Are you losing money and increasing your energy consumption by not having a properly insulated home? Having an effective insulation system is a crucial aspect in maintaining your home or building. The same company you trust for roofing Dexter, MI  is one you can also rely on for all of your insulation solutions. Here’s a quick rundown of all the things you need to know about insulation:

Insulation—making the right choice

The obligation to insulate buildings has become very clear. With issues of rising energy prices over the longer term, security of energy supply based on Ireland’s reliance on imported fossil energy, and the potential for fuel poverty as heating costs rise in poorly insulated existing buildings, it is actually not just a positive investment but a critical one. With the various grants which are now available and coupled with rising energy costs there has never been a better time to insulate.

Before we delve into the amount of insulation recommended in each building element, it’s important to make a clear decision as to which insulation we should use.

All thermal insulation generally performs on the same basic principle: heat moves from warmer to colder areas. Thermal insulation separates the heated space from the cooler unheated space and it is the resistance of the thermal insulation that determines how long it takes for heat to transfer to the cold side. Therefore, on cold days, heat from inside a building seeks to get outside. On warmer days, the heat from outside the building seeks to get inside. Insulation is the material which slows down this process.

There are many forms of insulation on the market, which generally contain pockets of gas (e.g. air or pentane to name two), which resist the transfer of heat. At some stage, it is inevitable that heat will escape, but effective thermal insulation will slow down this process significantly.

Thermal insulation significantly reduces the energy required to heat buildings. In fact, if sufficient quality insulation is correctly installed in buildings, such as those built to the Passiv Haus standard, this can offset the requirement for any conventional heating system! Such buildings require a very low energy input for space heating, 90% less than that of conventional buildings. There are examples of this in over 10,000 Passiv Haus’s which are now constructed throughout the world, a number of which are built in Ireland.

In recent times insulating materials have played second fiddle to some of the more visual, plug on, “sexy”, renewable energy solutions. However, no matter what form of energy is used to meet the heating and cooling demands of a building, if it is not sufficiently or properly insulated, energy loss is inevitable.

Insulation should be an absolute priority at the early stage of any construction project. While budget is central to any building project, when choosing the type of insulation you require it is important to look beyond mere price comparisons, and evaluate the range of benefits each insulation material provides and its suitability for the job in hand.

Read the full article at energyquarter.com

 

Article Source on: Everything You Need To Know About Insulation

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Just like with any industry, there is a specific set of jargon needed to understand exactly what’s going on with your roofing project. Professionals in roofing, Port Huron can help break down those complicated construction terms so you know exactly what work needs to be done and when. Here are some common terms to be familiar with when embarking on your next roofing or gutter project:

Roofing and Gutter Terms

Alligatoring
Alligatoring is a rooftop condition that occurs when the seams open up or the tar and gravel cracks. This commonly happens to most tar and gravel roofs at the end of their lifespan, which is typically 10-12 years. In most cases, the roof should be replaced as soon as possible.

Aluminum Gutters
Aluminum is a moderately priced and rust-resistant material popular with newer installations. It comes unfinished or factory-painted. The downside is that aluminum tends to leak at joints because the metal expands and contracts too much for sealant to hold permanently. It also dents easily.

Copper Gutters
Copper is an expensive material that is strong, durable, rust-resistant and nearly maintenance-free. It will weather green unless you coat it with a clear sealant. It also needs to be installed by a professional.

Deck
A roof’s deck consists of sheathing and underlayment called roofing felt. The material used to finish the roof determines deck types. Most roofs require solid plywood or oriented strand board sheathing, while wood shingle and tile roofs need spaced board sheathing.

Dormers
Dormers create additional openings in your roof, which will affect your roof installation. One notable area is at the joints, which will need to be sealed with metal flashing. The style or dormer can also affect your roofing material. A shed dormer will decrease the slope of your roof over the opening. A gabled dormer often has higher pitches which will shed water more easily.

Fascia Board
Fascia board is the exposed end of your roof. The gutter is normally attached to this.

Read the full article at homeadvisor.com

 

First Seen right here: Must-Know Roofing and Gutter Terms

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Roofs are susceptible to tons of issues. From surviving harsh weather conditions to needing regular maintenance, they can sometimes require a bit of work to keep them in perfect condition. A roofing system is often complicated with many different parts to consider, so when in doubt, trust your Shelby roofing company to get the repairs done efficiently and effectively. Here are the most common areas of a roofing system that might be causing some problems for your home:

 

The Five Most Common Problem Areas of a Roofing System

Although a roof system can suffer a multitude of issues, below are the five most common roof component problems a roof is susceptible to. These common roof issues are also reasonably easy to identify and repair on your own. Please remember however that if you are uncomfortable accessing your roof safely or feel that this type of work is beyond your skill set contact a professional roofing contractor.

Fascia

Fascia is an architectural term for a band running horizontally and situated vertically under a roof edge. In simpler terms, it’s a roof trim - or the front board along your roof line. It typically consists of wooden boards or sheet metal. So, picture the vertical finishing edge that connects to the ends of rafters, trusses and the area where the gutter attaches to the roof.

The primary function of fascia is to protect by acting as a layer between the edge of the roof and the elements of the outdoors - especially water. It also protects the interior of your building from weather damage by blocking its entrance into the structure. Fascia also plays an aesthetic role, creating a smooth, even appearance for the edge of a roof. Moisture is the number one cause of problems with your fascia so be sure to look for signs of rot or damage and contact a roofing contractor immediately if you notice an issue.

Soffit

Soffit comes from the French word for “formed as a ceiling” and the Latin term for “to fix underneath”. Can you guess where your soffit is? The exposed surface beneath the overhanging section of a roof eave or the finished surface below the fascia and rafters is called the soffit.

Vented soffit has small holes that provide air circulation so it can cycle to the vents and draw heat and moisture away from the house.

It plays an important role in helping to ventilate the attic and prevent rot in the sheathing and rafters. Most soffits are made from vinyl because it is a water-resistant and cost-effective material. It helps regulate the temperature in your attic and through the rest of your home making it a comfortable place to live. Look for cracks, holes and rotting to avoid an easy entrance for water or insects and small animals.

Flashings

Flashings are components used to seal roof system edges, perimeters, penetrations, walls, valleys, drains and any other area where the actual roof covering is interrupted or terminated. The primary function of flashing is to help seal any voids in the roof system where water may enter making these prime areas for leak causes if not checked regularly.

The material is usually aluminum or galvanized steel and, depending on the type of roof you have, is most likely in the valleys, around the chimney and even around dormer windows or skylights. Weather and oxidization are the most common culprits for flashing deterioration but it is possible that flashing can just simply come loose. Most professional roofing contractors cut and shape their own flashing from sheet metal but many flashing pieces today come pre-formed and can be applied without much difficulty using caulking or roof cement.

Read the full article at thespruce.com

Article Source over here: Common Roofing System Areas that Might be Causing Problems

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Roofs are susceptible to tons of issues. From surviving harsh weather conditions to needing regular maintenance, they can sometimes require a bit of work to keep them in perfect condition. A roofing system is often complicated with many different parts to consider, so when in doubt, trust your Shelby roofing company to get the repairs done efficiently and effectively. Here are the most common areas of a roofing system that might be causing some problems for your home:

 

The Five Most Common Problem Areas of a Roofing System

Although a roof system can suffer a multitude of issues, below are the five most common roof component problems a roof is susceptible to. These common roof issues are also reasonably easy to identify and repair on your own. Please remember however that if you are uncomfortable accessing your roof safely or feel that this type of work is beyond your skill set contact a professional roofing contractor.

Fascia

Fascia is an architectural term for a band running horizontally and situated vertically under a roof edge. In simpler terms, it’s a roof trim - or the front board along your roof line. It typically consists of wooden boards or sheet metal. So, picture the vertical finishing edge that connects to the ends of rafters, trusses and the area where the gutter attaches to the roof.

The primary function of fascia is to protect by acting as a layer between the edge of the roof and the elements of the outdoors - especially water. It also protects the interior of your building from weather damage by blocking its entrance into the structure. Fascia also plays an aesthetic role, creating a smooth, even appearance for the edge of a roof. Moisture is the number one cause of problems with your fascia so be sure to look for signs of rot or damage and contact a roofing contractor immediately if you notice an issue.

Soffit

Soffit comes from the French word for “formed as a ceiling” and the Latin term for “to fix underneath”. Can you guess where your soffit is? The exposed surface beneath the overhanging section of a roof eave or the finished surface below the fascia and rafters is called the soffit.

Vented soffit has small holes that provide air circulation so it can cycle to the vents and draw heat and moisture away from the house.

It plays an important role in helping to ventilate the attic and prevent rot in the sheathing and rafters. Most soffits are made from vinyl because it is a water-resistant and cost-effective material. It helps regulate the temperature in your attic and through the rest of your home making it a comfortable place to live. Look for cracks, holes and rotting to avoid an easy entrance for water or insects and small animals.

Flashings

Flashings are components used to seal roof system edges, perimeters, penetrations, walls, valleys, drains and any other area where the actual roof covering is interrupted or terminated. The primary function of flashing is to help seal any voids in the roof system where water may enter making these prime areas for leak causes if not checked regularly.

The material is usually aluminum or galvanized steel and, depending on the type of roof you have, is most likely in the valleys, around the chimney and even around dormer windows or skylights. Weather and oxidization are the most common culprits for flashing deterioration but it is possible that flashing can just simply come loose. Most professional roofing contractors cut and shape their own flashing from sheet metal but many flashing pieces today come pre-formed and can be applied without much difficulty using caulking or roof cement.

Read the full article at thespruce.com

Article Source over here: Common Roofing System Areas that Might be Causing Problems

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There are so many decisions to make when choosing to repair or replace the roof for your home. From colors to pitch to materials, every choice counts. For expert help in making these important decisions, trust contractors who specialize in East Lansing roofing. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing the perfect material for your roof:

 

Choosing Roofing Materials

From asphalt shingles to wood shakes to clay tiles, here are the many options available for the topside of your home.

 

For most of us the roof is an afterthought—at least until it starts to leak. Then we realize how critical that surface of our house's exterior really is. Yet, as well as keeping the house dry, the roof contributes greatly to the look of the house, so when building a new house, adding on, or re-roofing, it may pay to consider the options. Right now there are more options in the marketplace than ever, so choosing one is tough. I know because I am in the midst of selecting a roof for my cabin in Maine, and every time I know what I want I look at one of the other options and begin to change my mind! The choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles, from steel panels to rubber lookalike slate. The most important trend to note, however, is that as with home-construction materials in general, there is an increasing move towards engineered roofing materials. This change is being driven by a few different factors. One is simply the high cost of wood. The second is that in many cases, codes now mandate the use of fireproof construction materials. And third, people understandably want to build with materials that not only look good but also are very long-lived.

Asphalt Shingles
The roofing material we all see the most of these days—the one that covers the roofs of a great majority of houses across America—is the standard three-tab asphalt shingle. One of the least-expensive roofing options, asphalt shingles are available in a dozen or so different colors both solid and blended. The shingle products being made today are usually guaranteed for 20, or in some cases 30 years, making them an excellent value. Value is the principal advantage of this roofing material, which explains it's commonality. The disadvantage, however, if there could be said to be one, is the fact that it is so common. The next upgrade from a standard three-tab is a thicker variation called an architectural shingle. These shingles are built up to be about twice as thick as a normal shingle with the layers staggered to give them a heavier, more substantial or "architectural" look. In some colors they resemble slate, and in other colors wood shakes. We used architectural shingles on the Lexington ranch house. With only a modest upgrade in cost and up to a 30-year guarantee, architectural shingles also represent an excellent value with an added touch of style.

Shingles, Shakes...
For looks, it is hard to beat a wood shingle roof. Over time it weathers out to a gray or soft silver that seems to root the house to the landscape. Several species are used: Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Eastern White Cedar. Shingles are relatively smooth and cut to a uniform thickness, although they vary in width. Wood shakes are thicker and rougher, being split rather than sawn from the logs. Wood roofs are meant to breathe and should be laid over a substrate that allows air to circulate behind them: skip sheathing—wood strips or battens nailed directly to the roof rafters—is the traditional method of installing a wood shingle roof. About 10 years ago we began using a plastic matrix product that is something like a scrubby pad, which allows air to circulate behind the shingles. This product can be laid on top of a building-paper-coated plywood roof deck, making it ideal for a retrofit. Another method of getting air circulation behind the shingles is to lay them on pressure-treated lattice. For all their great looks, shingles and shakes are expensive to install and do require some periodic maintenance, typically in the form of washing to remove any mildew or moss, and then re-oiling with a clear wood finishing product. On our current Shingle-style project here in Manchester, Massachusetts, we're using a wood shingle that is new to us: pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine, which grays out in a few years to resemble cedar and is said to require no maintenance at all. A properly installed and maintained wood roof should last at least 30 to 50 years. In fact, we have seen roofs on which the shingles were still good after 25 years or so, but the galvanized nails were finally rusting, so be sure to use a high-quality stainless-steel nail!

Read the full article at thisoldhouse.com

 

     

Original Post right here: Tips for Choosing the Perfect Roofing Material

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Here at Roof One Michigan, we love sharing all of our practical knowledge about shingles, gutters and siding, just to name a few. If you ever need questions answered, give us a call. After all, we have years of experience in roofing Canton, MI. In the meantime, here’s some fun roofing facts to brighten up your day:

 

 

10 Fun and Interesting Roofing Facts

Since the dawn of civilization, there have been many, many discoveries and advances in roofing materials and techniques. Here are a few of our favorite “did you know”s for you to enjoy!

1. 1 . Some of the oldest roofing materials in the world are thatch, clay, and stone. Thatch was likely used between 5000 and 1800 B.C.. Clay tiles can be traced all the way back to around 10,000 B.C.!
2. Thatched roofs are effective because the reed used is naturally waterproof, and is bundled so tightly that it simply sheds water. A thatched roof can shed water, sleet, and snow.
3. Red and white cedar shingles are listed as one of the most “classic” roofing types for homes in the Pacific Northwest.
4. While the idea of natural building materials still holds strong sentimental appeal, some insurance companies charge more to cover a home with a wood-shake roof because of the potential for fire, and others won’t insure it at all.
5. Metal roofing materials are often lighter in weight than wood shingles.
6. Even though asphalt shingles are a newer product (invented circa 1900), they are by far the most popular roofing product in America.
7. Green roofing materials are longer lasting than asphalt roofing tiles.
8. Traditional green roofs (the type with plants going on them) don’t leak if they are installed properly. This is because the plants and soil protect your roof from sun damage and extreme temperature changes. So, as long as the water barrier is intact, a green roof can keep your home dry for years to come.
9. Water tends to travels before it drips down visibly. Interestingly, a leak can come out twenty feet away from the original leak in a roof.
10. The most common weak spots on your roof are areas that need protection from flashing. However, damaged shingles or damage in the waterproofing material which lays underneath the shingles are also common causes of roof leaks. A leak may not mean you need to replace your entire roof. However, if the leak has persisted lasted long enough without management, there is likely dry rot involved – or the roof is very old – it may be time to get it replaced.

Read the full story at jewellroofing.com

 

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Article Source here: 3 Things You Never Knew About Shingles

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Originally Posted on: The Differences Between Black and White Roofing Options

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Summer is a beautiful time full of cookouts, days spent at the lake, and quality family memories. The last thing anyone wants to worry about is roofing problems. Trust your local East Lansing roofing company to help with any summer roofing issues that may come up. This article also has some tips to prevent any summer roofing headaches that may be headed your way:

Article Source right here: How to Keep Your Roof in Great Condition This Summer

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