Residential Roofing Handbook

Transcription

1 Minneapolis: (612) St. Paul Area: (651) Maple Grove Area:. Eden Prairie Area: (952) Residential Roofing Handbook

2 Table of Contents Residential Roofing 101 Asphalt-Fiberglass Shingles Shingle Costs: $$$$ Shingle Performance: B+ Shingle Aesthetics: Universal Appeal Shingle Energy: Efficiency Metal Roofs Metal Roof Costs: $$$$ Metal Roof Performance: A Metal Roof Aesthetics Metal: Naturally Energy Efficient Decisions, Decisions

3 Residential Roofing 101 Homeowners replace their roofs for two main reasons: age deterioration or sudden damage. In the best-case scenario, you have the time and energy to consider the various options available to you (i.e. are not pressed by an emergency or storm damage). Proper, thorough research will provide you with optimal savings and the best roof choice for your lifestyle. Although many people think an asphalt-fiberglass shingle tab roof is the only option, we would like to make sure that you are also familiar with the benefits attached to metal roofing. Why? Because your home s roof is not an expense - it s an investment. You increase your home s value as well as preserve your family s comfort and safety with a substantial, attractive, well-constructed roof. Although the surface of the roof is typically the main concern for homeowners, it is actually only the final flourish on your roofing system. The entire system includes underlayment, surface material, flashing, drip edges, and gutters - all of which work together to form a watertight, integrated protection for your family, your home, and its contents. The best roofing material in the world will fail if any other part in the system is not selected and installed correctly. Think of your roof as an investment and give each option a fair evaluation. Balance the all-important financial considerations with practicality, durability, and aesthetics. Whatever your decision, you will know you have made the best choice for your situation.

4 Asphalt-Fiberglass Shingles The typical asphalt shingle, a standard three-tab design topping many American homes, is a highly engineered amalgam of asphalt, adhesive, granule and spun glass fibers. Cheap shingles are no bargain they will have weak warranties, irregularities in manufacturing, and short life spans. High quality asphalt-fiberglass shingles, on the other hand, can add value to your home, lower energy costs, and give your whole home great curb appeal. Truly discerning homeowners will consider architectural shingles, which have thicker profiles and sharply cut tabs, to provide rich, deeply textured shadows. These mimic wood shakes or slate tiles without any of the headaches or expense of the natural materials. An asphalt shingle by itself is not considered waterproof. It becomes waterproof with rolled ice shield material on the sheathing, through the specially-designed starter course, up to the custom-cut ridge shingles. Installing a high quality shingle and finishing with flimsy, thin-gauge aluminum flashing could spell trouble within a few years.

5 Shingle Costs: $$$$ Up-front costs for shingles are the lowest among roofing materials. Shingles are sturdier than some ceramic tile systems, but less durable than most metal roofs, so costs do not end with installation, and the short lifespan is a factor. Cheap shingles are not a bargain they have weak warranties, irregularities in manufacturing, and even shorter life spans. The higher quality architectural shingles have thicker profiles and sharply cut tabs. They provide rich, deeply textured shadows, which imitate wood shakes or slate tiles without the additional expense or maintenance attached to the natural materials. Investing in a high quality, architectural shingle is an excellent way to preserve value and set your home apart from the rest. Some of the best asphalt shingles have fifty-year warranties that transfer from original homeowner to new owner. Overall Cost Estimation: Short-term: $$ Long-Term: $$$$ Shingle Performance: B + Shingle Aesthetics: Universal Appeal Pro: An advantage to choosing a shingle roof is the ease of repair. A single shingle or set of shingles can be replaced at minimal cost to the homeowner. They are fire resistant, to an extent (though not fireproof). Con: From the day they are installed, asphalt shingles begin to deteriorate. They lose granules and shrink, with the tabs changing from crisply cut rectangles to narrowing wedges. Individual tabs in all shingle styles are susceptible to tearing or puncture by falling trees, branches, hail, or strong winds. Shingles offer the widest range of color options and styles among roofing materials. You can find colors to help your roof blend into nature or shout out its presence. Housing developers typically choose shingle roofing because of the diversity of options available. Shingle Energy Efficiency There are several asphalt-fiberglass shingle designs that meet federal Energy Star program requirements. They provide savings by reflecting UV rays and lowering energy costs and requirements. In cold climates, such as the upper Midwest, ice damming can be handled with proper placement of an ice and water shield laid down over the sheathing (before the shingles are attached).

6 Metal Roofs Metal roofs are growing in popularity with each passing year. Metal roofing is a wholly manufactured material, which means that there is absolute control over its shape, color and properties. Consequently, it is made to imitate shingle, tile, slate or wood shakes. Color choices are limited only by imagination, since the color of a metal roof is provided by a powdered, baked on finish. Metal Roof Costs: $$$$ The initial cost of a metal roof is much higher than that of a shingle roof. However, the cost is all up-front. Metal roofs are made to last longer than the life of the average human person, with warranties stretching to 50 years, and an expected lifespan of even longer. (Compare with a shingle roof s lifespan of no more than 30 years.) Nationally, more than 95 percent of the cost of installing a metal roof is recovered in resale value, while saving up to 40 percent of its installation on annual energy costs. Overall Cost Estimation: Short-term: $$$$ Long-Term: $ Metal Roof Performance: A Pro: A metal roof is extremely durable, and is not subject to does not attract golf balls and hailstones. Dents do not mysteriously appear any more than dings and divots would appear in shingle roofs, and you can walk on a metal roof to retrieve the errant flying disc just as you would on a shingle roof. Metal roofs can withstand F2 tornado wind speeds. You have choices in metal, too; if rust worries you, most steel roof components are sprayed with a metallic coating that prevents rust. You could also look at aluminum roof choices. Metal roofs, like other materials, have roofing system parts that integrate to provide a weather-tight, pleasing appearance. These other pieces (drip edge, ridge vents and matching flashing) are shaped from the same material as the roof panels. Con: A metal roof conducts noise quite efficiently, often amplifying a rainstorm to the decibels of a hailstorm. Also, depending on the type of metal roof you choose, it can be difficult to repair, in the event of hail damage (metal is less susceptible to hail damage than shingles, but it is still a possibility). Lastly, even though the benefits of a metal roof are significant, many potential purchasers may be reluctant to purchase a home without the familiar shingles.

7 Metal: Naturally Energy Efficient Should it ever need replacing, the entirety of the metal roof is recyclable. It will accept solar panels and is highly emissive - which means that it reflects radiant energy and quickly sheds absorbed heat energy. Up to an impressive 90% of absorbed solar radiation can be re-emitted, lowering cooling costs. Metal Roof Aesthetics A metal roof is the ultimate mimic. It can convincingly appear as any other roofing material as well as proudly stand as a natural metal. Copper or copper-blend metal ages beautifully, developing a rich, warm patina over time. Vertical panel roofs are now available in subdued tones and low profiles. Maintenance-free metal shakes are available in a wider range of color choices than natural wood shakes. Metal tile looks nearly identical to clay or concrete tile at a fraction of tile s weight.

8 Decisions, Decisions No one roofing material answers every need. For some homeowners, aesthetics supersede questions of durability or practicality. For others, a one-time investment is better than a smaller up-front cost. Knowing the benefits and pitfalls of the various roof types gives you the ability and opportunity to enter into a meaningful conversation with your local, professional roofing contractor to reach a decision you will be satisfied with for years to come. If you are considering a new home and plan to stay in one spot throughout your young children s school years, a substantial investment in a metal roof may be right for you. If you know you are moving soon and plan to resell your home, asphalt shingles may be the way to go. If high profile clay tiles on your adobe house feels perfect, you have plenty of history to support your decision. When you think of your roof as an investment, you will be open to financing options beyond raiding the emergency fund. A lending institution may be able to help you see that the right roof can preserve or improve your home s value. Careful spending now can pay off for decades through energy efficiency, durability, and aesthetic value.

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