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Slate Roofing Installation
Adding a slate roof to your home will not only give your house a distinctive and beautiful look, it will also be providing you with a very durable roofing option.

Maintenance Free
Slate is a natural stone that requires little to no maintenance and won't need any sealers or chemicals to constantly treat it. Slate even has an excellent fire rating as it is stone and will not allow fire to catch on or spread on its surface. It can resist mold or fungal growth. If there is any breakage, the tiles or sections can be easily replaced. And it's available in a variety of colors, textures, and thicknesses.

A Green Roofing Option?
It's even the perfect option for those looking for a more green or sustainable material for their new roof. If you add an asphalt shingle or wood shake shingle roof to your home, you'll more than likely be replacing that roof in 15 years to, at most, 50 years. A slate roof can last more than 100 years. And, if and when you or descendants, should have to replace it - the slate can be recycled.

Find a Slate Roof Installer
Slate might be the right option for your home if you need to install a new roof or replace your existing roof. Talk to a slate roofing contractor to decide if it's the right product for your home. If you need to find a slate roofing company near you - submit your request with ConstructionDeal.com. It's a fast and easy to find a slate roofing professional. At no cost.

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Labels: Find a Roof Company, Roof Options, Roofing Materials, Slate Roofs

Everyone knows about asphalt shingles when it comes to roofing products for your home. Nearly every house in the United States is covered with this traditional roofing material. But why has asphalt been the top choice for most of the roof applications since the 1880's?

Asphalt Magazine has an interesting article on the history and the basics of the asphalt product and especially interesting was their listing of the advantages:

"The Advantages of Asphalt Products
The dominance of asphalt roofing products through the years has not evolved as a matter of chance. It is based on proven product performance that goes beyond the basic roofing requirements of providing a covering that shields the building’s inhabitants from the weather. The characteristics have earned asphalt roofing its leading position include the following:

• Weather Resistance. Asphalt roofing products are proven to resist sunlight, heat, cold, water and ice.
• Fire Resistance. Asphalt roofing products are manufactured to comply with ASTM International and/or Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards for fire resistance.
• Wind Resistance. Asphalt roofing products comply with the wind-resistant standards of Underwriters Laboratories.
• Economy. Efficient, high-volume production plus relatively low cost of application result in economies that are difficult for competing roofing materials to match. Moderate installed costs combined with long service life gives asphalt roofing products a very low annual or life-cycle cost.
• Ease of Application. Asphalt roofing is considered to be the easiest of all standard roofing materials to apply.
• Adaptability. Because of their flexibility and strength, asphalt roofing products can be applied on a wide variety of roof styles.
• Aesthetics. Asphalt roofing is available in many appealing colors, shapes and dimensional depths that provide bold roof appearances. The wide range of asphalt roofing products introduced in recent years offer much greater flexibility in choosing the appearance of a building’s exterior than is available with most other types of roofing material.
• Style Suitability. Asphalt roofing is completely 'at home' with most architectural styles, whether contemporary, modern or traditional.
• Low Maintenance. Properly chosen and applied, asphalt roofing products require little or no upkeep and are easily repaired, if damaged."

If your house has old asphalt shingles and it's time to replace your roof, consider ConstructionDeal.com. We've got a network of asphalt roofing companies across the country. We'll match you with a quality roof contractor in your neighborhood and it's an absolutely free service to use.

You'll save time and money by not having to search through the phone book and by helping you get multiple bids (more bids means a better price!)

Labels: Asphalt Shingles, Roof Options, Roof Replacement, Roofing Materials

Are you a big fan of the cedar or pine shake roofs?

Some houses just call out for a wood shake roof and it's always an option. There are some things to consider if you've already got a wood roof or you're thinking of switching over to wood shakes.

Some areas, due to the fire hazard, do not allow a wooden roof to be installed. Some may have codes that allow the repair or replacement on an existing house but not a switch to wood from another material.

Check with your local permitting office to find out what the regulations are for your area. Also, check with your insurance company - they don't like wood roofs and are making it harder and harder for homeowners to have them. You may be required to treat the wood roof with a fire retardant system.

Wood installations can cost a lot more than a regular asphalt install. If you get a great price on a wood roof installation, you might not end up with a quality job and the roof will more than likely not last as long as it should have. Be wary of a low-ball bid with this kind of installation. Also, wood shakes do not last as long as most other roofing materials. They tend to crack, curl up, or will lift up off the roof.

Make sure your roofing installer uses stainless steel nails. The nails are exposed to the elements and you don't want them to rust, no matter what your climate is like.

The wood shake roof requires a lot of maintenance to keep it healthy. Treating and regular sealing is required to make sure the wood doesn't split or rot. Dramatic changes in weather can make the wood contract and expand. It's a good idea to get regular inspections from a pro to make sure there are no leaks or damaged shakes. UV light also does a lot of damage to the wood.

Finally, for the disdvantages of a wood shake roof - it's not very environmentally-friendly. A wood roof is made up of materials from very large and very old trees. And they're not easy to replace. Because the wood has been treated and chemicals used to protect the wood, the shakes are not able to be recycled and be used for other purposes.

However, a cedar or pine shake roof is a thing to behold. Wood roofs have such an aesthetic appeal - a natural wood color with shakes in a variety of sizes and thickness choices make it a beautiful look for a home. The wood ages with time into a gray shade. Since there are so many choices and all wood ages differently, no two roofs are alike.

It looks so much better than an asphalt or metal roof. There are even companies out there making synthetic woods and composite materials to try and mimic the wood shake roof, but those products really haven't been tested.

The wood shake roof is also a great insulator for your home. It even allows the movement of air through your roofing system to keep moisture levels down.

There are a lot of disadvantages to having a wood shake roof so it's important to talk with a wood shake roof company if it's right for your home. You can find several roofing pros in your neighborhood by posting your project - for free - with ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you up and have them contact you, which saves you time. Having several bids will save you money, too. Make sure you get references on any wood shake contractor because you want a perfect and professional job to make sure the roof lasts as long as possible.

Labels: Roofing, Roofing Materials, Wood Roofing, Wood Shakes