Architectural Metal Roofing – A Renaissance in Roofing Technology

Roof Shingles - Jul 01,2013 - No Comment

When a home owner might consider architectural metal roofing in the past, it was typically for a simple, cheap solution for the shed or garage or outhouse. Metal roofs were tinny, looked ugly and met a purely functional need at affordable cost.

Not today, when architectural metal roofing has improved by leaps and bounds to become a high-end solution that only upscale and style conscious home owners with a bigger budget are flocking towards. Architectural metal shingles are available in different shapes, colors and styles to match any kind of building and neighborhood. You can pick designs that match the shake or shingle look, or even tile and slate looks.

Architectural metal siding matching in color and design gives that elegant and classy look to any metal roof that makes it increasingly desirable in upscale neighborhoods. The different architectural metal roofing components like siding, shingles and caps come in various kinds of metal and with varying degrees of durability.

Steel is the cheapest, while aluminum is a bit more expensive and copper is the costliest architectural metal roofing material. Steel is heavy, but comes with granules that give your roof a nice appearance. Aluminum is rugged and sturdy, but quite light in weight, making it a popular choice for decorative metal roofing. It too comes in various shakes, shingles, tiles and slate patterns to match the rest of your building.

Copper architectural metal roofing shingles are the most expensive, and because of the rarity of this semi-precious metal you rarely see new copper metal roofing. The price is exorbitant and other metal roofing is just as attractive and versatile.

So what about the drawbacks of using architectural metal roofing? It used to be that people worried about the noisy home roofed with metal whenever there was rain or hail, but not any longer. Modern decorative metal roofing not only is quieter, it also offers high resistance ratings to fire and so can end up lowering your insurance expenses.

Also metal roofing is protected against mold and mildew, and it is incredibly fire resistant. Snow slides off and you don’t have any higher risk of a lightning strike. The only major drawback is the price, and aluminum and steel roofing material even circumvents this problem.

It isn’t surprising any more that people looking to invest $50,000 into a new roof for their homes are taking a closer look at a choice like architectural metal roofing that they might have rejected out of hand just a few decades back for being “too tinny” or “ugly looking”.

Architectural metal roofing is the ugly duckling that has turned into an attractive swan! And as we arrive upon a renaissance in roofing technology, architectural metal roofing materials that neighbors are using will begin to influence the minds of home owners, leading to an increasing trend towards metal roofing solutions.

There’s a growing demand for well applied roofing materials that meet rigid quality standards, and metal roofing fits the bill nicely. That’s why you’ll see metal roofs more often than other conventional roofing materials in areas like historic Georgetown.

Architectural Asphalt Roofing – Why Is It So Popular?

Roof Shingles - Jun 16,2013 - No Comment

Architectural asphalt roofing has grown remarkably in popularity in recent times. Rarely do home owners think about their roofing well in advance, and when the time comes, people go with whatever their neighbors or advisers or contractors suggest. And for many years, building contractors have favored architectural concrete roofing or architectural metal roofing for various good reasons.

The growing trend towards architectural asphalt roofing is because people are realizing better than the surface of a house’s exterior is really important in keeping the building dry as well as retaining heat and saving on energy costs. Another important consideration is the appearance of a house which can be greatly enhanced by the kind of architectural bitumen roofing solution you employ.

Another factor in choosing architectural asphalt roofing over any other is that when adding-on to your building or re-roofing the house, you have many options that are simpler and less expensive. The choices can be confusing, and time and again I’ve had home owners contacting me about the best option to go with.

You have multiple options for roofing including architectural paving roofing and architectural aggregate roofing. You can pick from asphalt shingles, wood shakes and clay tiles for roofing material. And there is a significant shift towards using engineered roofing materials because of the cost savings, higher durability and elegant appearance.

Also, other options like wood have become too expensive for most owners. And there are fire safety and other codes that need to be met by buildings, making architectural roofing solutions a smart choice. And home owners concerned about their house looking good are picking art asphalt roofing and decorative asphalt roofing solutions over others.

Architectural Asphalt Shingles – A Smart Choice

Most homes in America are now covered with 3-tab asphalt shingles. Even the preferred choice for interior asphalt roofing, this variety of architectural asphalt roofing is least expensive as asphalt shingles are available in different colors and sizes, solid and blended.

Architectural asphalt shingles are incredibly durable, with 20 years being typical and most homes roofed effectively for closer to three decades or longer. This makes commercial asphalt roofing economical and popular. The one drawback is that this is too ‘common’ to stand out from the other buildings in a neighborhood.

And that’s where the next upgrade becomes attractive. Architectural asphalt roofing shingles are twice as thick as regular shingles. The layers can be staggered so that they appear more substantial and durable, lending an ‘architectural’ look to your roof. They come in different colors to mimic a shale or wood shake pattern. The cost is only slightly higher than regular architectural concrete roofing, which is another plus.

For looks, this kind of roof is hard to beat. Of course, it doesn’t look the same as a wood shingle roof, but the appearance and aesthetic appeal when contrasted against any other engineered roofing solution makes architectural asphalt roofing shingles a preference of a large number of contractors and home owners alike.

So home owners looking for an affordable, durable and attractive roofing solution that won’t break the bank are thrilled by architectural asphalt roofing and flocking towards it in droves. Something to keep in mind the next time your roof comes up for repairs or replacement?

Architectural Shingles – How To Shingle A Roof With Them?

Roof Shingles - Oct 23,2012 - No Comment

Architectural shingles are an elegant and stylish way to roof a building. They give your home an attractive and rich three dimensional appearance. But the aesthetic appeal is not the only attraction of using architectural shingles. They are also highly effective roofing materials, preventing leaks and seepage and offering fantastic protection against extremes of weather. They are also durable and last for between 40 and 50 years typically.

There are some drawbacks to using architectural shingles for your roofing needs. For one, they are more expensive than asphalt shingles. You need to take care not to waste them by breakage during installation. That’s why going with a professional roofer may be a wise decision if you intend installing an architectural shingle roof. However a do-it-yourself approach could work provided you learn how to do it right and have all the necessary tools.

The first thing to do is carefully measure your roof. This will give you an idea of how many shingles and felt rolls (for the underlayment) you will need. Professional roofers generally measure roofs in squares. A 10 foot square area usually will need 3 bundles of shingles to roof.

Once you’ve calculated your architectural shingles requirement, you must remove the old roofing remnants like prior shingles, underlayment and flashing. This may require a scraper, or a shingle ripper. If you’re re-roofing an old roof, be sure to clean it completely before installing the new shingles.

Placing the underlayment felt on the roof and starting from the lower edge, you must then roll the felt horizontally. If you reach any obstacle like a chimney or dormer, cut the felt roll at that point and continue beyond. As you move up the roof, be sure to overlap each row of felt. Continue with this until the entire roof area is covered.

The bottom end of flashing must be nailed to the roof. All valleys and crevices must be lined with flashing as well. Then start laying the shingles by cutting tabs off the top of your architectural shingles. Nail them into the roof edge. Continue with this starter course and go around the perimeter of the roof. Then lay the real course of architectural shingles.

Each shingle is attached with 3 nails, one in the middle and one each at the corners. Keep laying the shingles sequentially as you work around the roof. Be sure to seal any gaps near vents, chimneys or projections using roofing tar. Place ridges along the peak, making sure you nail them securely into place with roofing nails.

Three tab shingles are stronger than dimensional shingles because they are fastened more securely with 3 nails per shingle. This allows them to resist winds as gusty as 120 mph. But these days, dimensional architectural shingles are becoming more popular. Because the craftsmanship that goes into architectural shingles is better, these roofing shingles are tougher, more dense and of greater thickness yet at the same time are not much heavier than other shingles.

One final benefit of using architectural shingles is that they are usually easier to apply. Roofing contractors can do a speedy job of installing an architectural shingle roof and therefore the expense of laying such a roof is also lower.

Tag Archives: architectural roofing

Architectural Metal Roofing – A Renaissance in Roofing Technology

Architectural Asphalt Roofing – Why Is It So Popular?

Architectural Asphalt Shingles – A Smart Choice

Architectural Shingles – How To Shingle A Roof With Them?