Close Look at Top 5 Roofing Materials – Pros and Cons

Published on: 12 December 2016 Last Updated on: 19 August 2019
Roofing- Pros and Cons

There’s no dearth of options for those mulling a new roof installation. Choosing the correct roof for your home is imperative to ensure that you get full functionality and lifespan. The final decision should be taken after considering different factors such as the owner’s location, the roof’s weight, and the cost, warranty, and lifetime of the product. This blog post discusses, five popular roofing options for homeowners taking time to look at their advantages and shortcomings:

1. Asphalt shingles

Asphalt shingles are unarguably the most common roofing option for homeowners in US, all thanks to their affordable nature and ease of installation. Moreover, many roofers also follow the practice of reinforcing shingles with organic materials or fiberglass, which has a positive impact on their durability and moisture resistance.

Pros

Asphalt shingles come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. They are easily available and the most economical roofing option available on the market.

Cons

Asphalt has a short lifespan when compared to other materials, and also incapable of providing proper insulation.

Best suited house styles: Traditional sub-urban houses

Cost: The cost of installing asphalt shingles can be anywhere between $70 to $120/sq.ft. and they can last for 20-25 years with proper maintenance.

2. Clay and concrete tiles

The use of clay adds to the roof’s texture and elegance, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Clay and concrete tiles are heavy roofing materials and should be installed by professionals to avoid accidents and damage to property.

Pros

Clay and concrete tiles are highly durable and fire-resistant. They are also known for their energy efficiency. Installing a concrete roof can, therefore, help you lower energy costs.

Cons

Both clay and concrete are heavier than other roofing materials and usually require additional framing to function smoothly. The materials are also expensive and you may have to shell out a considerable amount of money to install clay/concrete tiles.

 Best suited house styles: Mediterranean, Southwestern, and Spanish-style homes.

Cost: Prices fluctuate in the range of $300-$500/sq.ft. Concrete tiles have a lifespan of 40-50 years provided you follow maintenance schedules without fail.

3. Metal roof

Metal roofs are available in two types, panels, and shingles. Some of the common metals used by roofers who specialize in metal roofing are aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and zinc. If you’re considering a metal roof, it is advisable that you first consult your provider on the type of metal you should use after considering all the important factors.

Read also: Avoid these 4 Mistakes during Multi Family Housing Renovation

Pros

Metal roofs are highly resistant to temperature fluctuations and also offer better protection against solar radiation. They are also long-lasting and recyclable.

Cons

Installing a metal roof can be a costly decision and you may have to shell out anywhere between $100-$800/sq.ft. to install a metal roof.

Best suited house styles: bungalows, cabins, and contemporary and cottage-style homes.

Effective life: With proper maintenance, metal roofs can last anywhere between 40-75 years.

4. Slate

Opting for a slate roof is a prudent decision if you need to avail a variety of designing options. Slate roofing comes in different colors like black, green, grey, red, and purple. It lends a touch of style and elegance to your roofing.

Pros

Slate roofs are durable and equipped with fire-resistance properties. You can also recycle slate to reduce costs and save the environment.

Cons

Apart from being expensive, slate is also heavy, making any plans for a DIY approach strongly inadvisable. Moreover, the quality of the materials can vary if you plan to use imported slate.

Cost: $600/sq.ft. And above. The effective life of slate roofs can extend up to 100 years and more.

5. Wood shingles and shake

Wood shingles are handmade and available in attractive shades of gray. When opting for wood roofing make sure the material is class a certified and includes shingles with a fire-resistant coating.

Pros

The use of wood shingles lends a rough yet artistic look to your roof. The shingles are made from natural materials like cedar, and redwood and are environment-friendly.

Cons

There are high chances of the roof sustaining significant damage when exposed to moisture, high temperatures, and rainfall. Moreover, fire codes in some states may prohibit the use of these materials.

Best suited house styles: Cape Cod, cottage, Craftsman and Tudor-style homes.

Cost: $100-$150/ sq.ft. You can expect the roofing to last around 25-30 years.

The blog discusses five popular roofing choices available to homeowners. You should, however, not limit yourself to these choices. Consider exploring other options before making a final decision. Consult your contractor and ask them to share their thoughts on your choice. You must also factor-in the maintenance costs and schedules associated with each option before you.

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Decluttered Workspace

7 Benefits of a Clean and Decluttered Workspace

They say that cleanliness is next to godliness; however, even someone who does not believe in god will vouch for the tremendous power of living and working in a clean and organized environment. The most important benefit of keeping one’s surroundings clean and free of clutter is that it allows free flow of energy and creates a positive ambiance that has proven psychological benefits. Once we’ve become used to working in a cluttered environment, change can be difficult but it’s not impossible. 7 Benefits of a Clean and Decluttered Workspace Here are seven reasons why you should care about the cleanliness of not only your own desk but also your immediate surroundings at work and home. Cleanliness improves efficiency: Everyone wants to make the best use of their time at work, but a dirty and disorganized workplace enables exactly the opposite. In fact, people subconsciously dread going to an office where they’ll have to spend a significant part of their day plowing through stuff and enduring the unhygienic conditions in the pantries, washrooms and work bays. A clean and hygienic office space where every nook and corner has been paid attention is a haven for efficient and result-oriented work. A clean work environment encourages creativity: You may have experienced this in your personal life. Cluttered and dirty spaces do nothing more than sap one’s energy, stagnates the mind and obstruct the flow of creative thoughts and ideas. This can be particularly detrimental to the growth of a business. Therefore, maintaining a clean and orderly workspace is essential to encourage and inspire yourself and your colleagues to be creative in everyday tasks. Cleanliness helps you focus: A clean desk no doubt enables people to focus on the task at hand; however, a clean office building has an even greater impact on the employees’ ability to concentrate and complete tasks without distractions. Professional organizers say that knowing where your things are helps keep the mind clear, which in turn makes you more efficient and focussed and also says a lot about your professional caliber. in addition, clean and well-maintained indoor spaces tell your staff that you value their working environment. A tidy work desk means more room to work: Clearing your desk of clutter gives you more space to do your work, which in turn improves productivity and helps you achieve your daily goals on time. While a small office can be cleaned easily by your housekeeping staff, a larger workspace is best cleaned by a professional cleaning service that has the requisite tools and skills to do a thorough cleaning. Decluttering saves time: In business time is money, and when you have an organized work area with a place for everything from stapler pins to large files, you save a substantial amount of time every day that you would otherwise spend looking for stuff. Even a few minutes wasted every day by each staff member add up to a significant number. Do the math and share the figures with your colleagues and subordinates to inspire them to organize their working space. It acts as a stress-buster: A messy work desk or office space can cause a lot of stress and at most times you won’t even know that it’s the clutter that’s making your anxious. In fact, experts say that just walking into an unkempt office can make you feel stressed and disinterested in your work. Research shows that living and working in a clean and clutter-free space has a definite effect on a person’s mood and overall psychological well being. While some work-related stress is normal, if you feel overstressed especially when sitting at your desk or being inside a messy workplace, think deeply about whether it’s a work situation that’s freaking you out or the place itself. A clean work area means less sick leaves: An unclean and untidy workspace can make you sick from all the microorganisms that get to breed on and around your desk. Food crumbs and dust are the main culprits that find a safe haven in your keyboard, behind your desktop and under your desk. In many offices, cleaning staff are instructed not to move stuff lying on the desks, which means your desk space may not have been cleaned for weeks! If you’ve been falling sick a lot lately but can find no obvious explanation, a cluttered and dirty workspace could be to blame. Read Also: Choosing Open Office Space Vs Cubicle Office Space The Need To Settle End Of Tenancy Issues Before Leaving

READ MOREDetails
Plumbing Problems

The 7 Most Common Types of Plumbing Problems

All households at some point will have plumbing problems, and they come in different forms. These problems range from an annoying dripping bathroom faucet to a full-blown emergency plumbing situation like a burst pipe. In such situations, being able to get hold of a 24/7 emergency plumber will be immensely helpful. Websites like Emergency Plumber Finder Blog, on the other hand, will not only help you find an emergency plumber near you, you can also find important tips on what you can do to mitigate the damage while waiting for help. Here is a list of seven most common types of plumbing problems and what you can do when they arise. 1. Leaky Faucets: This is one of the most common plumbing issues and, in some cases, turning the handle just a bit more is enough to take care of it. At times, however, the leak may be so severe that it causes a significant dent in your utility bills. Look for the isolation valve near the problem fixture to cut off the water supply to it without interrupting water service to the rest of the house. Call your plumber. 2. Burst Pipes: Apart from water spraying all over the place, other more subtle signs of burst or leaky pipes include wet walls and flooding in certain areas of the house. The best way to address this problem is to shut off the main valve that is supplying water to the entire house. Do not forget to turn off the water heater after shutting off the water supply. Turn on any faucets and spigots outside your home to release water and pressure that are still in the pipes. Then, let the pros fix the problem. 3. Overflowing Toilets: This problem presents an unhygienic dilemma that you don’t want to have. If this problem suddenly confronts you, turn off the isolation valve to cut off the supply to your toilet bowl. One of the main causes of overflowing toilet bowls is some object blocking the hidden part of the water separator. A force cup plunger does the job of dislodging any blockage, so it is a good idea to have one. Should the problem persist, have a plumber fix it. 4. Clogged Drains: Plumbers have various tools and methods of unclogging drains. One of these tools is a plunger, which you can also use if you have one around to fix the problem yourself. If water still refuses to drain, then it is a job for the plumber. 5. Toilet Bowls That Continue to Drain Water: Misadjusted floats and stuck flappers are the usual causes of this problem. These are easy to fix if you are handy enough. However, you’ll need the help of a plumber if any of the flushing mechanism is damaged and is causing the water to continue to drain into the bowl. 6. Low Water Pressure: A number of things may cause low water pressure. However, if you just moved into a new home, check if the main water supply valve is fully open. It this does not do anything to improve water pressure, have the plumber check and fix it. 7. Frozen Pipes: There are measures that you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter months. Just in case you forgot to take any of these measures, you can try either to thaw out the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or call in the plumber to handle the situation. Whatever type of plumbing problems that you may encounter, it is always best to leave the job to professionals, especially if you do not have much experience with plumbing work. This goes especially for plumbing emergencies where you run the risk of making the situation worse. Search for 24/7 emergency plumbers in your area, and then add them to your contact list to prepare for any plumbing emergencies and problems. Read Also: 5 Potential Problems A Conveyancer Can Solve 5 Easy Ways To Detect A Water Leak In Your Home

READ MOREDetails
Plumbers

Best Plumbers in Singapore by SG HomeNeeds

Sometimes the DIYer inside you might come out and try to take the issue into hands, but most of the time, it ends up being temporarily fixed or getting worse. So, it’s always advisable to get a professional hand to get the work done. What do you do when you have to find a good plumber? What’s your reliable and go-to source who can’t go wrong? If you don’t have one and always look at several options and get confused about choosing the perfect one, you’re at the right place. SG HomeNeeds provides the best-reviewed plumbers in Singapore. Read through for the measures SG HomeNeeds follow to curate a list of exceptional plumbing services for your needs. The measures SG HomeNeeds follow: 1. License: First and the most basic measure we follow to find out if the company is eligible to serve you is to check their license. The license gives the official recognition to the companies that they’re certified to do the work, and they follow all the required safety measures. We always cross-check their license and always keep an eye on the license expiry date. Make sure they’ve completed all the updates, certifications, and pieces of training come along with the permission. Not only the companies, but we also check individual employee licenses too. Well, we want to give the best to you. 2. Insurance: Insurance is most crucial when it comes to the plumbing services where the chances of the worse situation are high. The substantial pipe breaks, drainage clogs, toilets, etc. can get expensive and hard to get rid of. In those cases, insurance can be helpful. Most of our shortlisted plumbing services protect costly services and regular plumbing maintenance. 3. Test & Trail: Along with checking the certification, we also test every company we suggest for you. They have to undergo several examinations to test their technical knowledge and practical tests to check their experience. We also review the customer experience personally once they complete alive a job and make sure they perform well and reach to customer’s expectation. 4. Satisfaction Survey: Of course, the active job is different than the practicals that are conducted in-house. Examinations give them knowledge, but every issue is different and can’t be replicated. Then how do we know if they perform well in the active job? We take a satisfaction survey from every customer and improve ourselves and the plumbing partners(plumbers). We don’t encourage any disrespectful behavior or unprofessionalism and take strict action of such cases. New customers can directly view the review from previous customers and choose one on their own. 5. Time & Efficiency: An experienced professional can finish the job earlier than a regular plumber. Whenever you approach us for a service, and we give the tentative time required to complete the job and try to put the efficient plumber at your service. Our motto is to provide nothing but the best to you, and we stick to it. We take care of all the required things to give you a list of the best plumbers in your locality. But it’s in your hand to choose the better one who you think can work for you. Below are some of the parameters you might want to consider before finalizing a plumbing service: As we discussed earlier, the license is one of the most efficient ways to find a good dealer. So, verify their certification. Check for their ratings and reviews and shortlist a few. Ask them for a personal visit to the affected area, enquire about the resolution and an estimated costing. Approach 3-4 different plumbing service companies and compare their pricing. Always monitor while they’re working when you finalize a company so that you can be an alibi if something goes wrong or to give a useful review if they fulfill the work effectively. Now we’ve given you the vital information on how we provide the best plumbers in Singapore and what are measures you need to check to choose the best one out of them. Now, we’ve reduced your effort to run around many plumbing services and get confused about what you need to choose. Get in touch with us today! Read Also: Top Local SEO Tips For Plumbers A Guide to Starting a Plumbing Business

READ MOREDetails