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.

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!

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.

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.

Types Of Shingles – How To Choose Your Roofing Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 19,2012 - No Comment

There are many types of shingles available today like wood or cedar shingles, clay tiles, asphalt shingles, metal shingles, cement tiles, slate tiles and solar panle shingles. Choosing a particular color or texture of shingle is a matter of taste. However, deciding on a particular type of shingle is not that easy. That depends on other considerations besides your own taste. For example wood shingles or cedar shingles maybe your favorite but using it in areas where forest fires are frequent occurrences is a foolhardy thing to do particularly if you live close to the woods. If your home is a modern and contemporary one then rounded shingles or clay tiles would not gel with it. The clash of styles will leave your home looking odd.

Most often when browsing the different types of shingles our homes are not yet finished. Neither will the exteriors be completed before the roof. So, we have to use either software tools to show us how the house will look once the tiles and painting is done or use own vivid imagination to visualize the final outcome. The type of shingle you select should complement and complete your home’s entire look and feel.

Style, Neighborhood, Layout:

When choosing a shingle color keep in mind factors like the style of your home, the sidings that will be used, the type and size of windows and doors, the neighborhood where the home sits and the layout of your property. Some colors are considered traditional, others are more contemporary. Your color selection will determine the look of your home. Make sure to take into consideration the homes in your neighborhood. Colors that clash with that of your neighbor’s don’t really enhance either home.

Durability:

Another factor when choosing from all the types of shingles on offer is the durability factor. Long lasting, trouble-free, maintenance-free roofs are much sought after. Most types of roofs need some attention and care through the year to keep them going for a long time. Lack of proper care can cause small leaks and cracks to expand and grow. They morph into major trouble makers which are tougher to fix.

Weather And Climate:

The weather and climate conditions of a particular area also have an impact when picking one from the different types of shingles out there. Damp and moist weather conditions are not suitable for wood shingles, too hot and high temperature differences in day and night conditions are not suited for asphalt shingles. Clay tiles are great for all types of moderate weather. Cement is also suited for most weather conditions. Solar panel shingles help generate electricity, so they should be place to catch most amount of sun. Slate is brittle and should be handled carefully when installing otherwise it gives home a classic look with its beautiful shades.

Solar Roof Shingles – Exciting New Technology

Roof Shingles - Apr 15,2012 - No Comment

Solar roof shingles are transforming the building industry. With innovation in technology adding complexity without significantly altering safety, strength or cost, this form of roofing shingles is set to become a hot trend that lasts well into the future.

Some information about solar roof shingles you may find helpful:

“Special forms of solar roof shingles called BIPVs (or building integrated photo voltaics) have brought new life to an intriguing concept in roof construction. BIPVs are made of solar cells integrated into slate, metal, cement and even asphalt roof shingles.

In photovoltaic cells, when sunlight strikes a semiconductor, it is transformed into electrical energy. A single tile may not generate much current. But even the BIPVs in a single solar roof shingle can create between 100 and 200 watts, which can power a single bulb or a small window fan.

The real power of solar roof shingles comes by serially linking up large numbers of these power generating units. Installed over old roofing or as a new alternative, the roof shingles have wires that must be hooked together and then tied into the building’s electrical mains. The energy generated during sunlight hours can be stored in a capacitor for later release, consumed immediately or even returned to the electrical company in exchange for a credit.”

To read the rest of this article, visit the Roofing Shingles website.

Replacing Roof Shingles – When It’s Time To Go For A New Roof

Roof Repair - Apr 07,2012 - No Comment

Replacing roof shingles becomes a must if your roof is 20 years or older. 20 year shingles were the norm for a long time and most homes were installed with those shingles. Today you get longer lasting shingles and other roofing options like metal and slate which guarantee 50 years or more for their roof.

Today, the standard in asphalt roofing shingles is 30 years. Most homeowners have to deal with the problem of replacing roof shingles at some point in their lives. Unless you bought a home whose roof was recently replaced or it comes with metal or slate roofing which several decades, it becomes imperative at some point to go for roof replacement.

Sometimes, homeowners are faced with task of replacing roof shingles even though the roof was recently installed. Due to a variety of reasons the roof gets damaged and needs to be replaced. This is a very expensive and time-intensive effort which can’t be put off for long.

Let’s explore the causes for roof damage. In the northern parts of the country it is snowstorms and blizzards, strong icy winds, which rip the roofs away. In the south it’s ice storms and hail. The falling debris can damage the shingles, also this clogs the gutters and rips the shingles off their edges of the roofs. Gutters needs to be kept clean to prevent such problems. This can part of your yearly or half-yearly maintenance of your roof. Remove an soil, leaves, branches and other debris from the roof.

If you find any loose shingles, nail them back. Removed curled, damaged or broken shingles and replace them immediately. Loose vents and shingles act as the catalyst for bigger damage, because they provide sort of leverage for the wind to tug and remove other shingles in the line or surroundings. These leaves part of the roof exposed and letting water, snow or ice a free passage to the deck and the house beneath it. Such small problems need to be fixed immediately because the water damage can ruin your paint job, electrical work, cause the wood to rot and decay and lot more problems than you bargained for. Mold ad fungus can take root and find their way into the house. It is important to make proper inspection of the roofs after rainstorms and windy days. If you see any shingles or metal pieces from your roof on the ground then you know some damage has happened and needs to be looked into. Do this only after the water has completely dried up and there is no danger of you slipping and falling during the inspection.

Replacing roof shingles can be done in two ways. Either you can rip up the old shingles completely, dispose them off and replace with brand new shingles – either 30-year or 40-year shingles depending on your budget or go for second layer of shingles over the old layer. The first option is more expensive as the removal and disposal of old shingles cost money which your contractor will add to your roofing cost. In the second method the roof is prepared, old worn-out, warped, curled and misshapen shingles are removed and surface is made as even as possible. Only, then is the second layer of shingles is installed. This saves money as you don’t have to pay for removing and hauling away of the old debris.

The first methods gives better results and the second method is gaining popularity too. But, if the surface is not prepared according to the guidelines then there is the danger of the shingles failing before their promised life-span.

Installing Metal Roofing Over Shingles

Roof Shingles - Apr 05,2012 - No Comment

Is installing metal roofing over shingles a good idea when it comes time to replace your old or leaky roof? The answer isn’t quite as obvious or simple as it may seem. Metal roofing can be a good alternative to a shingle roof. But there are certain pre-requisites to installing metal roofing over shingles. For instance, if your old roof has four or more layers, then this could be a bad idea. Of course, you could meet that requirement by tearing down one of those layers, or even the entire shingle roof.

If you meet the other conditions for installing metal roofing over shingles, here’s how to proceed with the job. First, create a slat board base over the shingles. This can be done by laying boards of 1 x 5 inches lengthwise over the previous roof. Space these boards around 2 feet apart. Attach the framework to the underlying roof with screws.

Next comes the metal edging all along the perimeter. Nail it firmly to the roof using suitable roofing nails. The next step in installing metal roofing over shingles is to attach the metal roofing sheets. These are sequentially attached over a section of the roof, fixing each one to the wooden base with quarter inch screws.

On either side of the sheet, screws are inserted at 2 foot intervals. For additional security, some roofers advise adding a screw in the middle also. Each sheet slightly overlaps the earlier one so that there are no gaps or leaks. Screws will therefore overlap also.

Next in installing metal roofing over shingles is the metal trim. This is applied all along the edges and the top ridge, attached using quarter inch screws placed every 1.5 to 2 feet. It helps to cut the metal with heavy scissors so that it folds over snugly at the ridge.

The free bottom edge of the metal sheet is the only part remaining unattached to the roof frame. These can be connected to the roof with 1/4 inch screws placed 2 feet apart to close the bottom of the sheets. Finally, seal off any gaps or cracks with closures which are self adhesive and keep insects, animals and grime from getting through as well as turning the metal roof waterproof.

Installing metal roofing over shingles can add to the longevity of your roof without incurring the high cost of replacing the older roof after tearing it down. It is inexpensive for this reason and durable because your modified roof will now have two different layers providing cover.

Precautions to take before you start the project to avoid unpleasant surprises is to make correct roofing estimates by measuring your roof’s height and width to determine how much material you will require to complete installing metal roofing over shingles.

To further cut down on your costs, you can apply V-crimp roofing which just bends over the previous roof without requiring lap screws to hold the sheets in place. Before placing the sheets over your roof, when you lean them on the side of the roof, you’ll be able to reach down and pull them up without having to climb up and down each time, saving you a lot of time and effort in installing metal roofing over shingles.

Tag Archives: roofing shingles

How To Buy Cheap Roofing Shingles?

Ask Your Contractor About Cheap Roofing Shingles