Alternative Roofing Materials

About three quarters of American homes are covered by composition asphalt shingles. They are cheap and easy to install but they have some drawbacks, primarily that they are bad for the environment and have a shorter life span than other roofing materials. If you do pick composition shingles, you had better be ready to pony up the cash for a succession of Denver roof repairs.

Even older than the asphalt shingle style are wood shake shingles. They last even longer than composition shingles. Wood is a more natural and softer look. Although they are made from trees, they are friendly in that they decompose unlike petroleum products. If well maintained they will last a long time, but wood shake is always a fire hazard.

Metal roofs are popular with those trying to save money on energy bills. Metal roofs make you save money on air conditioning bills because they reflect money in hot environments. If you choose a painted roof, you need to have periodic painting maintenance. However metal roofs last a long time, and do not need Denver roof repairs very often. Metal also does a good job of protecting your home from weather.

An older and environmentally friendly roofing material is tile. Tile is made of clay or sometimes concrete. These are naturally fire resistant materials. Clay is just earth, so it has no problems with decomposition. The main drawbacks of tile and concrete is that these are heavy, brittle materials. They provide good protection, but are liable to break and need a solid roof to support the heavy weight of these roofing materials.

Flat roofs have completely different roofing materials. Some are basically a giant asphalt shingle. It uses hot asphalt inlaid with stone. These are not very friendly because they use a large amount of smelly tar, which is a risk to installers as well as the environment.

Eco roofs that use soil on the top are very good for carbon consumption and global warming. They can basically have a garden on your roof that also provides insulation. Engineered rubber roofing is made of recycled materials but may be hard to find from your Denver roof repairs company.

Let A Denver Roofing Company Be Your Friend After A Disaster

Posted by: All Roofing

Just as every building needs a good, solid foundation, so every building also needs a strong, reliable roof. Without a roof, the building and its contents have no protection from the elements. The inhabitants are exposed to rain, snow, extreme temperatures and beating sun. Every home, office and outbuilding needs a well-built roof.

But even the best roof can be destroyed during a natural disaster. Hurricanes, tornados, and violent thunder storms cause severe damage to buildings every year. High winds rip shingles from roof decking, and entire trusses are often lifted up and tossed about like Lincoln Logs. Falling trees can crush sections of roofing, compromising the integrity of the structure and allowing rain to pour in on the contents inside.

When disaster strikes, homeowners are devastated. Enduring the violent storm is enough to rattle the nerves and put residents on edge. Finding out that the family home is severely damaged can be too much to bear. Thankfully, roofing contractors are prepared for such times. They come in behind the Red Cross to offer comfort of a different kind. The peace of mind that a competent Denver roofing company can lend after a natural disaster is beyond words. Homeowners need to know that their homes will be rebuilt and that life will go on.

After damage has been assessed and insurance claims have been filed, the job of a roofing contractor begins. A roof must be replaced or repaired quickly to avoid further damage to the inside of the building. Water damage and mold present tremendous health issues, especially during warm summer months when mold spores reproduce quickly. Birds and small animals may invade a home after roof damage has created a point of entry. Swift action on the part of the roofing company prevents those scenarios and gives the homeowner or business owner hope for the future.

Firemen, Paramedics and Policemen are the obvious heroes during a natural disaster, but the unsung heroes are the faithful roofing contractors that come in behind the storm and put back the pieces. Disasters of the natural kind are not the only way roofs are lost. Fires, explosions and even acts of terrorism are equally real and equally destructive. But no job is too big for the roofing cavalry. The National Roofing Contractors Association rallied contractors to repair the roof of the Pentagon after the infamous terrorist attacks on September 11th.

We all should be thankful for the roofs over our heads. But when those roofs become damaged, destroyed or lost, it's the Denver roofing contractors that we should be thanking. They are the diligent workers that keep us protected from the elements and shelter us from the violent forces of nature. They see it as a job to be done. We see them as heroes.