Preparation for the changing seasons involves a lot of work. In Spring, that means packing away the long johns, breaking out the gardening tools, putting in extra gym hours to prep for swim season, and tackling the infamous spring cleaning. When Fall rolls around, the long johns resurface, we surrender to that comforting layer of “holiday weight” (what are bulky sweaters for?), we quietly cry over the loss of long, sunny days, and we moodily begin winter-proofing our cars and homes to ward off the snow-filled months to follow.

When winter approaches, the condition of our roofs is pretty easy to overlook in the hullabaloo of new tires, snow mats, antifreeze rationing, and new wardrobes comprised solely of fleece. But investing in a good roof plays a large part in protecting everything underneath that roof which we hold dear: our children, family heirlooms, pet sea monkeys, vintage Beatles albums etc. Here are some things to keep in mind about roof maintenance, whether you’re trying to protect grandma’s quilts or your favorite Fab Four vinyl.

Most roofs under 5-years-old should be in pretty good shape, but these simple tasks can sufficiently maintain a healthy roof for approaching winter:

• keep the roof surface clear of debris
• clean out the gutters regularly
• check for leaks, rust and rot
• trim overhanging tree branches or shrubbery
• replace damaged shingles

While these preventative methods will ensure you the most mileage out of a good roof, if you’re building a new home or in need of serious roof repair, a roofing contractor is often the best bet. A roof that’s over 15-years-old and suffering from heavy leakage and other damage might require a brand new roof installation. While it can certainly save money to tackle the job yourself, a rookie mistake could subject you to further costs down the road, and then you couldn’t afford those cool, new ear-warmers that everyone’s rocking at work.When purchasing new roofing for your house, you’ll want to do some cost analysis based on three main criteria: roofing material, the area size of the roof, and removal of the existing roof.

Some common roofing materials include:

• copper
• fiberglass
• metal
• rubber
• galvanized steel

Once you’ve picked out your material, measured the area, and gotten an honest roofing cost assessment from a reputable contractor, you should have a pretty good handle on how much you’ll shell out to maintain your “home sweet home” until the day you and your pension can run away to Fiji…and banish unflattering, fleece vests for good.

My name is Edie Pastis, and I’m a copywriter for Signature Specialists.

Within the five major types of roofing (asphalt shingles, tile, slate, metal, and wood) there are narrower categories of roofing of different materials, each of which has its virtues and flaws. But for most people, the decision of which of the types of roofing to choose will be based mainly on both cost and durability.

Asphalt Roofing

Nearly four of every five home owners in the United States have decided that of all the types of roofing, asphalt shingles have the most to offer. Asphalt singles come in two varieties, the compositions shingle which has an organic base, and the fiberglass shingle. Both these types of roofing are reasonably fire resistant, lightweight, and wind and waterproof. They are manufactured in both three-tab (standard) and multi-layer (designer) styles, with the three tab shingles having a minimally textured finish and the multi-layered shingles a heavily textured one.

Wood Roofing

For homeowners who prefer a more natural or rustic of, the best of the major types of roofing is wood shingles or shakes. Machine-sawed from southern pine, cedar, or redwood, wood shingles are great on log homes while wood shakes, with their irregular edges, add a contemporary look to a roof.

Wood shingles and shakes, however, require factory treatment to make them fire-resistant. Untreated wood shingles and shakes may not be permitted in some areas of the country.

Tile Roofing

One of the oldest types of roofing, tile roofing, dates back over ten thousand years to ancient China. Tile roofing can be manufactured from either clay or concrete, and red tile roofing is a fixture in California and the southwestern United States, as well as Florida. Tile roofing, however, is now manufactured in a wide range of colors and specialty finishes.

The one drawback of tile roofing is that it is significantly heavier than asphalt, metal or wood roofing, and if you want to replace a one of those types of roofing with tile roofing, you need to make sure your home can handle the additional load.

Slate Roofing

Tile and slate are similar types of roofing in that they are both quite heavy, but slate is a natural rock mined in the Northeaster US. Slate roofing is available in a range of grades and colors, and of all the types of roofing is the closest to being indestructible. Slate, however is also the most expensive of the types of roofing and its installation must be done by roofers trained in the correct techniques. Properly installed, slate roofing will last for centuries.

Metal Roofing

The final of the types of roofing is metal roofing. Metal roofing is ideal for structures with steeply pitched roofs, and is manufactured in both sheets and shingles. Metal roofing sheets are available in many different shaped, while metal roofing shingles can be make to look almost indistinguishable from wood shingles and shakes. Metal roofing is both lightweight and fire-resistant, and can be treated, if necessary, to make it corrosion and rust-proof.

You can also find more info on steel roofing. Roofingbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about roof.

When building a home or replacing the roof on your current home it is essential to know what your options are. Roofing shingles remain the most popular materials used on roofs. There are several reasons for this. They are pretty cost efficient; of course this depends of the type of shingle used. Most shingles are fire resistant and easy to install.

Another reason is shingles last at least 15 years, and typically, most people don’t even live in the same place for 15 years. There are three different types of shingles we will discuss here. Along with the different types, we will also go over price ranges, the lifespan, durability and pros and cons of each type.

The most popular type of shingle used on roofs is the asphalt. It’s also the least expensive, pricing around $15 to $25 per square. They are also fairly easy to install. Asphalt shingles are lightweight and come in a variety of styles and colors. These are fire resistant and can last up to 30 years with proper care.

Although asphalt shingles are the most popular, they do not come without a few disadvantages. They can be severely damaged in high winds such as hurricane force winds or tornadoes. Ones made with asphalt are also vulnerable to mold unless they are specially treated. Compared to others, asphalt shingles do not last very long.

Slate (or stone) shingles are rapidly becoming more and more popular. They add a natural feel and depth to any home. Slate shingles come in many different colors and styles. Using these shingles, you can create a distinctive look to your home. A major plus to these is that they are very durable and tend to last more than 100 years.

With all the pros to the slate shingles there has to be some drawbacks as well. Slate shingles are very heavy and the rafters of the home may have to be reinforced to keep the roof from caving in. These also need to be installed by professionals and can break easily. Stone shingles are also very expensive, pricing about $850 per 100 square feet.

Wood shingles, better known as shakes, are constructed of various types of treated wood. The most popular wood used in making wood shakes is cedar but they are also made from pine and spruce. Wood shakes are easy to install and go great with any home. They are also rather easy to repair compared to other types. If treated properly, wood shakes tend to last at least 50 years.

Wood shakes have a few cons that sometimes can out-weigh the pros. Ones made of wood are not fire proof. And in many places, this along is enough to cause your insurance rates to go up. These tend to be on the more expensive side, but not nearly as expensive as slate shingles. They price around $250 per 100 square feet. If not maintained properly, wood shakes tend to rot and splinter along with molding and mildewing.

Clearly there are many options when choosing what type of roof you want. Most people chose asphalt because of the price, but if you can afford it, the best to go with would have to be slate roofing shingles. If you are not experienced in roofing, you should hire someone who is. This is to help you from having to hire someone to fix problems in the long run.

Metal tile roofing has doubled in the past five years with a growth rate of about 15% annually. This is because the material itself is more capable of protecting your home against destructive weather conditions.

To prove that, studies have shown that it can last at least two to three times longer than an asphalt roof. That is about 40 to 60 years. Since it is also given anti-rusting treatment, it will not corrode.

The world is well aware of climate change. Another benefit of it is that when it is damaged, it can by recycled and used again. This means it is environment friendly and is good to have either in your home or in your office. Unlike wood or other traditional materials used for roofing, it is not prone to insects, mold or rot so you do not have to apply any harmful chemicals that could damage the environment.

Having it for your home also saves energy. This means you can reduce the cooling costs by almost 40% together with the help of reflective paints that have energy saving properties. But of course, this still depends where you live. The paint used in it reflects instead of absorbing the sun’s rays so less heat enters the structure.

It does not require a lot of maintenance. You just have to go up there and sweep away accumulated leaves or other debris and inspect the roof top ancillaries and air conditioners to be sure that it is properly drained and supported.

You also save money when it is time to pay your income tax thanks to the US energy Policy Act of 2005. This allows homeowners a tax credit when they decide to use it in their homes as long as they meet the Energy Star program requirements. It is available in different colors. This means you will be able to find one that matches the color of your walls. If you want to change it, you don’t have to replace the entire thing but simply paint over the old color.

Should you decide to get metal tile roofing, make sure you get a warranty from the manufacturer. Steel vendors who comply with such regulations put coil numbers on each item so you and they will know when exactly were the metal purchased. If this is not present, you have no protection even if they say that such a warranty exists.

Looking after the roof of our house is the first and possibly most important step to caring for the long-term life of any house. Roof leaks are obviously a big problem in any house but knowing the correlation between melting snow and roof leaks can help you to prevent one of the major problems that many houses face. When snow melts and runs down the roof it often refreezes as it reaches the edge of the roof and the gutter. You’ve probably stood back in awe looking at these ice dams that form, but these can cause havoc with the integrity of your roof. However, they are relatively easy to prevent and doing so will undoubtedly save you money and heartache in the future.

How ice dams form.

The warmth from your house melts the snow on the top of your roof because this is the warmest part of your roof. As this melted snow runs down the roof underneath the snow it then reaches the roof edge, which is at sub zero temperature; this drop in temperature causes the snowmelt to refreeze creating the dams that you often see on people’s houses in winter. The weight of these dams can cause a problem itself, however, the real problem occurs when further snowmelt collects in pools against the dams. This water eventually runs through the roof and into the house. Understanding this connection better melting snow and roof leaks is the first step to preventing it, and you basically have two options in order to do so.

Control the roof temperature.

There must be sub zero temperatures in order for the snow to be created initially, there then must above zero temperatures to melt the snow and there must be further sub zero temperatures to create the ice dams. Without all three of these factors you will not suffer from ice dams. For instance your shed is very unlikely to suffer ice dams because the entire surface of the roof is at a sub zero temperature. This means there is no build up of ice around the eaves. It is virtually impossible to keep the whole of your roof at temperatures above zero during very chilly winters, but it is possible to keep a new roof entirely at sub zero temperatures without compromising the temperature of the house. In order to avoid melting snow and roof leaks you need to have very good insulation, ventilation and an effective air barrier. This keeps the warm air in and the roof at a constant temperature thus eliminating melting snow and roof leaks from occurring.

Protection for the perishable areas of your roof.

In many cases you can use a rubber membrane that is attached directly to the roof and the shingles are then added on top. The membrane is actually self-healing so the rubber will heal around the nail holes you create when attaching the shingles. This means that the delicate areas of your roof will be protected in the event of ice dams forming. This can be an effective way to control melting snow and roof leaks in older roofs that are not being replaced.