Roofing, Gutters and Skylights

The Choice About Metal Roofing Shingles

Metal roofing shingles are the most suitable choice if you are looking to either get your existing roof replaced or install in new building because they have much more benefits to offer than any other roofing solution.

Why Choose Metal Roofing Shingles

The choice about the metal roofing shingles comes with many advantages. The first one is the durability and strength of the metal roofing shingles. They last much longer than any other roofing shingles. The standard asphalt shingles last up to twenty years but the metal roofing shingles last more than fifty years. The second advantage metal roofing shingles have to offer is that they reflect much of the light of sun; hence they keep the interiors of the building cool. This results in the reduction of the cooling costs. This makes metal roofing shingles most suitable for the warm conditions.

Choosing a metal roof is always a wise choice as it comes in so many colors and designs so it is up to you to choose what suits your mood and your building requirements. Also metal roofs are dirt-proof and do not loose their shape even after years of installation. Metal roofs are tough and light weight and they have a very simple installation process. Metal roofing shingles do not rot, crack split or break. They are simply the most optimum choice.

Some Issues Regarding the Cost of Metal Roofing Shingles

Beside the fact that metal roofing shingles are better than many roofing solutions, they have a high price as compared to the others. But this high price is once paid hence it should be considered as an investment because they are not likely to be replaced or repaired for a long time. Still the cost paid is not as much as benefits are gained by installing a metal roof. They are corrosion resistant, durable, tough, weather protected, available in different designs and colors, pest resistant and easy to install without any professional help. The roof is a very important part of a building or a home and one doesn’t install roof of his house or building every other day, so when you are planning to install the roof, be sure to pick the right choice because even a little high price paid at a single time can save a lot of repair expenses to be paid later. Therefore it is highly recommended to choose the metal roofing and especially metal roofing shingles to choose when installing the roof, so that you can be trouble free for many years to come.

By: Wade Robins

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You can also find more info on install metal and residential metal. Homeroofinghelp.com is a comprehensive resource to known about metal roofing.

Asphalt Roofing Shingles – Popular, Affordable and Easy To Install

People often think of dream homes as those neat, crisp-looking houses with brick walls and triangular roofs. Such is a classic picture of what people imagine homes should be like. And this effect can be achieved with a home roofed with asphalt roofing shingles.

Asphalt shingles have become quite so popular when it comes to roofing options for homes. Their versatility and economic value have proven to be so attractive that they now cover as much as 80 percent of the market. Asphalt shingles are quite inexpensive and easy to install. They come in a great array of quality and style and are compatible with a wide range of roof pitches. They can be installed with different roof features, from roof edges to chimneys and wall terminations to vent flashings. Most of all, they are highly attractive and can really give a house that homey effect.

There are basically two types of asphalt shingles available in the market: the organic-mat shingles and the fiberglass shingles. Both of these are of course made of asphalt, but the difference lies on the reinforcing mat – the fiberglass variety of uses fiberglass while the organic variety uses a wood-derived mat made of cellulose fiber.

The organic type of mat requires two coatings of asphalt – a soft asphalt for saturation and then harder asphalt for protection. Meanwhile, the fiberglass type only needs one hard asphalt coating. People choose fiberglass for its light weight, thinness, ease of transporting and high fire rating.

There are those who still prefer the organic type because they are more durable and they are more flexible especially during cold weather. As such, fiberglass shingles are more popular in the central and southern parts of the country while organic shingles predominate the market in the northern parts as well as in Canada.

Buying Considerations

One of the major considerations when buying asphalt shingles is its service life. Warranties for asphalt shingles usually come as longs as 20 to 45 years. However, it is important to choose a particular brand not only for its warranty period as they do not really reflect the actual lifespan of shingles. There have been reports of asphalt shingles failing far earlier than the expiry date of their warranties, and a lot of homeowners have complained that the payouts did not really cover the replacement or repair costs as they should.

But this does not mean that one should completely shun asphalt shingles as a roofing choice with the right mindset in buying, you can still get quality shingles that last long.

When buying asphalt shingles what you need to look at is how much a particular brand meets industry standards, instead of the warranties. For fiberglass shingles, you should make sure that the product meets the standard known as ASTM D-3462, which means that the shingles can withstand tests such as nail withdrawal and tear-strength. In the past decade only a few products have passed this standards and you need to make sure that the one you buy are up to this standard. Shingles are inspected by Underwriters Laboratory and those who pass come with the UL logo and a certification.

Organic mat shingles, on the other hand, should meet the standard called ASTM D-225. Organic shingles usually have greater nail-pull and tear strength resistance compared to asphalt shingles and thus their standards are also higher. A good lose rule of thumb is that heavier organic shingles are sturdier than lighter ones. This may not always be true for fiberglass shingles, though.

As expected, shingles that fulfill the industry standards are more expensive than shingles of low quality. But aside from the quality of the shingles themselves, there is also the factor of installation when the roofing cost is being considered. You may opt to use cheaper nails, but it may be rather wasteful to install good quality shingles using low-grade nails.

Different Looks

What people usually consider when they want asphalt shingles is their appearance. Shingles comes in different styles and colors that can really bring out the beauty of a home. With the right kind of asphalt shingle you can achieve different looks for your dream home.

Asphalt roofing shingles are the roofing materials of choice for many homes and even commercial buildings. With its superb form and function there is no wonder why this has become quite popular when building dream houses.

By: Ernest Jarquio

About the Author:

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit his website, where he discusses various subjects such as asphalt roofing shingles and plastic roofing and metal roofing material.