Your roof will tend to last longer if it has been properly maintained and taken care of but if you are buying an older home, it may be time to replace the roof regardless of the care your home received in the past just to make it more energy efficient. If you live in a hotter climate you are probably aptly aware of the difference that good insulation can make in not only keeping your home cooler but in keeping your energy bills lower as well.
If you begin looking at roofing materials and your options, before you have a qualified and licensed contractor help guide you in your selection process, keep in mind the climate you live in and how the materials and even color on your roof will impact your climate control in your home.
Many homes in hotter desert areas for example will opt for light or white colored roofs because this color will reflect back the heat and work to keep the home cooler. Darker colors on the other hand are perfect for colder climates that need all the help they can get to draw the heat into the home.
When it comes to materials you should look at what your home currently has and what the neighboring homes are using. You are not bound by this of course but if it works, there isn't any reason to do a radical change in materials. When it comes to material types for your roof there are a lot of options including the old standby metal roof and the newest enervation to help your old roof last longer- foam roofing.
Metal roofs are by far the most economical for several reasons, including the fact that you don't need to remove an old roof to install the new metal roof on top. This means less material in the landfill and less labor to remove and haul away that old roof to the landfill.
Foam roofing is not exactly what the name would lead you to believe it is. It is not a type of roofing in itself, but rather a way to help preserve your current roof if it is still in manageable shape but lacking insulation strength. This liquid polymer is sprayed on to the current roof to seal every crevice and gap and can even be used as a shingle adhesive. This spray on roof is extremely energy efficient and can save you up to 70% on your energy bills without replacing your roof to do so.
If you are looking for an alternative to replacing your roof, you may want to ask your contractor about using this method to preserve your roof awhile longer and eliminate the gaps or crevices that are letting in water or other elements.
Talk to your contractor about your best options and do your own research to ensure you are getting the best type of material and type of roof for your climate, budget and home.
If you begin looking at roofing materials and your options, before you have a qualified and licensed contractor help guide you in your selection process, keep in mind the climate you live in and how the materials and even color on your roof will impact your climate control in your home.
Many homes in hotter desert areas for example will opt for light or white colored roofs because this color will reflect back the heat and work to keep the home cooler. Darker colors on the other hand are perfect for colder climates that need all the help they can get to draw the heat into the home.
When it comes to materials you should look at what your home currently has and what the neighboring homes are using. You are not bound by this of course but if it works, there isn't any reason to do a radical change in materials. When it comes to material types for your roof there are a lot of options including the old standby metal roof and the newest enervation to help your old roof last longer- foam roofing.
Metal roofs are by far the most economical for several reasons, including the fact that you don't need to remove an old roof to install the new metal roof on top. This means less material in the landfill and less labor to remove and haul away that old roof to the landfill.
Foam roofing is not exactly what the name would lead you to believe it is. It is not a type of roofing in itself, but rather a way to help preserve your current roof if it is still in manageable shape but lacking insulation strength. This liquid polymer is sprayed on to the current roof to seal every crevice and gap and can even be used as a shingle adhesive. This spray on roof is extremely energy efficient and can save you up to 70% on your energy bills without replacing your roof to do so.
If you are looking for an alternative to replacing your roof, you may want to ask your contractor about using this method to preserve your roof awhile longer and eliminate the gaps or crevices that are letting in water or other elements.
Talk to your contractor about your best options and do your own research to ensure you are getting the best type of material and type of roof for your climate, budget and home.
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