Why Asphalt Roofing Shingles Are a Great Choice

Roof Shingles - Jul 30,2012 - No Comment

Asphalt roofing shingles are popular for roofs in residential buildings across the US and Canada. They are waterproof, durable, long lasting and tough, in addition to being relatively inexpensive and easy to install. In the manufacture of roofing shingles, asphalt serves to bind the additives like ceramic granules and hold them in place, while at the same time enhancing the overall strength of the shingles.

Strip asphalt roofing shingles look similar to slate roofing and are made of a single layer of asphalt woven into shingles. The fiberglass base is strong, which makes these shingles resistant to wind and keeps them from blowing off. Dimensional asphalt roofing shingles are multilayered and more appealing in appearance when installed on the roof. These shingles are heavier and come with extended warranties.

Premium asphalt roofing shingles are a laminated version that gives a differential look to the roof. They create the impression of an old-world roof that’s made of slate or shake shingles. In terms of function also, premium asphalt shingles provide an advantage, being more wind resistant and providing better insulation for the building.

Asphalt roofing shingles are not just popular as an economical roofing choice because of their cost. They are also easier to install. This naturally makes them do it yourself home owners prefer asphalt shingles. Additionally, they are durable, available in many different color choices and are simple to maintain. All these significant benefits coupled with the longevity o around 20 years makes asphalt roofing shingles in great demand.

Because of their toughness, most manufacturers of asphalt roofing shingles will offer extended warranties that usually last the lifetime of your roof. The warranty will cover thermal splitting and granule loss as well as physical damage by way of curling or cupping. However, there may be some significant exclusions that you need to be aware of, and labor costs are usually not covered. Be sure you read the warranty documents carefully, and keep them safe in case they become necessary later. Your asphalt roofing shingles can be the best investment in your building if you follow this common sense advice.

To learn more about asphalt roofing shingles and their use in roofing, read this article on the subject.

Roof Shingle Calculator Errors

Roof Repair - Jul 21,2012 - No Comment

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

2. Overhang

The basic area is not good enough for the calculation of overall roof coverage area. You will also need to add on an extra measure for the overhang of the roof that goes beyond the edge of the house. If you do not include this figure in your reckoning, you will be short on materials when you go to do the roof. It is best to include this roof replacement cost in the beginning rather than pay more for it later.

3. Pitch

The basic square footage and overhang are measurements of the roof if it were level. Assuming you are not replacing a flat roof, you will need to consider the slope or pitch of the roof in your calculations for roof replacement cost.

Pitch is described as the number of feet the roof rises for every 12 feet of distance. For example, a low pitch might be 3:12, a medium pitch might be 6:12, and a steep pitch might be higher than 9:12. These categories are important in determining the number of shingles needed.

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

Roofing Shingles For Sale – How To Pick A Good Deal?

Roof Shingles - Jul 15,2012 - No Comment

Every year during the lean season roofing shingles for sale are on offer in many parts of the country. Roofers will tell you that their main season for roofing installation runs from spring through to winter. During the peak winter not many roofs are installed. So, roofing shingles manufacturers and stores selling these shingles in a bid to clear out their old stock offer discounts and sales. If you have been keeping track of prices you will find that generally around this time the prices drop by a small percentage. If you are buying in bulk then you will be saving a significant amount of money.

Is is a good idea to buy roofing shingles for sale or get the roofer to supply and install the shingles?

If you are able to source good quality roofing shingles at a really low cost, then it might be a good idea to buy them and get a roofer to install them. But, you might face a situation where the roofers refuse to install the roofing shingles that are not supplied by them or they charge extra for roof installation. Roofing contractors generally buy roof shingles in bulk from their known contacts and generally make a small profit on it. When you cut them out of this profit by buying roofing shingles for sale they will naturally want to make it up by adding to your roof installation cost.

Roof Sales At Roofing Companies

Many roofing companies also offer roof sales during the lean season when they do not have much business to encourage homeowners and business owners to redo their roofs. These companies will generally offer limited time and limited number of roofs for sale. Here you can buy roofing shingles for sale and the roofer will install it for you. This benefits both the homeowners and the roofing company. As they can keep their roofing contractors employed during the mean season and also clear out the old stocks of roofing materials. The homeowners benefits as he gets a brand new roof at much lower cost.

Limited Choice

It has to be borne in mind that when purchasing roofing shingles on sale you can not expect much in terms of choice when you are purchasing it on your own from the big super marts or sourcing it through the roofers. The stores will trying to clear out their old stocks to make room for new products and arrivals. Also, they will be selling only stuff that hasn’t found many buyers. If you happen to like what’s on offer then that’s a double bonus for you. Roofing companies when they offer roofing sales will source at the maximum one or two types of roofing materials to get bulk discount. They are mainly trying to keep their roofing contractors busy during the lean season. So, here again the choice will not be too great.

Cost of Installation

As mentioned earlier the roof installation cost of roofing shingles for sale maybe higher. Another reason this could be higher even though you sourced the roofing shingles for sale from the roofing company itself is because the roofing company may have different method of installation which is more expensive. So, you may end up paying the same amount as when you do it in the regular season with a different company. Again, each company will claim their installation type to better. If you are satisfied with a particular company’s method of installation and their prices then taking up their offer in the lean season can get you a true discount.

How And Where To Find Roofing Shingles On Sale

Check out your home improvement stores in your city. They might be running clearance sales or have end of season sales, products lines that are discontinued, unpopular colors, roofing styles that have gone out of fashion are some of the shingles which might be offered on discount. Also, call roofing contractors in your area, they might be holding on to shingles from canceled orders or customers might have moved on higher priced shingles leaving cheaper stock lying with the roofers. You might be able to take this lot off the roofer’s hands. Another option is to call up shingles manufacturing units and ask them if they have some defective lots or discontinued products which might be up for sale. Manufacturers have to discard lots that have cosmetic defects or shingles from the last season. If you are lucky you might be able to pick up really good quality roofing shingles on sale which have only minor defects.

As always when you are looking for price discounts you have to pay in time and effort. Also, you might have to buy extra amount of shingles in order to replace defective ones, the color and material may not be of your choice. Also, some of the shingles may have been in storage for a long time and they may deteriorate faster than you expected. So, be sure to keep these factors in mind when looking for roofing shingles for sale.

Roof Shingle Calculator – An Estimate Of Shingles Needed For A Job

Roof Shingles - Jul 09,2012 - No Comment

Roof shingle calculator is a sort of a ready reckoner to help estimate the roofing shingle needs for a home. The shingles needed for a roofing job are sold in either bundles or squares. A square as you might know is a roofing term used to denote hundred square feet of roof. Shingles are sold wrapped in plastic or paper and the bundles weigh light enough so a person can lift them comfortably and transport it up to the roof. So, if you compare a light-weight shingle bundle and a heavier roof shingle bundle you will find the light-weight shingles will cover more area than the heavier ones. So, you will have to buy more of the heavier shingles bundles to cover the same area.

As a general packaging rule, 3 bundles of roofing shingles cover one roofing square. This rule applies to the low-cost 3-tab strip shingles. But, today most homes no longer use these shingles as they are not as long-lasting or aesthetically attractive. So, when using roof shingle calculator remember that the heavier shingles need more bundles to cover the same area. 4-5 bundles of heavier or laminated shingles will cover the area of one square.

From the above discussion you will have an idea that you need to know the roofing area to be able to accurately place an order for the roofing shingles. If you input the area into the roof shingle calculator you will be able to arrive at the number of bundles to buy. When buying roofing shingles you also have to keep in mind the fact that roofing needs a lot of overlap not only on the plain surfaces but at the ridges, valleys, around chimneys, at the edges and as starter shingles. All these have to be factored into our ordering quantity.

There are a mainly two methods used to find the area of a roof. One is the direct measurement method where the roof is physically measured and in the other is the sheet count which is a much simpler and easier method of finding the roofing area even if it is less accurate than the measurement method. In finding the roofing area we are not bothered about getting very accurate answers. If it is as close to the actual area as possible than that is quite sufficient.

Once you get the roof area and key it into the roof shingle calculator remember that you have to also order extra bundles to cover for any shingles that are damaged or torn during their laying, the extra shingles for the starters, the shingles for overlapping, the shingles for ridges and valleys. You will an extra 4-5 bundles of shingles depending on how much of a careful roofer you are.

In the sheet count method we count the number of plywood sheets covering the whole roof. Add up the sheet areas and we get the roofing area. If you have any half sheet, quarter sheets on the roof just add them up to get full sheets. Now, enter the details in your roof shingle calculator and get the number of bundles to order and prices.

Roofing Shingle Types

Roof Shingles - Jul 07,2012 - No Comment

Roofing shingle choices are diverse and plentiful – which makes it harder than before for home owners to complete their important investment decision in which type of roof to install. Choosing the right type of roofing shingle is a critical decision as one’s roof is the primary protection against elements of nature.

The right roofing shingle can help a home appear more attractive and enhance its value. With a wide array of shingles available in different sizes and shapes and colors, made of a variety of different materials, there is a type of roofing shingle to match any roof.

Roofing shingles have many elements that impact your choice. There are shingles to fit every budget, at each price range. You can select from a range of brands, models, types and color options. For greater guidance on roofing shingle types, be sure to check out this article.

Roofing Shingles Colors – Need Help In Choosing Shingles Colors

Roof Shingles - Jul 04,2012 - No Comment

Whether you need to buy a new roof or replace an old one you have to choose roofing shingles colors to complement your home overall look and theme. Picking a good color combination raises your home’s profile in the neighborhood and makes it worth more in terms of resale value. Shingles are no longer monochromatic. They are available in vivid colors and shades both in modern and traditional styles. They are available with different textures and grain enhancing today’s roof shingles appeal. The most recent trend in shingles include the 3-dimensional design.

But, picking the right roofing shingles colors is important in more ways than one, here we list out a few:

Light

Light plays an important role in how the different roofing shingles colors will play out. Depending on whether the day is sunny, bright, dull, gray, cloudy or heavily overcast you shingles will appear different. So, choosing shingles based on your local climate makes sense. If it’s going to be predominantly sunny or mostly overcast pick a color that appeals to you the most.

Slopes

The same roofing shingles will appear differently shaded in different parts of the roof. In some areas it will look darker than the rest. This is because at varying angles on the roof the light reflection changes and you have shingles looking brighter or darker depending on the angle. Clay tiles and cedar wood shingles don’t have this problem and they appear the same in all types of sloping and lighting conditions.

Save Energy

Did you know that roofing shingles colors plays a significant role in the amount of heat absorbed by the shingles. A darker colored shingle absorbs more heat while a lighter shade reflects it. So, in cooler climate it is better to go for dark brown, black, deep blue and green to help in the melting of the snow. A lighter shade of shingle helps reflect light and keep the interiors cool. This color is more suited for hotter climates. Clay tiles or imitation clay tiles works great in both hot and cold weather conditions. For moderate weather conditions also these tiles work well. Even in terms of looks the classic clay tiles offer superb value. Not many shingles can offer insulation, aesthetic appeal and uniform shading in all light conditions like clay tiles can. Cedar wood shingles are another classic option that is suitable in all weather conditions but it is a lot more expensive than asphalt roofing shingles and hence not preferred.

Darker Shades Or Lighter Shades

The darker shades help make a tall building look less formidable. While a white roof is used to make a low slung roof appear taller. White roofs make a home look nice and airy. You can get the classic look with a white colored roofing shingles. But, there are many problems with white colored roofs. They look dirty and dull in a few short months of laying. They need frequent and constant maintenance to keep that pristine look. White roofs are not attractive when used in combination with many colors. So, it is better to go with light gray roofs that are flecked with white which gives excellent reflection of light and keeps the home cool. They are quite elegant too.

Darker shades are known to deteriorate faster maybe because they absorb a lot of heat. A proper ventilation is a must when you apply dark shades of roofing shingles to prevent heat build up inside the attic and consequent damage to the roofing shingles and also to items in storage in the attics.

Solar Roof Shingles – The Better Kind of Roof Shingles

Roof Shingles - Jul 01,2012 - No Comment

Flexible solar roof shingles combine innovations in harnessing solar energy with state of art shingle design which results in solar panels integrated into traditional asphalt shingles. Photovoltaic shingle faces are designed to blend with the surrounding roof and other elements of the design.

Solar roof shingles measure 86.5 inches by 12 inches. It is typically nailed in to roof decking with long nails. The solar panels are linked by electric lead wires that extend a foot from beneath the shingles and pass through to the interior of the building.

The sun rays heat up these shingles and over time bonds them together, creating a water resistant seal. The power generated by solar roof shingles varies based on the duration of sunlight, the directness of the rays, and the number of solar shingles installed.

Installation of solar roof shingles is not very complex and a roofing contractor can handle the job. Following instructions in the user manual, the roofer will drill holes through which the wiring is pulled through the roof. An electrical system installer will be involved in connecting the solar shingles together beneath the roof, and then hooking up this set of wires into the power conditioning equipment.

The benefits of solar roof shingles are an attractive style, integration into shingles, reduced electricity costs, zero pollution energy generation and a manufacturer backed warranty. Not only are solar roof shingles durable and inexpensive, they also protect the environment and owners enjoy state rebates for installing such a green-friendly solution.

For more benefits of solar roof shingles, check out this detailed review of solar shingles – click here.

Roofing Shingles for Your Roof

Roof Shingles - Jul 01,2012 - No Comment

If your new roof is a steep-slope structure, one of the materials that goes into constructing it is shingles. Asphalt shingles are the most popular kind, and they are often reinforced with organic or fiberglass material. Fiberglass shingles are more popular in recent times and have a fiberglass mat with layers of asphalt above and below it, with mineral granules embedded within.

The three grades of asphalt shingles are based on their fire-resistant behavior. In appearance, they are textured and are resistant to mold, fungi and algae because of zine or copper granules which are embedded. Various color options are available.

Wood shingles and shakes made from cedar, redwood, pine and other woods are popular in certain parts of the country. While wood shingles are sawed with machines and look sleek, shakes are handmade and rougher. Fire hazards are the major drawback.

Tile roofing is durable and safe. Tile comes in various colors and finishes, and can be used to give a building a French or English look. In case you are re-roofing an old home, the weight of tile roofs is a factor to keep in mind.

Slate for your new roof will make it virtually indestructible. Slate is costlier and harder to install, making it a less attractive option except in certain pockets.

Metal roofing can also be an option for your new roof. Panels and shingles are used in metal roofs. Shapes and configurations are diverse. Metal roof shingles can mimic wood or tile shingles in appearance, and are many times more durable and fire resistant. Metal roofing is resistant to bad weather and can be aesthetically appealing as well.

Various synthetic roof products can also be considered as alternatives for your new roof. If you’re thinking of them, be sure to examine a sample of the kind you’re buying, and go through the manufacturer’s brochures carefully. Ask other home owners who have used it, or visit a building that has such a roof.

Tag Archives: roofing shingles

Roof Sales At Roofing Companies

Limited Choice

Cost of Installation

How And Where To Find Roofing Shingles On Sale