sawdust to create a textured appearance. In some shingles the tread is retained so that the steel belting adds to the structural integrity. Plastic tabs may be attached so that nailing the rubber shingles to the roof becomes easier.

Some manufacturers use a different process. They heat recycled rubber materials and then inject them under high pressure into suitably shaped molds where the shingles set and harden. These shingles are remarkably similar to cedar shake or clay tile shingles. The weight is lesser and structural strength comparable to the natural roofing materials.

Are Rubber Roofing Shingles Durable?

Rubber shingles are just as strong and long lasting as other conventional shingle types. They are sturdy, strong and flexible. Most manufacturers offer 30 year warranties for rubber roofing shingles, and some even extend this to 50 years or longer.

There are very few problems with storing, shipping, using and installing rubber roofing shingles. In the long term, they are very efficient and reliable. Being lighter and cost effective are further advantages. The biggest problem is their cost, which is 4 times more than asphalt roofing shingles. When you consider that rubber roofing is less likely to require any maintenance or repair work, then the cost savings over the long run may well justify this higher upfront expense.

Rubber roofing shingles have the highest fire rating scores, indicating that they are resistant to extremes of temperature. Insurers are satisfied and appreciative of rubber roofing shingles as their homeowners won’t be filing claims as frequently as with other buildings. Rubber shingles are also resistant to winds for upto 80 mph. On balance rubber roofing shingles provide a viable alternative to home owners who are considering a shingle roof but don’t have any specific preferences in mind.

Roof Leak Repair – How To Repair a Leaky Roof

Roof Repair - Feb 24,2012 - No Comment

Roof leak repair is usually urgent, even an emergency. Localized roof damage like cracked or missing shingles or shakes, or a blistered or cracked area on a flat roof can cause leaks, but sometimes it can be years before the entire roof needs replacing. The hardest part of repairing damage caused by leaks is locating the leak.

Roof leak repair – Repairing shingle roofs:
They are usually easy to repair. At the leak stain mark, inspect for damaged, curled or missing shingles. Inspect every place where surfaces meet, around chimneys and vents – look for breaks in the flashing or caulking and gaps in the lines of roof cement. If the shingles or flashing in the leak area don’t shown any sign of damage, you may have to contact a roofing professional. Deterioration of the shingles or inadequate flashing may be the cause.

Repairs are fairly simple if evidence is found of shingle damage. Compound for caulking guns or asphalt roof cement can be used to reattach curled back shingles, which can be easily straightened out in warm weather. They need to be softened before they can be flattened out in cold weather, which makes them brittle. This can be done by the careful use of a propane torch with a flame-spreader nozzle applied gently to the curled edges just warm enough to soften, but not to catch fire, then flatten them. Apply roof cement to the bottom of the shingle at each corner to reattach, and press firmly into place. Shingles that can be raised up off the roof with no effort are rotten and need replacing. Torn and missing ones should also be replaced – they (and rotten ones) should be replaced with new ones.

A whole new roof may be required if a large area of rotten shingles is found – this is the stage when a roofing professional should be consulted. If not, the shingles left over from the previous roof installation can be used for replacement.

Roof leak repair – Replacing damaged shingles:

Step 1: Damaged shingle needs to be removed by raising edges of neighboring shingles and using pry bar to carefully remove nails. Slide out old shingle, and if there’s any brittle or loose cement left behind, scrape clean. When shingles are blown off by adverse weather conditions, removal of any protruding nails in the roof is necessary.

Step 2: Slightly curving the back corners with a sharp utility knife will make it easier to slide the new shingle into place.

Step 3: With the front edge aligned with shingles on each side, and back edge under shingles in the row above, slide the new shingle into the space provided.

Step 4: Raise the corners of the overlapping shingles. Use 6d galvanized roofing nails, hammered through each corner to fasten the new shingle in place. Nail heads should be covered with roof cement, then the overlapping shingle edges smoothed down.

If the shingles are not damaged, or after replacing damaged shingles, the chimney, vents or vent pipe flashing should be inspected, as well as any line of roof cement where two surfaces meet.

Roof Shingles – Fixing Roof Problems

Roof Shingles - Feb 21,2012 - No Comment

Roof shingles need timely and regular maintenance for a long touble free life. It is one of the most important features of a home that literally protects you from external factors. It keeps you and your belongings safe, warm and dry. If you find any leaks, signs of water damage, wear or rotting take immediate action. Call a trusted roofer to help fix the problems.

If the water seeps under the roof shingles it will start damaging the wooden planks underneath which will rot and cause bigger problems. If you tend to neglect these small problems you will end up with ma jor expenses later on. You will end up spending thousands of dollars later on to replace the whole roof and the sheathing underneath which arises due to the small problem you ignored earlier.

Home maintenance is an ongoing process. Roof repair and maintenance tops the list of the most important tasks in your to-do list. Every homeowner who has neglected to nix roof leaking problems in the bud has ended up spending a lot more in money and also time and effort in re-roofing later. Roof shingles for the whole roof area can cost you a pretty penny. As they say for want of a nail a kingdom was lost.

If the last time you laid roof shingles was 20 years ago, then it is time to replace it. Research your options well and based on how long you plan to live in the home, your budget and your local area needs. Only homes with steep pitches or very old roof need professional maintenance and repairs. Shallow pitched homes, flat roofs and relatively new roofs can easily be maintained by homeowners themselves.

Basically the three most common problems most homeowners face with their roof shingles are – replacing a damaged shingles, fixing a curled shingles, repairing cracked shingles. Safety is the most important consideration when it comes to roof shingles repair. So, if you have any doubts about your ability to work on heights then call for help. Steep or even shallow slopes can be slippery in any weather and should not be attempted on wet days. It should not be attempted in the mornings when roof is likely to moist with dew or in the evenings when the light is failing.

Take up your roof shingle or roof repair project on a warm, sunny and dry afternoon. When the weather is right the shingles are also supple and flexible. They won’t easily crack or break when handled by you.

Replacing Damaged Roof Shingles:

Make a visual inspection of your roof. If there are parts of shingles missing then they need replacement. All you need to do is take out the old shingle and replace it with a brand new full shingle. If you have a box of left-over shingles from your last roof job, you are in luck. Else, buy shingles that are same as your old shingles or nearest match to old roof shingles. Stores sell shingles in roof squares which are about 100 square feet and will cost about $15-$20 dollars.

To replace the damaged roof shingles you will need a prying tool, knife, hammer and roofing nails. As the old shingle is secured using 4 nails plus the nails from the shingles from the row above and below also go through this shingle, you have to use your prying tool to gently lift the shingle to reveal the nails underneath. Remove the nails one by one. Use small amount of force the eight nails out. Too much force can damage a lot more roof shingles than what you bargained for.

To remove the nails slip your tool under the damage roof shingles and gently jerk it upwards. As the nail comes out a little, press the shingle down and pull out the nail. Just keep doing the same thing till you have removed all the nails on that particular roof shingle. Now, pry the shingle directly above the damaged shingle upwards and remove the nails that are keeping the damaged shingle in place. Repeat the process for all the eight nails. Once the eight nails are out yank out the damaged shingle.

Brittle shingles make the job harder as you will be cracking roof shingles when removing the nails. So, instead of removing the nails cut V-notches around the nails on the damaged shingle and remove it. Now place your new shingle in the place of old and secure it with 4 new nail leaving the old ones in place.

Cracked Roof Shingles Repair

Cracked and torn shingles are easily fixed. No need to replace them. A little sealant is all you need. Apply a thick layer of roofing sealant under the cracked shingle. Press the torn shingle on to the sealant. Apply a second layer of sealant on top of the shingle. Spread the sealant around using a putty knife to get even coverage. Now, don’t be worried that your fix can be seen from afar. If you look in the gutters of your roof you will granules from your roof shingles that have washed out. Collect them and apply them to the glued shingle area. This effectively covers up the work you have done. It’s a simple and easy task to mask the repair and as easy to fix the problem in the first place.

Fixing Curled Roofing Shingles

Due to age and the effects of rain and sun some of the older asphalt shingles will curl with age. They will start curling at the corners either upwards or downwards. If you notice this problem then fix it immediately to prevent the whole shingle from curling and damaging the surrounding roof shingles. Straighten out the shingle and stick it to the roof using a strong glue.

A caulking gun is used to apply a bit of roofing sealant under the curled corner. Put a heavy object like brick on top of the shingle once it is glued down. Leave it in place for about a day to two before removing the brick. This helps the sealant to dry and seal the shingle in place.

These minor repairs when undertaken during your regular roof maintenance every month or two will keep your roof shingles going for a long time with out needing replacement before it’s guaranteed life-span ends.

How To Replace Roof Shingles – Safety And Effective Roofing Guidelines

Roof Shingles - Feb 21,2012 - No Comment

How to replace roof shingles is often asked question among homeowners facing minor or major roof damage. A rainstorm or hurricane might have dislodged a few shingles or a couple of shingles might have cracked due to falling debris or the whole roof might need replacement because of age. For the minor repairs it would be absolute waste of time and money to employ a roofer when the homeowner is competent enough to do the job himself/herself.

This informative guide will help you through the process of replacing roof shingles and not waste your money on expensive roofing contractors. So, before we start you should remember that the first and foremost step every “how to replace roof shingles” guide emphasizes is about safety. Roofing has to be done at several feet above the ground and a person not accustomed to working at heights and has a phobia for them should avoid it. It is to some extent dangerous work so, all precautions need to be taken to make yourself as secure as possible when working up there.

Make your ladder secure, if it falls down or blown away, you will have jump a long distance and that can land you straight away in the hospital. Have an assistant to help you out to hold the ladder or to hand you the tools. Having another person around is always comforting and in case of an emergency they can seek help. Steeper slopes are more difficult to walk on and so you should hire roof jacks and walk boards. Learn how to them up securely and safely. If in doubt hire a professional. A few hundred dollars saved in roofer’s fees is not worth you seriously hurting yourself.

Power lines are another danger. They carry high amounts of current and if you contact with these high tension wires you can be electrocuted. So, make sure you as far away from them as possible. If you have to move it out your way, then use a long dry wooden pole with Y-shaped ending that can keep the wire away as you work. This is again a very dangerous situation and if your home is in the vicinity of power cables then be very careful or hire a professional who know how to handle it.

Keep those two points firmly in mind before learning how to replace roof shingles. The first step is to place ice and water shield. This will prevent ice backing up. Place these shields in the valleys also. Next, place felt on the decking. Use 30 pound or 15 pound felt though the former is preferable. Nail it in place. Three rows of nails are generally needed but in high wind areas 4 rows may be needed. Install drip edges starting at the eaves.

Next, comes shingles installation in how to replace roof shingles step-by-step guide. Begin with the starter course of 3 tab shingles with the tabs removed. The shingles need to overhang over the drip edge by at least half an inch. In the next row, cut off about 6 inches of the first shingle and install it. This is to prevent the lining up of the shingles. Nail the shingles 4 per shingle. Nail high and don’t let the nail go through the shingle. Stagger the shingles.

Read the instructions on the shingles pack about how to replace roof shingles and follow them including the nailing pattern. Start from the bottom and work your way upwards till the ridge. At the valleys and vents in the roof you will need flashing. After the flashing is installed, shingles have to be installed over it. At each stage ensure that there is lot of overlap to avoid any leaks or water seepage. Apply the cap at the ridges.

The above is not an exhaustive guide on how to replace roof shingles.

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