Re - Roofing guide to getting a new roof:

Every house will require a new roof at some point of time, but how do you know which type of roof will be the best fit for your home?

Whether you just bought your new new house, or it is simply time for your older roof to go, there are many options that you have, and if you choose wisely you could save thousands of dollars and get a good investment in your home.

First thing you need to decide on is how long you will be staying in your house.

If you plan to sell your house in a few short years or so, then a conventional asphalt shingle roofing system will be sufficient enough, but if you want your home to be more of a long term investment, then you could greatly benefit from various types of metal roofs, which can be made out of steel, aluminum, copper and other alloys.

Points to keep in mind:

Asphalt shingle roofing - perhaps the least expensive type of roofing material. It is widely used in commercial and residential roofs in the United States. Despite its relatively low cost this type of roofing material may still be practical given the quality of roofing installation and with the use of a premium quality product.

The biggest drawback to asphalt shingle roofing is that it begins to detiriate as soon as it gets exposed to the elements such as snow and ice, sun and the wind. Asphalt roofs are not well suited in areas prone to hurricanes and areas with strong winds. They are not a good choice for areas that get a lot of snow and ice, such as northern New England and portions of Mid West.

There are many different roofing choices available with the asphalt shingle.

From the least expensive 15 years rated asphalt shingle, to a pricier 30 year rated architectural
shingle.

Depending on the type of material and the quality of roofing installation, you may expect this roof to last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Thus, if you want to invest little money and plan to sell your house in a few years so, asphalt shingle roof may be the right way to go for you.

Metal Roofing is becoming an increasingly popular choice among homeowners and commercial firms alike. It is not uncommon anymore to see beautifully built metal roofs covering the houses of many suburbs in the North East, and heavily winded areas of Florida.

Longevity and durability are the biggest benefits of metal roofs which are not affected by the exposure to the natural elements. Well built, and professionally installed metal roofing system could last anywhere from 25 to 60 and sometimes even 75 years.

Despite, its comparably higher initial price, metal roof can increase the value of the house, and offer some considerable savings in energy costs. There is also a tax credit available from the government to homeowners who install qualified metal roofing systems.

Metal Roofs come in a great variety of all sorts of different shapes and colors such as standing seam, Spanish tile, slate, tiles, wooden shakes, metal shingles and many others.

For homeowners who are looking for a beautiful roof that will offer great looks, durability, and energy savings metal roofing is the way to go.

Flat Roofs can commonly be seen on various types of commercial buildings such as stores and restaurants, as well as some properties such as condominiums and apartment buildings.

There are numerous flat roofing choices available form the good old rolled roof such as rubber roof, EPDM, to the single ply membrane roofing systems that are hot air welded at seams, which creates a uniform roofing system.

Many of these single ply membrane roofing choices come with some very impressive residential and commercial warranties. For instance, an unprecedented leader in this new technology is company called IB which stands for industry's best, which I think they are, deservingly, based on the quality of their products, wide selection of choices, faultless track record, and lifetime warranties.

Once you have decided on a type of the new roof that will best work for you, it is time for you to obtain some roofing quotes from the local contractors.

It is important to keep in mind that your choice of contractor will make or break your project.

Make sure to research the potential company before you commit your money to down payment.

Ask for references, insurance papers, warranty details, and make sure you get everything in writing.

Make sure to ask a lot of questions so that you have a full picture before you decide to go with a given contractor.

Remember that it is better to be safe than sorry. So make sure you do your homework! Another thing that can help in obtaining a good fair quote is knowing the actual size of your roof, which can be found by looking at your house plans, or by performing a ground roof measurement using an easy 4 step guide, which will give you some idea as to what you should be looking to pay for your new roof.

Thus, we have a three step process:

Decide on the kind of roof that best fits your needs.

Research Roofing contractors and make sure you are 100% comfortable dealing with the company you have chosen.

And finally, get a great roofing estimate.

Good Luck!

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