Need a new roof? What you should know about roofing systems

by | Aug 26, 2013 | Articles, Uncategorized

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Need a new roof? What you should know about roofing systems</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – Fall is prime time to put a new roof on your home. But before you spring into action, there are a few things you should know. Most importantly, buying new shingles without the rest of the roofing system is like buying a car with no engine.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"Even the highest-quality shingles cannot work to protect a home if one other part of your roofing system isn’t operating in perfect concert with the other parts," says Bert Elliott, Owens Corning roofing systems expert. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>So what is a roofing system, and how do you choose one that’s right for you?</strong> Here are a few tips:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">First, know the signs that it’s time to replace your roof. Most likely your roof has asphalt shingles, as four out of five roofs in the United States do. Conduct a simple visual inspection from a ladder or by viewing the roof through binoculars. Signs that it might need replacing or<span>  </span>repair include algae growth on the shingles, damaged flashing around chimneys and other openings, buckling, curling, blistering, missing shingles or rotten wood in the attic.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Next you’ll need to make sure that you understand what a roofing system is to know what to ask your contractor. It’s easy, if you think of your roof serving three important purposes: protection from the elements, ventilation and beautification.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Ice and water barriers protect vulnerable areas such as eaves and valleys from ice, snow and driving rain.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Underlayment products provide protection against water seepage between the shingles and the roof deck.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/11a.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/11a.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Shingles protect your home from the elements while adding curb appeal as they can make up to 50 percent of the face of your home.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Hip and ridge shingles add extra protection and style to a home’s roof ridge line.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Gutter protection prevents clogs, while allowing water to flow freely.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">*Ventilation products help ensure that your attic is properly ventilated, preventing mold growth.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Attic insulation allows homes to become more energy efficient by maintaining a more comfortable temperature year round. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Ideally, all parts of your roofing system should come from a single manufacturer as it is designed to work together for maximum performance. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">"While your contractor is up on the top of your home, ask him or her to make sure your attic is sufficiently insulated. A properly insulated attic helps increase the energy efficiency of your home and make your home more comfortable," Elliott says. "The best part is it pays for itself over time in energy saved – a properly insulated home can help save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling bills and insulation is eligible for the tax credit too, according to the government’s Web site for the ENERGY STAR program."</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Once you understand the parts of a roofing system, consider how a roof can impact the curb appeal of a home. Work with your contractor to find a style and color that coordinates with the siding, colors, and style of your home. </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/11c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/11c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Choosing a contractor to install your new roof is just as important as choosing the overall system itself. Use references from friends and family, and online resources like Owens Corning’s contractor locator – found at <a href="http://www.owenscorning.com" target="_blank">www.owenscorning.com</a>  – to gather names and information on candidates. Be sure to check contractors’ license status before you seek bids from them. And don’t automatically go for the lowest bid – be sure competing bids are comparing apples to apples before you decide on one.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">To learn more about complete roofing systems for your home, visit <a href="http://www.roofingsystem.com" target="_parent">www.roofingsystem.com</a> </p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>