You can choose a pneumatic roofing nailer with an air compressor; an electric roofing nailer with an extension cord; or a rechargeable roofing nailer with extra batteries for big projects. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but whichever one you choose must be strong enough to survive a fall from the roof.

Using Roofing Nailer Saves Arms And Hands

Trying to decide if a roofing nailer will make life easier will depend on the definition of easier and whether or not is vocational or, as a homeowner, needed for replacing the roof or making repairs. If the decision has been made to purchase a roofing nailer it will need to be decided on the type. They are available with pneumatic power, electric and rechargeable, and made by various manufacturers.

Essentially, a roofing nailer will save the arms and hands from pounding with a hammer all day long and most have adjustable power settings so the user doesn’t over drive a nail into the roof, damaging the new roofing material. This can be especially helpful if installing slate or tile roof and too much power can crack one of the expensive tiles. On asphalt shingles they can tear through the shingle if left unnoticed can cause a leak in the future.

The first feature to look at is its durability. It will have to hold up to hours on a hot roof without being damaged by the sun. It should also be able to live through a two-story drop onto the ground or concrete without breaking into a thousand pieces. Typically, no matter careful the worker is, the roofing nailer is going to take a fall.

Choosing Clutter Or Convenience

While most professionals swear by a pneumatic roofing nailer there are some who are not interested in being connected by a long air hose and having to have an air compressor running all day. Although they can usually be adjusted for air power of between 70 and 120 pounds per square inch, they can be tough to maneuver in tight spots such as under second story eaves or around chimneys.

An electric power roofing nailer obviously does not require the air compressor but the user will still be dragging a long extension cord behind them as they work. Also adjustable depth gauges and built-in tools to help keep nail lines straight into the shingles, they can be slightly heavier than a pneumatic roofing nailer as the power is located in the unit.

Most rechargeable roofing nailers have the same power, with a minimum voltage of around 20, and do everything the electric roofing nailer can do. Typically, most companies claim the battery charge lasts long enough to nail down about two square of roofing material. Extra batteries are available for use on large jobs, but the ability of them to survive a 15 of 20-foot fall is questionable.

Aluminum roofs should be inspected for buckling and accumulated water every six months, and have any problems repaired before they seriouly compromise the roofs’ performance. Your aluminum roofing can be professionally inspected either when you are having your gutters cleaned, or by roofing contractors.

The Care And Feeding Of Your Aluminum Roofing

Let’s suppose the house or building you want to buy has aluminum roofing. Should you still buy the house or building? That depends on many factors. Aluminum roofing is great for terrains with aggressive weather such as the deserts of Australia, the coastlines that constantly get hit with sea salt spray or places that get acid rain (which is getting to be everywhere these days). The roof itself should still be in good condition. Aluminum roofing can last on average fifty years. So even if it’s an older roof, chances are it’ll still be sound. Aluminum roofing is better resistant to molds or rusting than other types of roofing.

What’s The Weather Up There?

Roofs, even made of aluminum roofing, can get damaged by the weather, falling trees, passing hurricanes and all that sort of fun stuff. But not only does the roof need at the very least a bi-annual checkup, but the roof’s fastenings, which is the stiff that connects your aluminum roofing to the rest of your house.

You are looking for any buckling, loosening, puddles that won’t go away or just plain broken roofing materials, even if your roof is not leaking. Getting any early damage repaired now when it is only a minor problem can save you money down the road when it becomes an even bigger problem.

If you have gutters and live in a very leafy neighborhood, you need to get your gutters cleaned out at least once a year, or water won’t drain from off of your roof. Many professional gutter cleaners will also give your roof a once-over. Although many homeowners clean their gutters themselves, they often do it from the ground or from a ladder and cannot see the entire roof.

If you’re uneasy at that thought and rather get a specialist in roofs, you certainly can. Roofing contractors don’t just build and repair roofs – they can also inspect them. In order to find a roofing contractor, you can ask trusted friends and family who inspects their roofs, or you can check with your bank and see who they recommend. Why would the bank have a list of recommended contractors? Because they loan homeowner’s substantial amounts of money for the purposes of repairing or remodeling their property, and so they want to know that only reputable companies will get them their money back.

If you have a chimney, get that checked as well, to be sure that it isn’t clogged.

A roof of concreter roofing tile is nearly impervious to water, ice, or snow damage, but should only be installed on a roof substructure strong enough to bear its extra weight. Installation of concreter roofing tile requires a high degree of expertise, and should be left to roofing crews with plenty of experience.

For Lasting Protection Concrete Roofing Tile Makes Sense

One of the most durable materials for roofs in areas with a severe climate is concrete roofing tile and with a vast array of styles and colors to choose from, they can maintain a home’s appearance for 50 years and beyond. Usually when people think about concrete roofing tile they imagine the half-round red clay tiles common in southern areas of the country. However, this tile will not last very long in parts of the country where winter weather can be harsh with several freeze-thaw cycles occurring each year.

A word of caution on the use of concrete roofing tile, is that they are typically heavier than even asphalt tile and before it is installed the roof’s substructure should be checked to insure it can hold the additional weight. While not as heavy as slate, the average 400-pounds per one hundred square feet for asphalt, will put extra stress on the roof support trusses.

Most concrete roofing tile consist of concrete, sand an color pigment, which allows it to match any color the homeowner wished to have on their roof. Due to the delicate nature of the concrete roofing tile, it is strongly advised that a roof with the experience and dedication to detail is hired for the installation. Someone who is used to working on high-end housing should understand the tricks of installing a concrete roof as well as the fact that there are no shortcuts to doing it right.

Attaching Concrete Tile To The Roof

While installing concrete roofing tile is slightly different than asphalt tile, the same basic principal is used. They can be attached using two methods, one of which uses lugs attached to wood strips nailed to the roof and connect to the back of the tile. In the other method the tiles are set on the roof surface and attached with nails or screws, much the same way asphalt tile is fastened.

The tiles are made to be interlocking to prevent water, snow and ice from getting under them in bad weather and once the first row of concrete roofing tile has been fastened to the roof, the second row can be interlocked to the first and also fastened to the roof.

Another advantage to concrete roofing tile and its installation technique is that it can be used on areas that are almost vertical and not restricted to rooftop use only. They can be attached to the front of a gable, a porch wall or anywhere else where they can serve as a decorative addition to the house’s protection.

Now available in a wide range of colors, and even in organic materials, asphalt roofing shingles are usually warranted for decades and can be well-maintained with two-year inspections in which any loose or damaged shingles are replaced. The wide availability of asphalt roofing shingles means that the homeowner will have no difficulty in replacing them when necessary.

Asphalt Roofing Shingles: The Most Popular Roofing

When you think “roof”, you probably think of a roof made of asphalt roofing shingles. If you don’t have asphalt shingle roofing, chances are the guys next door does. It is just about the most popular roofing material in America.

Formula For Success

Asphalt roofing shingles are so popular because they are easy to get a hold of, cheap, lightweight and do not require a degree in rocket science to install. Any competent roofer will know how to install and maintain a roof made of asphalt roofing shingles. Contrast this to slate roofing, which requires different skills in laying down, handling and cutting altogether.

Just like any other kind of roofing materials, there are different grades of asphalt roofing shingles. The higher the grade, the more expensive they will be. But it might be cheaper to shell out now rather than later. How tough are asphalt roofing shingles? Class IV is considered tough enough to withstand hail. And you are not stuck with just gray anymore. Asphalt roofing shingles now come in a variety of colors.

Asphalt roofing shingles are made of fiberglass and an organic composite material of felt, paper and asphalt. The organic ones are heavier, less likely to blow off but are more expensive. If you are seeking to live in your home and not sell it in a few years, consider the organic alternative.

Warranties

Many asphalt roofing shingles come with warranties lasting decades. You can have your contractor or roofer order any special brand name shingles, such as Elk or Eagle. Although asphalt roofing shingles are tough, they do need your help and at least a biannual checkup in order to do their job.

You need an annual or at least a biannual roof inspection to be sure there isn’t any small problems that can turn into big headaches. Tiles can be damaged or get loose. Because of their wide availability, getting replacements is easy for your roofer.

You also need to be sure your attic or upper crawlspace has adequate ventilation. The temperature outside of your home will often be a lot different than inside of your home. The roof is then hot on one side and cold on the other. This can stress asphalt roofing shingles, causing them to give up the ghost. But with a proper buffer zone between the roof and your home, the stress of the differing temperatures is lessened. If your attic or crawlspace has pools of water, mold, smells damp – you need to get it fixed.

Corrugated roofing, unlike flat roofing materials like asphalt shingles, is designed to help water flow off roof tops so that there is no chance of it accumulating and causing leaks or attracting disease-bearing insects like mosquitoes. Corrugated roofing cuts and installs easily, with its sections overlapping both laterally and vertically to make it waterproof.

The History Of Corrugated Roofing

Perhaps you have property with corrugated roofing. Perhaps you’ve never heard of corrugated roofing and want to know if the roof needs to be replaced with another material. If you live in a rainy area of the world, your corrugated roofing was made just for rolling water off of your home. Here’s a basic history of corrugated roofing.

What Is It?

Corrugated roofing is usually made of corrugated iron. What is corrugated? That means “wavy”. When the roof material is wavy instead of flat (like asphalt shingles), then water can best flow right off. Standing water is a big no-no on the top of any roofs. Not only does it make water damage, which will eventually cause expensive leaks, but standing water is a Hilton for mosquitoes and other annoying insects.

Corrugated roofing works best when the roof itself is a triangle shape, instead of being completely flat.

Corrugated roofing is sometimes referred to as CGI, which stands for “corrugated galvanized iron”. CGI was invented in the 1840’s as a new, lightweight yet tough construction material. Most of CGI concentrated on roofing. For the first time, a cheap, commercially available and sturdy roofing material was available to everyone.

Not Just Iron Anymore

It’s not the iron that makes corrugated roofing, but the waves. Some people didn’t like iron’s ability to rust or dent when large tree limbs fell on it. And, makers of roofing materials are always after the better roof – ideally, cheap, sturdy and easy to install and maintain. Corrugated roofing comes in many materials nowadays. You can choose from stainless steel, fiberglass, aluminum, zinc, coated or painted steel.

One of the loveliest historic homes that has corrugated roofing is in Scotland. It is called Glenlair, and was the home of Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell, who developed a lot of things, but the only one this writer can immediately grasp is that he helped develop color photographs. He also had great taste in homes. Although Glenair is still suffering from the effects of a huge fire in 1929, it and its corrugated roofing are still standing and still beautiful. The grand old house is slowly being restored by private donations.

Another historic building with a corrugated roof that’s on this side of the Pond is The Captain Coghlan House in the Yukon. It was made very early in the last century with corrugated roofing of metal. In 2005, the Yukon Historical & Museums Association gave the house an inspection. Over 100 years old, the roof was considered in ‘fair” condition!

While familiar asphalt roofing shingles remain the most popular form of roofing in the Untied States, there are now synthetic roofing materials like fiberglass an PVC along with traditional ones like wooden shakes an shingles, aluminum, tin, copper, and steel roofing, and the oldest of all, slate and tile roofing. The choice of roofing material will be limited only by a homeowner’s budget and location.

The Various Types of Roofing

There are many different factors that individuals may wish to consider when they are selecting roofing for their current house or for a new house that they may be building. Each type of roofing offers advantages and drawbacks and the main types of roofing are composition shingle, corrugated sheet, wood, built-up roofing, metal, and tile.

Composition Shingles and Corrugated Sheets

Composition shingles are seen in the majority of homes in the US today. Generally, composition shingles are known as asphalt shingles. These are basically applied to your roof using an adhesive along with nails. This type of roofing can be come in many different styles and quality levels; the quality levels are general numbered from one to three. The type of quality a consumer chooses will likely to be dependent on how much they want to spend.

Corrugated sheet roofing can be made of a few different types of materials, fiberglass, PVC, or fiber. This type of roofing is generally installed over an existing roof. It is preferred by many consumers because it is perhaps the easiest type of roof to install by a do-it-yourselfer.

Wood and Built-Up Roofing

Wood roofing can be made of shingles or shakes. This type of roof is preferred by some consumers, because it gives a natural look and feel to the home. Shingles have a smooth finish and shakes are rough in texture and look even more natural. While thought to be a fire hazard by some, many homeowners prefer in these for aesthetic reasons.

Built-up roofs are not as commonly seen in regular homes, although they are frequently seen on commercial-type buildings. These roofs are generally seen on very flat structures or structures that have only a very slight slope. They are created by using layers of fiberglass treated with asphalt. Then, this layer will be treated with tar made from asphalt.

Metal and Tile Roofs

Although they were considered outdated at one point in time, metal roofs have become very popular over the last couple of decades. Metal roofs are popular because they are not very difficult to install, may require very little maintenance, and are nonflammable. Depending on the type of metal roof purchased they can actually last up to 50 years.

Title and slate roof roofing date back to a time when other types of modern roofing were not available. While they are very durable and will last for long time, they can be very expensive and very difficult to install. Also, they will not always work on every type of structure. Many structures would have to be reinforced for this type of roof to be safe and long lasting.

Its only drawback is that the relative scarcity of copper makes copper roofing more expensive than either tin or aluminum roofing, but there are roofing companies which offer somewhat cheaper copper roofing made from recycled copper. Like all roofing, copper roofing should be inspected regularly so that any damaged or loose shingles can be replaced.

What You Need To Know About Copper Roofing

Copper roofing looks great. Many old historical buildings that are being restored are getting copper roofing. Copper first was used as a roofing material successfully over 2500 years ago. And you can get copper roofing in different colors other than copper. Is copper roofing suitable for your home, though?

Whole Roof Or Part?

Copper roofing is popular because it’s light, it works and looks pretty. However, it is also more expensive than other roofing materials – but not as expensive as slate shingles. Why is it more expensive? Well, copper is not as abundant a metal as iron, tin or aluminum, for example. Because of the costs, you may decide on only to get part of your roof made with copper, such as the down-spouts, gutters or trim.

You have to shop around not only for a good roofer, but for copper roofing materials. Fortunately, copper is a recyclable and roofing supply companies can melt down other unwanted copper products to make sturdy copper roofing. Sometimes these recycled copper roofs can be cheaper. Hussey Copper Ltd of Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, for example, makes recycled copper roofing from copper coils.

How Hard Is It To Install?

Unlike slate roofing, copper roofing is a lot easier to install, which cuts down on labor costs for you. Copper roofing tends to come in shingles and is installed exactly like asphalt roofing shingles, which are the most popular kind of roofing in the world. Any good roofer will know how to install shingles. Compare roofers before deciding on one. Even the best copper roofing cannot do its job if installed wrong. So, if you’ve never installed roofing shingles before, now is not the best time to learn. Leave it to a contractor.

How Strong Is It?

Hoe strong is copper roofing? There are copper roofs still “standing” in hurricane-prone Florida. When installed properly, copper roofing can last a century or more. It is mostly impervious to severe weather conditions. Copper roofs work well in tropical areas and areas with winter.

You need to do your part to help your copper roofing do its job. It’s good to have it inspected once a year by a roofer (perhaps the one who installed it) to see that there hasn’t been any damage from flying tree limbs or hailstorms or whatever God chooses to drop out of the sky. Getting the roof inspected can save you a lot of money and headaches in the futire.

But deck roofing can also refer to a slightly sloped roof added to a residential deck so that it is protected from inclement weather, making it available for outdoor enjoyment over an extended period of the year. All deck roofing needs to be properly waterproofed.

What Is A Deck Roof?

If I was to say that I was building a roof deck, would you know what I was talking about? A deck roof, or a flat roof, is very similar to most normal interpretations of roofs, it just lacks the pitch. Think of it like an extra deck on your second story. While popular in rural areas, most roof decks are found in large commercial cities like New York, or on islands where a traditional pitched roof is too hot. There are roof decks on most apartment buildings, hotels, and even high class restaurants. Perhaps one of the most famous roof decks in the United States is Fenway Park’s Budweiser Right Field Roof Deck, which gives a beautiful view of the game, unlimited food and drinks, and a behind the scenes VIP tour of the park, for $20,000.

Don’t Rain On Me

Outdoor sun decks take a strong beating from the elements. Wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail, anything and everything falls on them, as well as on your roof. However, your roof is covered with thousands of shingles (or aluminum sheets) to keep the rain out. When you begin to combine the roof and the deck to create a nice platform to walk out on, the biggest thing you are ever going to have to worry about is leakage. Making the roof deck waterproof is the most important task.

The best solution to this problem is a slight slope to the floor. Nothing too drastic, but if it’s not leaning towards a drop off point, usually the edge of the house itself, then water will start to pile up and the rooms below could get ruined. At the edge of the roof, where the angled floor ends, it’s not a bad idea to place a gutter system of some sort, so the water will run off into a specified place.

Roof decks can be a nice addition to a residential home or a commercial business. If you own a hotel, a roof deck can be a place for your occupants to get out on top of the roof and see the sights safely from up above. Hundreds of bars, clubs, and restaurants have roof decks that allow their patrons to eat with the wind in their hair. If you are a residential home owner and you are thinking of spicing up the retail value of your house with some improvements, a roof deck is a nice way to do that and give yourself some extra space at the same time.

The second important factor in determining the cost of metal roofing is your roof’s slope, which requires you to get information on its rise and run. You can get these figures yourself with the help of ladder, level, and measuring tape, if you are willing to climb the ladder to the height of your roof’s lowest edge. Roofing companies with websites have roofing calculators to turn your data into estimates of the cost of metal roofing.

How To Calculate The Cost Of Metal Roofing

Congratulations! You’ve decided on a metal roof to either go overtop or replace your current roof. Perhaps you live in a state where there are tax cuts for large home repairs like a new roof. Perhaps you have a great credit rating and are sure to get a homeowner’s loan from your bank. But before you can approach a bank for a loan, you need an estimate. A competent roofer will give you an estimate, but you can determine the cost of metal roofing yourself.

The Roof Calculator

Many roofing businesses have websites that include roofing calculators. You feed them the data they ask for and they automatically figure out an estimate for you as to what the cost of metal roofing for you will be. But determining what you need to tell them takes a little work.

First, what kind of metal roofing material are you looking at? Aluminum and tin cost far less than copper or even corrugated iron, for instance. All of the materials have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on the area you live and how steep your roof is.

Then, you need to determine your roof’s rise and run. If you have a flat roof, you don’t have to worry about this, but if your roof is at any kind of angle, then you need to get a ladder, a marker, a three foot level, measuring tape and your brain.

About a foot up your roof’s lowest edge, stick one little side of the level onto your roof’s side so that your leveling tool is the same angle as the ground. Get your measuring tape and figure out how long it is from your level’s middle to the roof. Divide it by three if you’re using a three foot level or two if you’re using a two foot level. Write this down. You have now figured out your roof’s rise.

Now get off the ladder and go up to the attic with the level and the measuring tape. Place the little edge of the level against an angled beam or gable. Your level should be sticking at an angle to the floor. Measure the distance from the middle of your level to the roof. Divide by two or three, depending on how long your level is. Write this down. You have the roof’s run.

Rise and run help you figure out your slope. So you’ll get answers like a pitch of 4 inches in a flat 12 inches, or 4 in 12. This is vital information to determine the cost of metal roofing. The website should tell what formula they use to determine your slope and thus how many square feet of roofing you need. This will give you a good idea of the cost of metal roofing.

Before beginning a do it yourself roofing project, you should make arrangements either for a dumpster to be placed where you can easily get your old shingles into it, or for someone cart them away at the end of each day. After the old shingles and roofing nails are gone, you will lay down 30-pound roofing felt and your asphalt shingles, and your do it yourself roofing project will be done!

Look Forward To Do It Yourself Roofing Jobs

When the roof of the house needs replaced due to age or damage, there are a couple of options. The first is to contract the job to a professional, which may be a good idea if the roof is steep and difficult to walk on or if it is high and the homeowner is afraid of heights. Secondly, do it yourself roofing is possible, depending on the type of roofing material you choose to use and how handy you are with tools.

Replacing the roof of a house is not an easy job, but certainly one that can be done by the home handyman, depending on their fear of heights and having enough strength and stamina to carry bundles of shingles onto the roof. However, it must first be determined if the old roof needs to be torn off before the new one is installed. Typically, if there is currently one layer of asphalt shingles on the roof, a second layer can be put on. With do it yourself roofing jobs, it is not advised to add a third layer, mainly due to the weight on the roof structure.

Tearing off the old shingles can be done with a pitch fork or a flat shovel and will leave a mess in the yard around the house. It’s a good idea to contract for a dumpster in which to place all the old roofing materials or arrange for someone to clean up the mess when you are done.

Keeping It Straight On Do It Yourself Roofing Projects

Once the old roof is off, insure there are no old roofing nails sticking up and take any errant ones out with a claw hammer or nail puller. Once the roof is cleaned off, including swept with a broom, you will need to lay down a layer of 30-pound roofing felt. Most felt is printed with lines for lining up the new shingles for a do it yourself roofing, provided it is applied straight with the roof edge.

There should also be metal roof edging installed around the perimeter of the roof to give the roof a finished appearance as well as to help prevent leaks from water wrapping around the edge and working its way under the first row of shingles. The first row of shingles on the do it yourself roofing, should be placed inverted, meaning the solid edge should line up against the edge of the metal strip. Subsequent layers are put down with the cut side in the right direction.