Roofing Guide
Before winter season comes around it is best to make sure that your roofing is working properly. The best time to check your roofing is during the month of September or October. During this period roofing contractors are not busy handling emergency repairs or replacements. This will give you enough time to shop around for the best prices on local roofing contractors in your area. This also allows roofing specialists to be able to concentrate on serving your needs. The better business bureau recommends you get at least 3 quotes to for any major home improvement job. If you need to replace your roofing this would be considered a major home improvement job.
Gas roofings are is the most popular type of roofings in homes today. They are much more efficient and cost effective than electric roofings. However, you will want to make sure that your gas roofing is installed correctly and checked regularly (at least once a year). Electric heating is more expensive, but it is usually safer than gas roofings.
Asphalt Shingles Cap Many Homes
The majority of residential roofs in the United States are covered by asphalt shingle roofing. They come in two types - organic base and fiberglass. Organic base means that the shingles are made of a cellulose mat saturated with asphalt and covered with mineral granules. Fiberglass shingles have a mat of woven glass fiber saturated with asphalt and covered with mineral granules.
Organic-base shingles have a Class C (the lowest) fire rating, while fiberglass shingles have a Class A (the highest) rating.
Organic shingles are more flexible in cold weather than fiberglass ones. Some roofers don't like to install fiberglass because they say their stiffness causes them to crack. Manufacturers reply that fiberglass shingles, when installed properly, will last a long time.
The two most common types of asphalt shingle roofing are three-tab, also called a strip shingle, and architectural, also called a laminate shingle.
A three-tab shingle is a rectangular mat with two slots cut in its front edge. The slots provide stress relief as the shingle expands and contracts with the weather. An architectural shingle has a heavy base mat and another mat or sections of mat applied on top of it. Many people like the appearance of architectural shingles. They also are sturdier, but more expensive.
In parts of the country where there's a lot of wind, roofers may prefer T-lock or T-shaped asphalt shingle roofing that is wind-resistant. Roofs with a shallow pitch are often covered with a continuous sheet of asphalt called roll roofing.
Your roofer will probably ask you whether you want a 20-, 25- or 30-year roof in your area. This often refers to the length of the manufacturer's warranty rather than the quality of the roofing material. Asphalt shingle roofing last about 20 years. After that it is often hard to make a warranty claim stick.
Install Flat, Foam, or Single Ply Roofing
When considering roofing options, flat, foam, and single ply roofing offer flexibility, long-lasting durability, and are very affordable compared to other options. Flat, foam, or single ply roofing are all also relatively easy to install.
Flat Roofing Most common in areas with little or no precipitation, flat roofing can be a wise economic choice. To prevent water damage, flat roofs must be covered with waterproof material, and outfitted with a good drainage system.To prevent a leaky roof, flat roofs must be covered with waterproof material, and outfitted with a good drainage system.
Foam Roofing Environmentally friendly due to its unique waterproofing and insulation properties, foam roofing can help reduce energy use. Foam roofing is a good choice for irregularly-shaped surfaces, as it can be sprayed anywhere: there are no seams or joints. Custom designed for your buildings by climatic conditions, foam roofing systems install quickly and quietly. Savings of 30% annually or greater with foam roofing makes this a cost effect choice.
Single Ply Roofing Comprised of flexible sheets of compounded synthetic, single ply roofing materials are manufactured to strict quality-control requirements. Single ply roofing is easy to install, and competitively priced, and boasts versatile attachment methods. Resistant ponding water and rain, single ply roofing can be a good choice for locations with a high precipitation rate. Made from lightweight vinyl, single ply roofing can often be installed over an existing roof without a costly tear-off.
Gutters Add Finishing Touch to House
Gutters may not be the most exciting things you add to your home, but they are one of the most useful items. Problems resulting from roof runoff due to lack of gutters include:
- Damp or flooded basements or crawl spaces.
- Damaged windows and doors.
- Topsoil erosion.
- Stained siding from backsplashes.
The type of gutter you choose will affect the price, so look at your options carefully with your contractor before deciding on which material is best for you.
Wood. These gutters are common on old houses, but rarely used today. While more functional than you might think, they can be expensive and require frequent maintenance. If your house is a historic structure, you may have to consider these.
Copper. Old houses often have these with their lovely green patina. The need for maintenance is almost nonexistent, because copper won't rust or need repainting, but the cost of installing them new is daunting.
Stainless steel. Sturdy and maintenance-free, stainless steel is an attractive option, except for one thing: it's one of the most expensive types of gutters available.
Aluminum. One of the most popular types of gutters, aluminum will not rust, and it's one of the less-expensive alternatives.
Vinyl. Vinyl is less expensive than aluminum, but there's a reason for that. Vinyl can become brittle in cold climates or over the years, and it's not nearly as sturdy as metal gutters, making it more likely you'll have to replace it in your area.
Galvanized steel. The least expensive alternative, galvanized steel is sturdier than aluminum or vinyl, but it eventually will rust, requiring replacement.
There are two factors that can raise the price of gutters: Thickness of material and deciding between sectional or seamless. The thicker the gutter, the sturdier and longer-lasting it will be. But as thickness increases, so does the price. Seamless gutters, which are less prone to leaking, are more expensive than sectional because they are more complicated for contractors to install.
Vinyl gutters never need to be painted. Paint is optional for aluminum gutters. Waxing is another possibility. Although it's more expensive than paint, it is long lasting and attractive. Galvanized steel should get a coat of rust-retardant paint whenever the rest of the house is painted (every four to six years).
Metal - The New Fashionable Roofing Choice
Residential metal roofing is quickly becoming the popular roof replacement choice for expensive homes in your area. Although it is costly to install initially, it looks beautiful and has a 50-year average warranty.
Metal roofs can be designed to look like other types of roofs. For instance, from the ground you can't tell a simulated cedar-shake metal roof from a real cedar one. If you prefer an elegant tile look, choose a steel roof that uses special paint processes. Real earth tone granules are placed on the final paint coat, which is then covered with a super-durable clear coat.
Metal roofs have safety advantages as well - they don't burn - and your insurance company may offer a discount for having one. Beyond that, a metal roof reduces attic heat gain in the summer and in warm climates by 34 percent, according to the Solar Energy Center. That translates into big savings in air-conditioning costs.
Lightweight steel roofs often can be installed over your old shingles without an expensive tear-off. No additional supports are needed. Because metal comes in big sheets, experienced installers can get the job done quickly.
Another metal option is copper. Copper is very expensive, but its lovely green patina is very appealing. Like other metal, roofing it cools fast after the sun goes down and cuts down on air-conditioning costs.
Once considered a drab-looking industrial product, lightweight metal roofs are in higher demand among homeowners now that manufacturers are offering them in red, white, green, tan and blue as well as silver, and in seamless sheets. They usually are designed to resemble asphalt or wood shingles, but can also be molded into rounded, clay-like shapes that, from a distance, look like tile. Increasingly popular in cold-weather states because snow slides off of them, roofs are fire-resistant. One manufacturer, El Monte, Calif.-based Custom-Bilt Metals, says its steel Armor tile can withstand 130-mile-per-hour winds, and hailstones up to two inches in diameter. Homeowners sometimes replace original tile roofs with clay-look metal, even though its installation is labor-intensive and can be costly. Cooper roofing, for instance, can cost up to $1,000 per 100 square feet to install.
Slate May Last (Almost) Forever
Properly installed natural slate roofing has timeless durability in your area. And it doesn't require much maintenance, although a cracked tile or two in a natural slate roof might have to be repaired or replaced.
Natural slate roofing comes in gray, purple, green and red. It is available in two types: premium clear pieces and ribbon slate. Ribbon slate is not as durable as the premium clear product. It is distinguished by the ribbons of light color that run across its surface. The ribbons are high-carbon-content areas. They are an impurity in the slate and are weaker than the dark areas.
If you are going to spend money on roof replacement, spend a little more on natural slate, and get the best
Tile Roofing Has Southwestern Flavor
Traditional tile roofing, made of clay, is among the oldest and most durable of roofing materials. Its weather-resistant, fireproof and insect-proof qualities come from being made out of kiln-fired clay. Most people think these traditional tile roofing is limited to the barrel-shaped type common in the West, but clay tiles can be flat, and they may have a glossy surface. They are also available in blue and green, as well as the more familiar reddish brown. If you're considering a roof replacement, consider tile.
Cementitious roof tiles are a first cousin to tile and they offer the traditional look as well as the longevity of manufactured materials. These products are made from cement or concrete. They are available in red, black, white, green and gray, and they can be molded to look like barrel-shaped tiles or slate.
Traditional tile roofing is expensive--up to 15 percent more than cedar and far beyond the cost of the typical asphalt shingles that top at least 80 percent of American homes. Still, predicts Jeff Rankin, president of Contractor's Roof Service in Washington State, "These roofs can become the 21st-century replacements for cedar shake," noting that tile's life expectancy is twice that of a wood roof. Indeed, many homeowners never consider installing a tile roof because the product is perceived "as only for high-end, million-dollar homes," says Bill Jackson of Monier Lifetile of Irvine, Calif. But he argues: "Twenty years down the road, with tile, you won't have to refinance your home to put on a new roof. It's a lifetime product."
Cedar Shingles Age Beautifully
Install Wood or Composite Roofing Wood Roofing
Not long ago, wood roofing came directly from the tree. Although they look great on a house, their longevity was questionable. Today's wood shingles and shakes are more reliable. To get maximum durability out of a wood roof, roofing contractors recommend you clean it with a pressure washer once or twice a year. Removing moisture-holding debris and applying preservatives to help your wood roofing resist sun and weather.
Composite Roofing
Composite shingles will last nearly as long as asphalt, and are pressure treated to resist rot and decay. Manufacturers say composite roofing will last for at least 30 years. Today's composite roof shingles exact replicas of the traditional shingles. Not only is modern composite roofing attractive and durable, but it is available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Composite shingles typically come with a warranty of 30 to 50 years.
Roof Leaks and Replacement
I have a leaky roof. Do I need a new roof?
Not necessarily. Roofs leak for many reasons besides shingle failure. Hire a professional to fix the leaks and give you an analysis of the overall condition of your roof.
Do I have to tear off the old roof before putting on a new one in your area?
That depends on how many layers of roofing are already on the house. In general, it's a bad idea to have more than two, although some types of light-weight metal roofing can cover just about anything.
How long does it take to replace a roof? Depending on the type of roof, it can take from a few two days to 3 or weeks.
Top It All Off with the Right Roofing Choice
A good roof is one that you don't have to think about or repair often. It's one of those remodeling efforts that probably won't net much return. A buyer just expects that the roof won't leak. So be prepared to shell out no less than $2,000 for roof expenses, even if you have a small house. And if you have a large home and exacting roofing standards, the bill can be many times that.
Actually, a leak is not necessarily evidence that you need a roof in your area. They can be caused by a variety of things, including ice dams in a badly insulated attic. Roofs also leak around chimneys and vent pipes long before the shingles start to fail. But if you have bare patches on the shingles, granules in gutters, and curling, lifting or missing shingles, it's definitely time to find a good roofer who can spell out the options for you and help you raise the roof!