Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Recommended Roofing Materials For Your Home

Discover Which Roofing Materials Are The Best For Your House



As we all know that roofing services are one of the most important services for any building. With a wrong choice of roofing contractors, you will have to face many problems.  Just imagine, you're sitting in your living room with your family watching a movie, suddenly you feel that your pop corn bowl is spitting at you, but it's actually water bouncing from your little treat into your face. Where did that come from, you ask yourself? It came from the leak in your roof, the leak that was caused by bad workmanship or the wrong roofing materials.

This is where hiring experienced and qualified roofing contractors and having best quality materials for your house roof becomes essential.

Finding which roofing materials are the best for your house can be a confusing endeavor.  There are many types of roofing material out there and it is hard to know which might be the correct one for you.  By choosing the right roofing service provider, you can have expert opinion and suggestions for your home roofing services. There are things to keep in mind including lifespan of the material, aesthetics, and of course cost.  Here are five things to consider when looking at different types of roofing material.


1. Cost:

For many homeowners, the cost of roofing is very significant.  Homeowners are looking to save money when they can on this costly repair.  When it comes to re-roofing or installing a new roof, there are several cost considerations to keep in mind.

2. Price of material:


The price of the roofing material can vary widely depending upon several factors.  Different types of roofing materials have different expected life spans, so be sure to choose with this kept in mind.

3. Condition of existing roof:


For re-roofing, the condition of your existing roof is one of the biggest cost determinants.  If you need a complete tear-off of your old roof, or repair to supporting structures underneath the roof, the final cost can be much more than the cost of the roofing material and labor.

4. Shape of roof:


Roofs with simple lines, few intersections and valleys, and few interruptions to the roofline will cost less than those with complicated rooflines, turrets, skylights, and extensive venting systems.


Materials for roofing:


A wide variety of roofing materials is available.  There are pros and cons to each type.  In general, it is good to keep in mind the expected lifespan of the material, and to make a choice that will be aesthetically harmonious with the looks of your house and in keeping with the period your house was built in.  Additionally, for those living in neighborhoods, consider a material that blends well with those of your neighbors.

Asphalt shingles (USA and UK not available in Australia)


Asphalt is one of the most common types of roofing materials.  It is preferred because of its relative ease of installation, as well as a generally lower cost for material.  Asphalt comes in a variety of finishes, and generally has a lifespan of 20 or more years.  One disadvantage of asphalt is it’s commonality.


Wooden shingles and shakes (USA and UK not available in Australia)


Wooden shingles, and their larger cousin shakes, are a beautiful addition to many homes.  They do require periodic maintenance to keep off moss and algae, and to repair any splitting that may occur.  Wooden shingles may not be acceptable in some areas due to fire codes.  Life expectancy is around 25 years but wooden roofing may cost twice as much as asphalt.


Metal roofing


One of the most beautiful types of roofing material, metal roofs can be made of copper, aluminum, steel, or a mixture.  Metal roofs are highly durable and are quite expensive.

Tiles


Tiles are a beautiful and durable material especially common to Mediterranean-style and California-style homes.  Cement is sometimes used to mimic tiles.  Both of these types of material are quite durable, but are very heavy.  Supporting structures of the roof may need to be shored up prior to installing roofs of this type. 

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate roofing is another alternative to conventional roofing materials and is made of synthetic resin. The benefits of using carbonate resin is that it can be molded into many different shapes (much like glass) and is long lasting, unlike tiles which will almost always succumb to environment damage. Polycarbonate roofing is light weight and often used in replace of glass for architectural designs. 



Colorbond


Colorbond Roofing is exclusive to Australian home owners and is a colouring system for metal or steel roofing. It is extremely popular due to the variations and durability of the coating system. Colorbond roofing can be used on most existing metal roofs and is generally provided as an option by most qualified roofing companies.

Conclusion

For many people, finding which roofing materials are the best for your house may be a matter of what is already there.  If you are starting from scratch, things like life expectancy of the material, along with texture, color, and maintenance needs will help you make a decision you will be happy with for many years.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Happy Customers

Today we finished a job in Sandgate on Brisbane northside. It was a large re roofing project for a young family with 2 daughters (The McNeil's). As we had been there for over 2 weeks myself and 2 apprentice works got to know the family pretty well!

This was one of those jobs that we really enjoyed and was a great pleasure to wake up every morning to go to work. We were even offered breakfast everyday, really amazing hospitality and something which doesn't happen often (nor do we expect it).

I just wanted to write a quick post sharing our thoughts on the job and what a great customer we had. The McNeil's got a new roof on their home and also has some guttering replaced. They mentioned they had 3 quotes to choose from (they simply googled "roofing brisbane") and although ours wasn't the cheapest they found our friendly nature and professional attitude towards out work a winner for them.

So thank-you to Marge and Graham McNeil for your vibrant outlook on life and for being one of the best customers we have had the pleasure of working for!

Brendon


How I fixed my Leaking Roof

How I fixed my Leaking Roof - Nice story about some DIY rppf repair work. Not that we would recommend doing it yourself, but if you have some building experience and are good with tools, you could probably pull it off.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Advice On Roof Repairs & Restorations

When you should Consider Roof Repair - By The Brisbane Roofing Experts


Roof repair is definitely an intimidating task. It is the roof over your loved ones, business, or investment and it must be done correctly. Some kinds of problems are the ones that result to roof damage and that is why you should try your best to find out which problems. Some are caused by poor maintenance, while some are caused by weather.

If weather is the problem, strong winds, hails, and falling branches can harm your house or your business premises. Since you can never stay away from wind or rain, you should make sure that the roof of your house will not blow away as a result of strong winds. Hail damage could be avoided, or at best reduced, by utilizing shingles that are resistant. These shingles may handle basketball-sized hail, but when you've any dormer home windows, vents, or decorative aspects, they're still susceptible to icy portions.

Protection from weather


So far when wind issues is still a problem, you can arrange to meet with an expert and discuss the problem regarding your geographic location and what type of materials you will need to weatherproof your house. Some areas do not get much air flow, while some get hurricane pressure winds. Talking about severe weather, if you reside within an area vulnerable to either severe weather or tornados, you might want to consider hurricane straps along with other techniques of planning your house, for example anchors between different levels inside a multilevel home.

These make certain all of the parts of your property are guaranteed. If you reside inside a place vulnerable to any inclement weather or natural disaster, you need to meet with a reliable company to go over how you can optimize your home's safety. You might find that the gables are braced incorrectly or perhaps your sheathing is not correctly connected. They are fixable, but only when you discover and address this complaints in time.

Correct Installation & Maintenance


One more reason why you should repair your roof is when you have a roof that has not been installed properly or when you have not been taking good care of your roof. For individuals who don't wish to poke around within their loft or jump on a ladder, you are able to bring in help from a qualified roofing contractor to examine your roofing for you personally. Prevention is essential. Many troubles are caused by disregarding a dented tile or a broken shingle. You should take your homes roof like a protective layer that you cannot do without. It must be whole to be able to safeguard your house. One rogue tile can finish up leading to water leaks, harm to sheathing, as well as harm to the key stuff that have been in your loft, for example ac systems. You should check just by searching around within the loft to ascertain if your gables are braced properly. Following a storm that has transpired; you are able to get into your loft throughout daylight and try to place any light materials. If you have some parts of the roofing broken, then you should repair as this may encourage insect infestation.

Conclusion


The very best thing to do when in need of a roof repair would be to find help from an expert in the Brisbane area. Even when you finally decide on some repairs yourself, you should know your options. If you're creating a structure, you should know in case your existing roof has correctly installed drip edges, underlayment a roof deck and, most clearly, shingles. 

We hope you found this article helpful. For further questions or advice please contact the Brisbane Roof  Repair professionals at Masterbuild Roofing.




Monday, June 10, 2013

Tips & Advice for Roof Replacements (Re Roofing) - By Masterbuild Roofing Brisbane

Re Roofing & Roof Replacement Advice


The following recommendations are for Australian residents only as they adhere to the Australian Roofing standards and guidelines. 

The article has been provided by Masterbuild Roofing, a Brisbane based Roofing Contractor.

Replacing your home roof (also known as a new roof or re roofing) is a major project that you can help manage however the following advice is offered as guide only, whenever you decide to undertake major construction work you should always look at hiring a professional in your area. 

A major job on any part of your home is generally considered a gargantuan task and it can really overwhelm you if it is your first time handling such a large project. There are things you need to consider when looking for a replacement for your home roof such as the cost of the material, the extent of the project, the style of the roof, the intricacy of installation and the life span of the roofing material you are planning to make use of.

Selecting the right materials to use

Choosing the right kind of roofing material to use is probably the first step to take. When comparing materials you need to consider the pricing to make sure it fits into your budget. There are a wide range of roof products to choose from.

Getting over this first step first will let you narrow down your available choices, leaving only what fits within your financial budget. 

Common roofing materials used In Australia are:

  • Corrugated iron
  • Colorbond Steel
  • Sheet metal
  • PVC
  • Polycarbonate
  • UPVC Sheets
  • Tiles

If you are interested in reading more about the various roofing materials available you can click here to visit the Wikipedia page on Roofing Materials.

Once you have decided on the right material for your home, the next part is to choose the right color for your roof.

Choosing The Right Colors



Deciding what color to use for your home roofing can be fun and the color ranges available now are limitless thanks to the introduction of new tiles, polycarbonate and colorbond roofing options.

In order to narrow down your choices when it comes to color, check first if the color you have in mind would match or complement your house outer wall’s color scheme.

For instance, my own house has a dark red brick walls. In order to give it more character, I decided to go for a rustic slate colorbond roof because I know it will help to accent my home pretty well. If you want to know more about the availability of color choices for your preferred roofing materials, we can advise you on the available colors to match and complement your home’s visual impact.

If you are looking to replace the roof on your garage, carport or outdoor patio you may want to consider using PVC or Poly-carbonate for your roof. These materials have a great range of color and shape options which can really make your home stand out from your neighbors!







Roof Tiles Or Steel?

A common question we get asked is whether it is best to have a tiled or steel roof. Sometimes it can depend on the style of your home. Tiles used to be the most common form of external layering on a roof. Nowadays, steel roofing layers have become allot more popular for many reasons. Mainly due to the durability and strength of the steel. Tiles can become worn and break after years of heavy weather conditions. One thing to also take into consideration is whether the tile design you choose will be available in 10-20 years in case you need to replace them. We have had quite a few roof repair jobs where we could not source the original tile and ended up having to replace the entire roof by re roofing the home.


Checking Quality and Safety Standards

Before making up your mind to place an order for the material you wanted to use, check on the ratings it has for fire safety and other safety standards. It is of utmost importance to ensure that you getting a roofing system that has a classified grading on fire safety. You can never go wrong with this if you will look for a product that has a class A grading. 


Conclusion and Considerations

The information provided in this article is for general reference for people interested in replacing their roof. The information is relevant at the time of posting and refers to both homes and commercial properties.



Author Information:



Masterbuild Roofing 


Phone:  07 3040 8077

Address: 32 Turbot Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia
Website: http://www.reroofingbrisbaneqld.com.au