Starting fresh by replacing and repainting an old roof by having a new one can be one of the most satisfying things in life. Just like having a new car with a new paint job, painting your roof with a new color can easily help you start fresh and clear your mind.

However, having an attractive roof doesn’t guarantee that it’s going to be sturdy and hold off the forces of nature. You might have the best looking roof in the neighborhood, but it will all for naught if your roof can’t hold down your house and protect it against rainwater, snow, hailstorms, strong winds, and updrafts. It’s best to carefully consider your roofing material before making any decisions on what color scheme you want to choose for your roof.

But before we get into what’s a better choice of color between pewter gray or charcoal shingles, we have to first weigh-in on the different factors that will affect your roof.

Function Over Design

Obviously, your roof was designed on keeping water, snow, and other debris away from your house’s interiors and far from your house’s foundations. Sure, the color and design of your roof can leave a lasting impact on visitors and passers-by which can increase the value of your home, but the true test is on its strength in withstanding the forces of nature.

An ideal roofing system should be a combination of both high-functioning roofing materials that stand the test of the environment while still looking aesthetically pleasing. But at the end of the day, the function will always be more important than design.

Durability and Longevity

Just because a certain roofing material looks good, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will last a long time. Most homeowners see a roofing material and will immediately buy it from the local builder’s depot once they see that it’s compatible with their rooftop. One thing that homeowners should always weigh-in is the lifespan and the strength of the shingles. Even though most shingles are designed for rain, snow, and strong winds, they are still quite susceptible to hailstorms, high winds, and other elements of the weather. It’s best to keep this in mind whenever you are looking for the right materials.

Moreover, investing in cheaper roofing material can save you money in the short-term, but you will be spending more in the long run when you’ll have to contact your roofing specialists for repairs and replacements. 3-tab shingles and architectural shingles have different unique lifespans and characteristics but 3-tab shingles are generally cheaper and won’t last long.

A good way of determining if the shingles are durable is that it will have a longer coverage for the warranty since shingles that have a more hefty price tend to be more durable and long-lasting.

If you’re not sure whether a certain roofing material will last longer and will work well with where your house is situated, then you can always consult a professional roofing specialist.

Exposure to Wind

In states that are located in the southern part of the United States, hurricanes and storms are quite prevalent with winds reaching up to 130 miles per hour. With winds that strong, it can easily uproot and send a roof flying off. Homeowners are highly encouraged to choose shingles that have a wind rating of 130 miles per hour if they want their roofs to still be intact.

Wind rating is especially important since an uprooted roof will not just be dangerous to your home, but also to cars and other inhabitants from other homes. Shingles that are propelled at very high speeds by hurricanes and typhoons can be lethal.

Pewter Gray vs. Charcoal Shingles

An easy way of determining if a shingle is pewter grey or charcoal is by the shade. Normally, pewter has a lighter shade than charcoal. Metallic pewter shingles are able to reflect more light. In turn, it appears as a lighter grey. On the other hand, charcoal has a deep shade that borders from dark gray to black.

Ultimately, the paint that you will use for your roof will depend on your personal preference. Most individuals would choose pewter grey since the different shades of gray can make it look classy while most would also choose charcoal-colored shingles since it can easily hide dirt and can absorb heat if you want to retain heat on your roofing Alexandria VA and house.

A house wouldn’t be complete if there’s no roof. In fact, the roof of a house is the first thing that most visitors and passers-by look at since it takes up a good amount of space. Roofs aren’t just aesthetic in nature, but they also have some very important functions, especially in keeping rainwater, snow, and strong winds away from your house’s interiors.

For centuries, most houses have been using the same material for different parts of the world, but as technology evolved, so did the roofing industry. As of this moment, there are several different roofing materials that you can choose in the market. But for now, we’ll be looking at one of the more classical and widely used roofing material that was available for centuries and has stood the test of time; cedar shakes and shingles.

In most cases, the first thing that homeowners look for when choosing roofing materials is the lifespan and the durability of the roofing material, especially when it’s exposed to rainwater, snow, and strong winds.

We’ll be discussing how long will a cedar shake roof last when exposed to certain factors. But before we do that, we’ll first discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a cedar shake roof.

Cedar Roofing

Cedar roofing has been around for centuries and is one of the most highly sought-after wooden roofing materials in the market. Obviously, cedar roofing is made out of cedarwood, especially from the California Redwood tree in the United States and the North American region.

If you’re looking for roofing that has a rustic and classical feel, then cedar shingles are a good choice since it can easily blend in with any architectural style.

Cedar Shake Roof Lifespan

When a cedar roof is installed properly and is also maintained well through the years, it is likely to reach a lifespan of up to 30 years if the conditions are just right. To prevent deterioration, then it’s best to perform maintenance every 2 to 4 years if you want to maximize the life expectancy of your roof.

Cedar Deterioration

Compared to other wooden shingles in the market and other building materials, cedar doesn’t just deteriorate because of age and there are several external factors that can cause its deterioration. Cedar is known for being weather-resistant, but at some point, it will deteriorate. One of the most common reasons why cedar roofing will deteriorate is in the form of moisture which can greatly affect the life expectancy and state of cedar shakes. If you’re leaving your cedar shakes unchecked and dirty, then this can easily be a breeding ground for molds, mildews, lichen, algae, and mosses. These organic growths can accelerate rotting by absorbing more moisture in the process. In most cases, cedar shakes and shingles that are exposed to these organic growths can easily warm, break, shrink, and get weaker over time. It’s best to keep an eye out for any type of organic growth on your roof and to contact roofing contractors if ever that’s the case.

Cedar Shake Costs

Compared to other wooden shakes, metal roofing, and asphalt shingles, cedar shakes have a hefty price with the highest quality costing you $14 for every square foot and the standard quality costing you $7.50. You also have to take into account the cost of labor and installation for this type of roofing.

Moreover, you will also have to weigh-in on the cost of maintenance from professional roofing specialists, especially when keeping mosses, algae, and mold off the main structure of your roof.  

Alternative to Other Wooden Shakes

Cedar shingles are the perfect alternative to other wooden shingles since it has the best life expectancy out of any wood roofing. Sure, it might take a lot of time and effort to regularly maintain this roof, but it will pay off in the long-run when you can save money that would have gone to roof replacement and repair.

Ultimately, there are several factors that you have to take into account and the location, climate, and levels of precipitation on your area will play a major role in the life expectancy of cedar shake roofs. But on average, it will take around 30 years. If you are looking to extend the life on your cedar shake roofing, getting the help of a skilled roofing contractor will be sure to optimize your roofing Alexandria VA.

Installing a roof is easier said than done; it will take a good amount of time, energy, and effort to make sure that it’s properly installed and every part of your roofing system will be working efficiently. Moreover, owners and contractors have to plan ahead of time on how they will design and install the roof while taking in factors like the weather, humidity, and level of precipitation that your house will be receiving around the whole season. One of the most important aspects of designing a roof is choosing the right materials.

Roofs are designed on keeping any inhabitants inside your home dry and comfortable by keeping moisture and the different elements of nature away from your house’s interiors. However, not all roofing materials are built to last and most of these materials, if not properly installed and implemented, can inadvertently result in more damages being done. It’s always a good practice to seek help from your local roofing specialist on what are the ideal roofing materials for your community.

Homeowners have to also remember that each area and community will have building regulations and requirements on what they can and can’t install. It’s best to follow these rules and regulations since it’s there to fully optimize your home for the climate and environment it will be on.

But before we discuss the different types of thin roofing materials, we have to first determine what are the different shapes of roofs that are compatible with thin roofing materials.

Shapes of Roofs

Gable roofs

This roofing design is one of the most popular designs that you’ll find in the United States which can be easily discerned from the triangular shape that most conventional houses have. The design of this roof can easily let water and snow flow off the roof towards the designated gutter systems. The only downside of these types of roofs is that they are quite susceptible to strong winds, horizontally-propelled rains, and storms. It’s best to have a contractor look into some counter-measures for storm damage if you are going to go with this type of roofing.

Flat roofs

This type of design is quite prevalent among commercial and industrial buildings because of its utilitarian and cost-effective design. In reality, most buildings with flat roofs are not entirely flat and they do have a small pitch of around 1/12 or 0.5/12. Moreover having a flat roof means that there’s more space for rooftop patios, gardens, and HVAC equipment for the comfortability of the building’s inhabitants.

Hip roofs

Hip roofs are not the usual type of roofing design that you’ll find in the country, but it will still get the shop done like gable roofs. Because of the in-ward facing slopes, these roof design is durable and long-lasting. Compared to gable roofs, this type of roofing design can withstand strong winds, updrafts, and storm damages.

Skillion/shed roofs

This roof design is simpler than the others with a single roof being attached to a taller wall. This type of roof design is usually seen among tool sheds, garages, porches and other areas that are usually not meant to be inhabited in long periods of time.

Types of roofing materials

Rolled Roofing

Rolled roofing is a preferred roofing material for low-sloped roofs, especially for commercial buildings. Being injected with minerals and asphalt means that it is both durable and long-lasting.

Built-up Roofing

This one of the oldest options when it comes to flat roof design. This roofing is comprised of several layers of asphalt.

Membrane Roofing

One of the most popular materials for membrane roofing is EPDM which is comprised mostly of rubber and is an eco-friendly and cheap way of protecting your low-pitched roofs. There are also other materials like Neoprene and PVC, bitumens, and chlorinated polyethylene.

Asphalt Composite Shingles

There’s no doubt that asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in the United States and it’s because it’s fairly common, easy to maintain, can withstand the different elements of weather, and has a good lifespan.  

Standing Seam Metal Roofing

This type of roofing is quite prevalent among buildings that are in close vicinity to each other because of being fire-resistant. Additionally, it’s highly sought after for having a longer lifespan than can last from 30 – 50 years. The only downside is that it costs $6 – $12 per square foot.

Metal Shingles and Shakes

For homeowners who prefer metal shingles over metal roofing, then metal shingles are the right answer. The long-lasting and durable nature of these shingles can make it last longer than other roofing materials.

Wooden Shingles and Shakes

Another fairly common shingle that has existed for centuries is wooden shingles. Most shingles like cedar shingles are known to be relatively more expensive than other roofing materials but will last for more than 60 years. The downside to these shingles is that it is quite susceptible to fires and will easily rot in wetter climates.

Clay Tiles

These types of shingles are more prevalent among luxurious homes that are situated in warmer and drier climates. The downside to this material is that is has a hefty price of $10 to $18 per square foot.

Concrete tiles

Concrete tiles can be an alternative to clay times, but instead of having a reddish tone, this has a more neutral grey tone. The weight of these tiles is a good way of holding down your roof against strong and high winds.

Depending on the style of your roofing Alexandria VA, these are just a few of the roofing options that you can use. It is best to get the advice of a roofing specialist to identify what the best material would be for your property.

Top trade mag Remodeling has dropped its Remodeling 550 for 2018 – an annual listing of the top full-service remodelers in the country – with The Home Doctor ranking in at a whopping 125.

Since launching in 2013, we’ve been one of the fastest growing home improvement venders in the country, replacing thousands of roofs and windows. We’ve consistently offered the kind of quick, efficient service that keeps our customers recommending us to their friends and neighbors.

“You can tell from the 2017 reports and 2018 forecasts that today’s biggest remodeling companies are busier—and likely more successful—than ever before,” said Craig Webb, REMODELING’s editor-in-chief.

“The top 300 full-service remodelers on our list earned 8% more in revenue in 2017 than they did in 2016, and they expect to increase another 12% this year,” Webb said. “Meanwhile, the list’s top 150 replacement contractor firms (generally, companies that specialize in home improvement work like roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and foundations) earned a whopping 41% more last year, and they predict 17% more growth in 2018.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. If you have a roof in need of a little love, call us today for a free quote!

Homeowners across the DMV are learning it the hard way – the torrential rains and about-face temperature shifts of summer can do a number on even the hardiest roof. Whether you’ve spotted missing singles or seeping water damage, the best time to tackle storm damage is now. Here are four tips from our industry-leading venders on how to get ahead of the problem before it gets out of hand:

1. Document the Damage.

Take photos of any new trouble spots around the house, as soon as you can do so safely. A smart phone camera should be all you need, though you can get fancier if you have the means. The goal is to establish a record of the damage that you can share with your insurance company as well as any venders who may be providing repairs. You’ll also have the images for your own records, which will give you a point of reference as your repairs are completed. Keep an eye out for gaps between shingles and spots where sealant may be peeling off.

2. Determine what homeowner’s insurance will cover.

Homeowner’s insurance is one of the important purchases you can make as a homeowner, but unfortunately it isn’t a magic bullet – at least where storm damage is concerned. While damage relating directly to a freak storm will typically fall under most policies, you may hit a snag on your claim if your roof was old or previously in disrepair. The best way to understand the specifics of your policy is to contact your provider directly. Go in with an idea of what type of claim you’ll be filing and a list of questions for the agent.

3. Check your warranty.

Most reputable companies provide a warranty that should cover your roof for a period of time after a full replacement, though this will vary depending on the age of the home itself and when the work was previously completed. Check it on paper first, then call a representative to determine where they can help.

4. Call for an estimate.

We’re ready to work on your time table, and that’s why our free estimates are always honored for a full year. Give us a call and we’ll send a representative who will assess the damage and then work with you to find the best option for your home – always with the needs of your family in mind.

Addressing damage to your home is never fun no matter the reason, but our goal is to help you find the silver lining – by putting the pieces back in place stronger than before.

‍