Roofing Materials to Choose From

The roof of your house is one of the most important parts; aesthetically, functionally and as far as your house’s worth on the market goes as well. Putting a little time and thought into what type of material you want on your roof will definitely pay off not only in the long run, but immediately in how much you’ll be able to enjoy your home.

Here are a couple of roofing materials that are popular choices for roofing which you might want to consider using when getting your roof done:

·        Rolled Roofing. This is a material often used for low-slope residential roofs and sheds, shops, as well as other out-buildings. It’s one of the less expensive materials; generally under $2.50 per square foot.

·        Built-Up Roofing. This is one of the oldest materials used for roofing, and is used specifically for flat roofs. It generally costs under $5 per square foot. Using layers of roofing felt and asphalt, it forms four thick layers topped off with crushed stone and hot tar leaving you with a tough and durable roof.

·        Membrane Roofing. If you’ve got a very low-pitch roof or a flat roof then membrane roofing is a great option. You can use Neoprene, PVC, Polymer-modified bitumens and EPDM for mebrane roofs. You can count on it costing under $4 per square foot and it will generally last up to 35 years before it needs replacement.

·        Asphalt Composite Shingles. These shingles are the most popular roofing material across North America. Almost every contractor will give you a 20-30 year guarantee with these shingles and, depending on the quality, they can last you from anywhere between 12-30 years. The will cost you from $1.50-$3.50 per square foot.

·        Standing Seam Metal Roofing. When it comes to metal roofing, the standing seam is the most common. It’s got steel or aluminum panels that join into seams that are raised up to keep out moisture, hence the name “standing seam.” This one’s a little more costly, running from $6-$12 per square foot, but you can count on this type of roofing to last you up to 75 years without needing to be replaced.

These are just a few of the most common roofing materials you can choose from, but there a whole lot more!

Different Kinds of Fireplaces

A fireplace is often a decorative centerpiece in many homes, and it’s almost impossible for it not to be! I mean, it provides heat, it looks good, and it’s usually situated in the main living room space where it’s clearly visible for everyone to enjoy.

Here we’re going to take a little look at a couple different types of fireplaces that you’ll have to choose between when getting a new fireplace put it.

The first step when choosing a fireplace is always deciding what kind of fuel you’re going with and from there you’ll narrow down your options considerably.

Wood is a type of fuel that’s easy to get your hands on not to mention a healthy and renewable energy source. Gas is another easy energy source to get your hands on in most parts of the country. It’s a silent burner and is tidier and easier to maintain than wood since you eliminate the entire lumber purchasing process as well as being able to avoid the hefty amount of cleaning that you need to do with wood fireplaces. Gas is generally up to 55 percent more effective as an energy saver than wood, and you have the added bonus of a simple “press the button” approach to lighting up your fireplace.

Then you’ve got your electric fireplaces. These are the most convenient as far as maintenance and upkeep, but not the most efficient energy-wise. They do look great in a wall, lined up nicely under a good TV in the living room.

Once you’ve chosen your energy source, it’s all downhill from there! Most of the choices you’ll make after that are aesthetic and placement issues, and that’s the fun part!