A Look at Current Roofing Choices

Asphalt Shingles and Corrugated Sheets

Asphalt single roofing is far and away the most popular of all roofing materials used in the US. Asphalt shingles are now produced in a rainbow of colors and not just the traditional shades of gray.

Asphalt singles are easy to install, attaching to the roof with adhesive and roofing nails. You will have a broad choice of asphalt shingle styles and grades from which to make your choice, and the higher the number assigned to grade of shingle, the better its quality will be. Your budget will play a large part in your choice of asphalt shingle grades.

Fiberglass, fiber, and PVC are all used to make corrugated sheet roofing, which is almost always installed directly on an existing roof. Corrugated sheet roofing is ideal for home handymen who are up to handling n a DIY roofing installation project.

Wooden Shingles And Built-up Roofing

Using wooden shingles or shakes for a roof can give a home a very natural rustic appearance. While wooden shingles create a smooth, uniform texture on a roof, wooden shakes will provide a very rough, and even more rustic, look. There are some homeowners who pass on wooden roofs as fire hazards, but they do create a look which can't be matched by any other roofing materials.

While built-up roofing is seldom used in residences, it is popular on commercial structures with flat or nearly flat surfaces. Built-up roofing is composed of layers of asphalt treated fiberglass, combined with asphalt tar.

Metal. Tile, and Slate Roofing

The popularity of metal roofing declined after the end of World War II, but it has seen a resurgence in the past twenty years. Metal roofing is easy to install, low-maintenance, and nonflammable. Some metal roofing is guaranteed for fifty years.

Metal roofing is available in aluminum, steel and stainless steel, tin, copper, and copper alloys. Aluminum is both lightweight and resistant to rust and corrosion, while steel is exceptionally hard but will succumb to rust unless treated for an extra cost. Copper is very expensive, and scratched or dents easily, so copper alloys are often used as roofing because of their harder surfaces.

Slate and tile roofing has been around longer than almost any other roofing material, and will still outlast most of them. But both tile and slate are very expensive, require specialized installation techniques. They are also too heavy tow be suitable for many kinds of construction, and the buildings on which they are used must be reinforced to safely tolerate their extra weight.

Flagstone Adds Value and Elegance to Any Surface

Flagstone adds value and elegance to any surface.

If your concrete patio is old and cracked and is in need of repair of replacement flagstone could be an option for you.

Tearing out and disposal of an existing concrete patio can be a costly undertaking. A better idea might be to " re laminate " over an existing surface with flagstone.

Over time root growth from trees often grow under a slab or patio causing it to lift causing cracks. Cracks can rise up and cause dangerous conditions to people who trip and fall over the uneven surface. Simply grinding down the surface crack can eliminate the danger and the liability, but at the cost of making the surface look unsightly at best.

Puddles can be formed as a result of root growth causing the concretes pitch for drainage to be altered. Usually concrete has a pitch of 1/8 inch per foot, or one inch of drop per 8 feet. Water always is drained away from the house to keep it from seeping into the walls, however, when roots grow under a concrete surface over years the pitch can be reversed and allow water to rest up against the house from the home and off to where it was meant.

Flagstone can be laid atop an existing surface and create a new proper pitch to drain the water away properly.

Flagstone is not expensive and comes in all colors and thicknesses to meet the taste of any homeowner. Flagstone is a permanent fix that lasts forever. Cracks that can reappear over time in flagstone can easily be repaired and re grouted as if no repair was performed.

Using different colored grouts to compliment the color of a flagstone patio can enhance the beauty significantly. Adding a masonry sealant or lacquer can give that stone you choose " the wet look" adding the finishing touch creating elegance and charm.

Using a licensed general contractor can save time and money by doing the job right the first time. Take three to five estimates and pick the right contractor for your project. After three or four contractor estimate your project, pick the one you feel knows what he or she is doing, not just the cheapest bid!