August 21, 2008

Real Estate Improvements - Non-metal Roofs are now Available

Filed under: home — admin @ 8:29 am

There are advantages to using the new roofing products. The cost, durability, and life cycle are longer. The new products are created from recycled and natural materials. When your roof, made of shingles, needs repair, the old shingles are removed and taken to a landfill.

If you are considering one of the newer roofs, you must take the weight of the material into consideration. Some of the newer materials, such as slate and tile, can weight five to ten times more than asphalt shingles; therefore, the supports must be strong enough to hold the added weight.

While this will increase the expense of installation, the expense will only occur once. To determine the actual cost, you must take both the cost of the product and the added expense of strengthening the rafters or trusses. Then determine the length of time of your product warranty.

If you are concerned about the environment, you can use recycled plastic products. Since they weigh approximately the same as shingle, you will not have to strengthen the support system. This will save you added expense while still allowing you to gain the benefits of the new materials. Plastic can carry a warranty as long as fifty years.

Other quality materials to consider using are:

1. Slate
2. Tile
3. Shakes
4. Fiber-cent
5. Cedar Shakes
6. Pine shakes

There are companies out there today specializing in a variety of roofing materials. Check online for more information. Improving and maintaining your Real Estate will help when you decide to sell your home.

Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional with an information and research site online
RealEstateLady and a Business
Writer with a blog BusinessTips.

Tags: home improvement, , , , , , metal, real estate, roof, shingle, slate

May 18, 2008

Tips For Fixing a Roof Leak

Filed under: home — admin @ 6:18 am

Fixing a leaky roof can be one of the most time consuming and most frustrating of home repairs. For starters, finding where the roof is leaking is not always easy, and even after the leak is found it is sometimes difficult to know how to proceed.

The first thing homeowners should know is that leaks in roofs are often difficult to find since they often originate at a different area from where they show up inside the home. In order to find the true source of the leak it is important to consider how water flows. Water will typically come in through worn out or missing shingles, in places where nails have worked their way loose or through poorly sealed vents, skylights and chimneys. After the water has passed through the roofing, it will flow along the roof rafters or the top of the ceiling until it finds a spot to drip into the home.

It is important to look for the roof leak during the day, when the light is good. A good way to start is by going into the attic with a bright light. The best strategy is to start where the leak made itself evident and work backwards to the roof. Be sure to look for signs of moisture along the framing. Be sure to also look for water stains or discolorations that could have been made by water.

After you have examined the area for wetness, turn on the light and look for a hole where you see daylight through the roof. This process may be difficult on a wood shingled roof, since such a roof will have many places where the shingles overlap and let in light.

If the problem turns out to be missing or damaged shingles, the process of repairing the leaking roof is fairly simple. Replacing the worn out or damaged shingles should be enough to patch the leak and prevent it from coming back. While you are up on the roof replacing shingles, though, be sure to examine the entire roof for problems. It is best to replace the shingles as you find them damaged, rather than to wait for the leak to reoccur before taking the necessary action.

Finding and repairing a leaking roof is not always easy, but it is important to chase down any leaks quickly. An undetected and unrepaired leak can quickly spread, creating not just water damage inside the home but serious damage to the roof and the structure of the home as well.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and writes on a wide range of topics from home improvement to credit repair and everything in between. She is a regular contributor to http://www.get-home-improvement.com and http://www.loan-mortgage-auto.com. For more information on fixing a leaky roof and advice from an expert contractor, take a look at http://www.home-improvement4u.com.

Tags: fix, , , , , , , home improvement, leak, leaky, project, rain, roof
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