Roofing, Asphalt Roofing Shingles, Installing Metal Roofing, Architectural Roofing Shingles, Residential Metal Roofing, Roofing Installation Tips, Owens Corning Roofing, Roof Foam Board Insulation, Standing Seam Metal Roofing, Synthetic Roofing Underlayment

  
 

Roofing

 


Roofing – Find Out About the New Products and Trends This Year

 Asphalt roof shingles are still the most used roofing material in the U.S. and two new types have been added to deal with particular climate issues.  Residential metal roofing is becoming increasingly popular and many architects are choosing it for new projects owing to its great practical advantages and its sleek, contemporary look.

One of the most interesting innovations for this year is the new Owens Corning asphalt which is low odor and low fume.  This will deal with one of the biggest problems for the industry and means that work on highly populated premises like hospitals and schools can now be done during normal business hours without disrupting the building’s occupants.   This new roof material is known as Owens Corning TruLo low odor asphalt and TruLo Max low odor which are both low-fuming asphalts.

Fiberglass asphalt shingles have the highest fire-prevention rating and are widely used in hot and dry climates such as Wyoming and Texas and states where there’s a high risk of forest fires.  To give double protection, it’s a good idea to use the new type of synthetic roof underlayment as it has a higher fire-prevention rating than roof felt and is now routinely used in new building projects.  Synthetic underlay is especially useful in multi-family buildings where it can prevent fire spreading via the roof.

If you’re planning to install roof shingles in an area like Savannah which has a hot and humid climate, it’s a good idea to buy Algae Resistant asphalt shingles which will prevent the widespread problem of algae and fungus causing ugly black streaks on the roof which spoil the whole look of your home.

A modern and practical alternative to asphalt roof shingles is the residential metal roof which is fast increasing in popularity as more people install metal roofs.  Aluminum has special thermal conduction properties and a highly reflective surface which stop the sun raising the temperature inside buildings.   It’s ideal for hot climates like Dallas, Florida, Miami and other city areas which have continuous high daytime temperatures.

In fact, it is generally accepted that an aluminum metal roof material can lower the temperature of a home or office by up to 25%, which represents a huge saving in air-conditioning.  In California, aluminum roof material is called, ‘Cool Roofing’ and it’s outselling the newest solar roofing systems.

In the Florida and Miami areas, Spanish tile is one of the most popular materials and it’s not likely that people will accept the modern, streamlined look of a metal roof.  However, the good news is that single metal shingles that look exactly like ceramic tiles and cedar shingles are now available to buy and so folks can get the practical advantages of metal roofing and keep the beautiful Spanish style of their homes.

In states like New England there are two main choices of suitable roof material.  The first is the new High Wind & Impact Resistant asphalt shingle which was developed after the spate of hurricanes on the southern coastal area.  It has been widely installed in New Orleans and other high wind risk states and is also used in cities like Minneapolis and Massachusetts who experience severe winter weather conditions. 

The alternative is residential a metal roof which can’t blow off and has superior water-proof properties in the form of ‘standing seam’ metal roofing.  This steel roof material is extremely long-lasting and weather resistant.  The drawback to metal roof material is that it’s more expensive than asphalt, but if you can afford to install it you’ll save money in the long term because it rarely needs repair and there’s no risk of leaks causing internal damage.

In commercial settings such as garden centers where light is needed, corrugated fiberglass roofing is continuing to be a useful and more eco-friendly alternative to glass.  In addition,  corrugated roofing is increasingly being used to build simple car ports and residential greenhouses because of its resilience.

Metal roofing which was once only used for commercial buildings has made the crossover to residential use and is a highly practical alternative to asphalt shingles in climate zones as different as California and New Hampshire.