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.

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Concrete Lifting Services

Improve Your Home With Concrete Lifting Services

As a homeowner, keeping your home safe, comfortable, and attractive will be important. However, problems can sometimes make it difficult for you to achieve this. Certain issues can affect many aspects of your home, from the aesthetic appeal to the safety levels. So, getting these problems addressed by a professional with specialist knowledge and tools is important. One of the problems you may experience at your home is areas of sinking concrete. Most such homes consider taking help from concrete lifting companies. However, as a homeowner, it’s common to worry about whether you should opt for one or not. Here’s an article that’ll help you – Sinking Concrete & How It Might Affect Your Home Sinking concrete can affect many areas of your home, such as the sidewalk, the steps to the property, the patio area, and more. Once these issues arise, you must ensure they are sorted out quickly. Otherwise, your home could suffer. You also need to consider the cause of the sinking concrete, which could indicate serious foundation issues. Finding a reputable concrete lifting company will enable you to resolve the issue and improve your home. In this article, we will look at how an experienced professional can help to improve your home. About Concrete Lifting Concrete Lifting or Concrete Leveling is a process of leveling or lifting up sunken concrete slabs out of the ground. The process involves injecting concrete material beneath the concrete slab to lift it up or level it. Typically, the material used fills up the void created under the slab. When it solidifies or dries, it creates a strong surface under the slabs. There are different concrete lifting methods, and the most common ones include – Polyurethane foam concrete lifting Stone slurry grout concrete lifting Mudjacking How Is Concrete Lifting Done? Concrete lifting is a heavy-duty task. But, with the right skills, tools, and training, concrete lifting is an easy and straightforward process. It also requires a basic understanding of the matters in use and the method utilized for lifting up the concrete slabs. Here’s the detail of the process –   First, the holes are drilled in different locations strategically. Then, it involves pumping a component through the holes and underneath the concrete slabs, where it fills any voids and creates enough backpressuback pressure to cause the concrete to rise. They patch the drill holes when the concrete is in a specific place. Different Types Of Concrete Lifting While the process may involve using different types of concrete materials, the lifting process can also require different methods beyond the three we mentioned above. Stone Slurry Grout Concrete Method Lifting Compound: In this process, a mixture of crushed agricultural limestone is used with water. The mixture forms a strong and dense base under the newly lifted concrete. Sometimes, they add Portland cement to the mix using extra strength. Drill Hole size: the drill hole used for this leveling method is close to 1 inch in diameter.  It can also be about the size of a quarter. Polyurethane Foam Concrete Lifting Lifting compound: The lifting compound for this method includes two-part polyurethane foam as the lifting substance. When they inject it under the concrete slab, the substance can lift up the concrete slab. Then, that expansion puts pressure on the slab that’s settled on the ground. Drill Hole Size: The drill hole size that’s needed for foam concrete leveling is close to ⅝ inch in diameter. Mudjacking Lifting Compound: Mudjacking is a process that includes water, soil, and sand as a mix and they are pumped at a high pressure and speed to lift up the settled concrete. You can also use Portland cement and add it to this mixture to make it stronger and more stable. The drill holes have to be bigger in size for there to be a high pumping pressure. Typically, the Mudjacking drill Holes are 2 inches in Diameter. Some of the Benefits of Having the Work Done- There are lots of ways in which you can improve your home by getting concrete lifting carried out. This will help you strengthen the affected areas around your property and also increase its longevity. Some of these are: Improving Safety Levels: As mentioned earlier, a range of safety issues can arise when you have to sink concrete in your home. The main issue you are likely to experience is people tripping and falling because of the uneven floor surfaces. As areas of your floors start to sink further, they can become very uneven and difficult to walk on. This can create serious difficulties for some people, such as those who are elderly and at increased risk of falling. In addition, those with mobility issues and even younger kids could be at increased risk of trips and falls that could cause all sorts of serious injuries. Having your sinking concrete addressed will help you improve safety levels at your home by reducing the risk of trips and falls. Increasing Aesthetic Appeal: Another thing that will happen when you have this work carried out is that you can improve the aesthetic appeal of your home. When you have areas of sinking concrete, it can have a really damaging impact on the appearance of your home. Sinking concrete can make your property look out of condition and unattractive, which is something that any houseproud owner wants to avoid. By getting the concrete lifted, the affected areas of your home will look far more attractive. Improving Scalability: It is also important to try and improve the salability of your home in case you decide to sell in the future. This is something that lifting concrete can do. If you have people viewing your home, they can be put off by lots of areas of sinking concrete, and this could cost you your sales. These are some of the ways in which you can improve your home with concrete lifting services. Read Also: How To Pick The Perfect Flooring For Your New Home Ideas for Modern Flooring Designs for Home Improvement Plans Senior Staircase Safety: What You Need to Know  

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Home Renovation Ideas

Top 5 Trending Home Renovation Ideas For Australian Families

The year 2020 is nearing an end, and we all want to start afresh. There are many not-so-good memories attached to the year, and hence, with 2021 around the corner, it is time to change things up. If you are someone who wants to start the new year by doing some home renovations project, you have come to the right article. We speak to some of the leading home and design specialists in Australia, and ask them about the five trending home renovation ideas, Australian families can go for in 2021. From gourmet kitchen trends to smart home transformations, we discuss the best ideas in the following sections. However, before we proceed to the list of ideas, let us first look at why home renovation is something, which you should do on a regular basis. Why families should go for Home Renovation projects regularly? Home renovations are important for a number of reasons. Let us list down some of them- It allows you to increase the valuation of your house if you are planning to sell it on the market in the next few years. They add freshness and create attractive spaces, which can be great for families to entertain and host events. Some projects like painting, carpeting, etc. can allow you to remove a lot of infections, molds, and other harmful elements lurking in the house. It is a great way to surprise your family members like children who are returning for the college holidays or for someone who is newly married. Home renovations can be a great way to bond the entire family over something everyone is interested in. List of the Top 5 Trending Home Renovation Ideas for Australian Families 1. Creating an attractive Deck in the Front Garden or the Backyard- A deck can be a great place for you to hold parties and other events in the open spaces of your home. Casual barbecue sessions or wine tasting can be done in a beautiful environment if you have a deck. JVK & Sons are deck builders in Brisbane who feel that that they can be great family spaces for simply lounging around on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Decks can be like a new additional room in your home. 2. Innovating on Open-Floor Drawing Room spaces- If you follow any of the leading home décor and design magazines, you will see that many families now want homes with an open-floor concept. Not only does it make space feel a lot bigger, but it also allows for a lot of natural sunlight and breeze in the living room. You can definitely look at creating such spaces in your home as they are trending at the moment. 3. Using French Windows for Sunlight and Air- Another small, yet highly useful and beautiful home renovation idea can be changing the windows in your home. Going for old-school French windows can change the entire personality of your home. Design experts also say that in terms of aesthetics, there are a few other things, which can match up to French windows. 4. Smart and Connected Home Solutions- Technology is changing the way we live in our homes. It is also adding to the convenience and safety requirements of a family. Using smart connected tech in your home can be a great addition. It can help you use technology for controlling the switches, security systems, appliances, and a whole lot more. There is definitely a sense of novelty in creating a smart home. 5. Gourmet Kitchen Set-Ups- If you are someone like me who spends an awfully long time in the kitchen with your family, you can definitely go for this home renovation idea. Creating excellent gourmet kitchen spaces can help you entertain guests in the kitchen area itself and wow them with the different elements. From using the latest integrated kitchen tops to granite slabs and stool sitting areas, a gourmet kitchen set-up might just be the thing your home needs. The Final Word The planning, research, buying things, etc. stage can be very exciting for a family. Throwing a party at your newly set-up deck can be a memorable experience to cherish for the ages. Can you think of some more trending home renovation ideas for 2021? Let us know about them in the comments section below. Read Also: Upgrading Your Home to a Smart Home Fix Your Home up This Summer With These Core Hacks 7 Tips for Getting Rid of Clutter in Your Home List of Most Durable Kitchen Flooring  

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Roofing Painting

Roofing Painting Contractor Leads: Ask Before Hiring One

Are the shingles of your roof starting to get loose? Or perhaps the entire roof itself is in need of a fresh paint job but you can’t do it yourself? For roofing and painting contractors in your area – especially those working alongside a lead generation firm like Ippei Leads – anything you want them to do to your roof is a blessing as it means yet another business opportunity. But before hiring one to fix or repaint your roof, here are four questions you might want to ask them first: 1. Can they meet your roofing needs no matter what type your roof is? The roofing and painting contractor you want to hire should be able to service these two major types of roofs: Residential roofing, which is typically easier to repair and repaint Commercial roofing, whose massive size and lower slope make fixing and repainting it more challenging yet profitable at the same time If the roof of your place of business is leaky, for example, and the contractor you talked to doesn’t have any experience with fixing commercial roofing, you shouldn’t hire them since they most likely wouldn’t know how to tackle the said problem. Also, if you need to have the whole roof of your house replaced with a brand new one, and the contractor you contacted hasn’t dealt with residential roofing before, you should skip them lest you want them to install an oversized one that’s more suitable for commercial use. 2. Do they have the license to operate as a roofing and painting contractor? Aside from their knowledge of both residential and commercial roofs, the roofing and painting contractor you plan on hiring should have a license to operate, most especially in the following states where it’s a requirement: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Florida Hawaii Idaho Illinois Louisiana Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Mexico North Carolina (but only if the roofing job will cost you at least $30,000) RhodeIsland South Carolina Utah Virginia If you reside or run a commercial building in any of these states, and the contractor couldn’t show you an authenticated copy of their statewide license, don’t hire them. 3. Do they have both liability and workers’ compensation insurance? The roofing and painting contractor you want to hire may know the difference between a residential and commercial roof. They may also have the license to operate in the state where you reside or do business. But aside from these, you should ask them upfront if they’ve got the following two types of insurance that will shoulder them financially in case of any mishap during the roof repair or repainting job: Liability insurance: There’s no telling when a contractor’s worker may accidentally drop a rusty nail or any tools on top of your (or your customer’s) head while doing the job or someone suddenly passes out after smelling the noxious fumes emitted by the paint. It’s important for the contractor to have liability insurance so their insurer can cover some or all of the medical expenses resulting from an injury during the repair or repainting job. Workers’ compensation insurance: Even if you or anyone else not connected to the contractor you hired didn’t sustain any injuries at all, a worker of theirs might suddenly get caught in a slip and fall accident while fixing or repainting your roof. The contractor should secure a workers’ compensation insurance so financial assistance can be provided to cover their crew’s medical costs and lost wages until the said person is physically capable of working for them again. It’s also a big plus if the roofing and painting contractor also carries commercial vehicle insurance aside from the two mentioned above to protect the cars, trucks, or vans that they use to do their job. 4. Do they have a contract prepared for you? As evident in their name, a roofing and painting contractor should show you a contract before repairing or repainting your roof. The said document should be legally binding and must contain the following: A detailed description of the repair or repainting job the contractor will do to your roof Breakdown of materials they’ll use for the roof repair or repainting job The estimated total cost of the said job Dates when they'll fix or repaint your roof A warranty of at least one to two years wherein you can have any part of your roof replaced if ever they accidentally damage it while fixing or repainting it A termination clause wherein the contract itself could become null and void if either you or the contractor violates any of its terms and conditions Don’t hire a roofing or painting contractor who plans to take on fixing or repainting your roof with only a handshake or verbal agreement to seal the deal. Conclusion: Roofing and painting contractors in America have been experiencing an upward profit margin growth since 2014. No wonder then that there are several of them as of late. But you can’t afford to get stuck with one who might do a sloppy job of fixing or repainting your roof which can lead to further problems down the road for you. So, before hiring a roofing and painting contractor for your roof, you should ask them first the four questions listed above to avoid any regrets on your end. Read Also: 5 Myths About Roofing Services To Avoid Professional Roofing Services And Different Decorating Styles

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