How to Get the Best Roofing Shingle for Your Budget!

How to Get the Best roofing Shingle for Your Budget!

It doesn't matter whether you're in Santa Fe or Long Island; roofing contractors on Long Island have a staggering array of choices when it comes to shingling your home.  The ultimate choice, of course, is up to you, but as experts in their field, your roofing contractor will be able to guide you toward the best solution for your particular needs, part of the country, and climate.

Broadly speaking, there are four basic types of shingling materials.  Asphalt, Slate/Tile, Metal, or Synthetic, and of course, beneath each of these broad categories are dozens (or more!) varieties, makes, and models.

Asphalt shingles are far and away the most commonly seen, and most popular type of shingles, and these come in two basic varieties.  You've got laminated (“Architectural”) and “dimensional.”  Dimensional shingles are interesting because they are layered, and their thickness and depth make them look more like slate or wood shakes. Three-tab asphalt shingles, though similarly priced, are made in a single layer. They're flatter and thinner than laminated shingles.   Unfortunately, they don't seem to hold up as well over the course of time.  Still, asphalt shingles are relatively inexpensive, and can provide an attractive look without breaking the bank, so if money is a factor, this is almost surely the way to go.  The one caveat to that is if you live in an area that is prone to high winds, you may want to rethink this type of shingling solution, as they are very susceptible to the effects of wind.

Slate or Tile Shingles are enormously expensive, but durable in most cases.  These will likely last longer than your house!  The one thing they aren’t vulnerable to, however, are impacts so if you live in an area prone to hail or in a heavily forested area where falling limbs could be an issue, then slate could wind up costing you big sums of money over the course of your ownership of the home (not to mention the fact that when you install a new slate tile to replace a damaged one, it sticks out like a sore thumb because the new tile is not sun-faded and won’t match).  In any case, they’re beautiful and durable.  They are worth considering in many cases.  

In between these two extremes are your metal roofs and synthetic tiles.  Synthetic tiles look a lot like slate, but are only a fraction of the cost.  They have all the same basic advantages and disadvantages.  Metal roofs are interesting because they are extremely good at the deflection of heat.  If you live in a warm, sunny area that sees extremely high temperatures in the summertime, you will want to strongly consider a metal roof even if it’s a bit more than the asphalt shingles.  

Ultimately, the final decision is yours but do talk to your roofing contractor!   Get his expert opinion on the matter.  The guys who install them for a living are usually the best and most knowledgeable people to ask for a recommendation.  A reputable Long Island roofing contractor won’t risk his hard-won reputation by steering you wrong, so you’ll be able to buy with confidence.

Should You Replace Your Old Roof Before Putting A New One Down?

Long Island Roofing

Should You Replace Your Old Roof Before Putting A New One Down?

People everywhere love to look for ways to save money.  That's true from San Francisco to Long Island.  Roofing contractors will, for the most part, do the job how you tell them to.  Honestly though, in most cases, you're setting yourself up for problems down the line if you don't pull the old roof off first.

The big advantage to just putting the new roof down over the top of the existing is, of course cost.  It's faster and cheaper (by a thousand dollars or more) if you don't have to contend with the mess and headache of ripping the old off and hauling it away, but if it shortens the useful life of the new roof you're putting on, then in the long run, you're actually going to wind up being worse off because you tried to take a shortcut.  In general, you're looking at shortening the new roof's lifespan by up to 20% or so if you don't remove the old first.

You can still do it, obviously, and many contractors will do it that way if you insist, but if one or more of the following conditions apply, you'll really only be hurting yourself:

• If you live in an area where ice dams are possible and your roof has no protective membrane to ward off ice and water (This is true of any area where the average temperature in January is below freezing, so this is certainly true in Long Island.  Roofing contractors who insist on pulling your old roof off before replacing in those northern regions will be doing you a big favor in the long run!).
• If your roof already has more than one layer, take it all down!  Layers built on top of layers is only asking for trouble!
• If an inspection reveals that the existing roof is in bad shape with missing, curled, cracked, or otherwise damaged shingles, it should probably come off (and if it's not in that kind of shape, you probably wouldn't be considering replacement!).
• If the decking is rotting or deteriorating, the old needs to come down.  This is because you won't be able to make the necessary repairs otherwise, and it won't do you any good to install a new roof over rotting materials!
• If your new roof is made of a material lighter than the original roof, the old roof needs to come down.  This is to say, if you're installing lightweight shingles over heavy duty ones, then all the bumps and ridges from the old stuff is going to show through.

What it really boils down to is expediency over quality.  If your roof is in dire need of repair and you have no other option but to do it as cheaply as you can get by with, then yes, installing right over the top of the old roof is probably the way to go.  You'll save time.  You'll save money.  

Consider the problems that might surface later!  For instance, let's say, in a couple years, a leak develops.  Do you have any idea how hard it will be to trace the leak to its source through multiple layers of roofing material?  That's going to make finding and actually fixing the problem virtually impossible, and given the shortened useful life of the new roof, unless you sell and move (foisting the problem onto someone else down the road), you'll be faced with higher costs when it comes time to re-replace the roof, because now you've got two layers of material to strip off and dispose of, to say nothing of any repairs the decking might need.

How to Temporarily Protect a Storm Damaged Roof

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How to Temporarily Protect a Storm Damaged Roof

So the storm has passed, and now you’re hearing that steady drip, drip, drip in your house.  You know the roof has taken a hit.  When things calm down a bit (and when they get the roads reopened),  you’re going to need to call your nearest New York Roofing company and have them come out and work their magic to make your house whole again, but in the meantime, you don’t want the damage to get any worse.

You’ve already taken care of the obvious.  Cleaned up the deluge that originally fell through when the damage occurred.  You’ve got towels down inside, and buckets to catch the dripping, but that’s only addressing the symptoms of the problem.  What you really want to do is to address the root of the matter until you can call the professionals in and have it taken care of permanently.

Long Island Roofing Repairs

Until you can get the nearest Long Island roofing contractors out to see you, there are actually a few different ways you can minimize the damage and at least keep things from getting worse.  Before you start though, a few words about safety.

Even under the best of circumstances, roofs can be tricky.  When wet, they can be downright treacherous, so if you’re going to do any makeshift repairs, safety first.  At a minimum, that means wearing rubber soled shoes, and no walking around on the damaged roof.  You don’t know how bad the damage is, and the last thing you want to do is make a small hole bigger by falling through!

That said, let’s talk about the three things in particular you can do to rig a temporary fix.

1. The roof turbine – You’ve seen those little silver spinning things on rooftops before, right?  Well, they can get blown off rather easily in a storm, and when they do, it opens up a hole straight into your lovely house.  Fortunately, hardware stores carry “caps” for them, and if yours should come up missing after a storm, that’s a quick and easy fix.  In fact, if this is the source of your leak, you may not even need a roof renovation specialist at all!

2. Cover the hole with a tarp – This is probably the first thing most people think of when they suffer damage to their roof.  Almost everybody has at least one tarp, and it’s pretty well suited to the task.  There are a couple of different ways you can make this work, too.  If you have a staple gun and some two by fours, you can create a “patch” to cover the impacted area.  You could accomplish much the same effect with a big roll of plastic sheeting.  Just roll it out over the impacted area, staple it down so the wind won’t catch it, roll the sheeting to the crest of the roof and staple near the roof line for stability.  It won’t last forever, but it’ll keep things from getting worse.

3. Finally, consider roofing paper (this might be called ‘tar paper’ or ‘roofing felt’ where you live, but it is all the same stuff).  You affix it with plastic cement and a trowel.  This can work on smaller holes where a tarp might be overkill.  If you go this route, you will want to apply the paper in overlapping strips, and make sure you cover at least a couple feet on each side of the hole to prevent seepage.  

Whatever makeshift repairs you make, just bear in mind that you or the roofing guys will have to undo them when it comes time to make the repairs permanent, so don’t go overboard, whatever solution you gravitate toward.  No need in winding up having to pay more because the pros have to undo your quick fix!

How to choose a new roof when there are so many choices

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How to choose a new roof when there are so many choices

It is true there are many options for you to choose from if you are considering a home roof repair in Long Island.  These choices range from the material of the roof, to its pitch and the company you will use to install the roof.  However, for all these decisions there is likely to be one option that is most suited to your particular circumstances and when the various advantages and disadvantages of these options are weighed up, the choice of which one to choose should become clearer.

Material

The decision of which material to choose for your new roof will probably come down to shingle or metal and each material has its advantages.  The length of time you will remain in the property can influence the decision about the material that is chosen.  A metal roof has a considerably longer lifespan than a shingle roof so if you are planning to stay in the property for a period of up to fifty years it is possible you would never have to replace the roof again.  Metal roofs are generally more hardwearing than shingle roofs so any repair costs will be lower overall.  A shingle roof is usually made of asphalt shingles and this type of roof costs much less to install than a metal roof.  Any repairs can usually be easily made. They are available in a wide range of colors and styles so they will suit any style of home. Both metal and asphalt shingle roofs are fire resistant.

Pitch

Most Long Island roofing on residential properties is pitched but flat roofing can also have benefits.  A flat roof is much harder to install than a pitched roof and therefore can be more complex and can increase installation costs.  Flat roofs are also easier to clean and maintain that a pitched roof and can be accessed more easily and safely.  The benefits of a pitched roof include easier draining of rain water and it also allows for more loft space within the property.  Many people prefer the look and style of a pitched roof over that of a flat roof.

Contracting

The hardest decision you are likely to make is which roofing contractor to choose to install the new roof. There are some steps that can be taken to help you make this decision.  Choosing a local company means there are likely to be examples of their work in the neighborhood that can be viewed.  Family and friends may be able to make some recommendations.  If you have the time to gather several quotes then these can be compared to in order to find the best deal.  You should be wary of any quote that is considerably lower than the others as these savings may be made by sacrificing quality in either materials or workmanship.

Replacing any New York roofing will be an investment to  your home and any decisions that are made regarding the work should not be taken lightly.  If you have time to consider all your options then you should take as much time as needed to ensure you are completely happy with all your decisions.  Even if the work needs to be done as quickly as possible it is important not to be pressured into any decisions you may not be completely comfortable with.  A good Long Island roofing contractor will be able to go through all your options with you and help you to make the right decisions that best suit your circumstances.