Articles

Roofing Systems

You've certainly heard the saying "It's raining cats and dogs." Do you have any idea where it came from? Back in the 1500's, houses had a flat thatched roof made simply of straw without much in the way of support. The household animals would burrow into the straw at night to make a warm bed for themselves. When the roof was old and the rain came in torrents, the straw would let go and, well, you can figure out the rest.

Today, even though we still enjoy a wonderful canopy bed, our roofing material has tremendously improved. Roofs are rarely flat and are usually sloped. In fact, most roof slopes are so steep, that it takes a professional contractor to address any roofing problems.

If homeowners need to replace a roof, they are usually looking for durable materials that are energy efficient. Most homeowners select traditional roofing materials like tiles and shingles. However, steel and aluminum roofs are gaining in popularity and even concrete is used where appropriate.

The investment to build a new roof, fix the existing roof or entirely replace a roof is very costly. Most owners don't have that kind of money just floating around. Instead, a home loan or special financing arrangement is usually how many owners approach this improvement on the value of their property. Rather than picking out the first professional contractor that comes along, it is much wiser to consult trustworthy experts about what is needed to get the job done to your satisfaction and then narrow down your choices from a list of several bidders. The lowest bidder doesn't always mean the best option; look at the qualifications of each contractor and don't be afraid to ask for references from past customers.

A roofing project done well today means you don't have to address any problems in the next five or even ten years. Most product warranties last from 20 to sometimes as many as 50 years. Workmanship guarantees can last from 12 to 20 years. The better quality of roofing and workmanship also can have a positive affect on your homeowner's policy. Many homeowner policies are more apt to replace roofing damage due to natural causes if you can prove proper installation and good material.

A popular installation company and manufacturer of highly respected roofing material is GAF Materials Corporation. Most contractors are well versed in GAF and belong to GAF's CARE (Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence) programs. CARE offers professional advanced seminars about roofing. GAF also sponsors a membership organization for professional roofers called "Certified Contractor Zone". The main objective of GAF service is to help roofing contractors appropriately sell GAF products and methods to customers according to customers' specific needs and solutions. GAF wants its customers to realize that they have more than two options - repair or replace. The customer also has the flexibility to decide to restore the existing roof. Some of GAF's famous materials include - Grand Timberline, a premium architectural shingles. - GAF's Weather Stopper Integrated Roofing System is a complete system for steep slopes.

Maintaining the roof of the house is an important part of retaining your home's value. Before you select a contractor and roofing material, take the time to understand the options that you have available.

Marcella Tait is the operator of U Roofing Services which is a major on-line resource for information on roofing. Please visit her archive of articles for more details at: http://www.uroofing.com/