I guess the major thing that I learned -- the major lesson -- is that proper preparation is essential before launching into any type of roofing project. Installing roofing on your home can be very messy and expensive -- and if you havent prepared properly things can go out of control very quickly. So the number one roofing installation tip that I would give you is this: make sure you prepare thoroughly. Read and investigate as many different sources as you possibly can. Talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members to discover what has worked for them, and what hasnt. The more you prepare properly, the more likely it is that you will avoid costly mistakes.
One of the things that has intrigued me about the roofing industry is that recently there has been a shift -- particularly in upscale homes in the United States -- to the use of metal roofing. Installing metal roofing, however, is not a task that every roofer is equipped to take on -- it requires special know-how and tools to do the job properly. Particularly if you are installing upscale standing seam metal roofing or some other expensive material, you dont want to hire a contractor who has no experience in installing residential metal roofing.
Another thing that has impressed me about the roofing field is how technological development is improving roofing products. A couple of examples: the development of a thicker architectural roofing shingles which will provide you with additional decades of the roof protection and the development of synthetic materials -- such as synthetic roofing underlayment to replace the old style felt roofing paper. This is just a couple of examples of how modern technology is providing us with a better quality product, often at a greatly reduced cost.
In fact, some roofing product manufacturers like to market their products together as a system -- one of the best examples of this is the Owens Corning company. Owens Corning roofing products are indeed designed to work together, and when used together provide superior levels of protection and durability.
Some advancements in roofing technologies actually seem like a reversion to a more primitive era -- witness the development of organic 'green' roofing. This has caught on like wildfire in many urban areas, where there are buildings with large flat roofs that can be turned into a garden paradise.
Intensive roofing systems, for example, require the building owner to lay down at least a foot of topsoil on their roof so that plants and shrubs and trees can be encouraged to grow there right on the roof! These organic roofs trap rainwater that would otherwise turn into environmentally-dangerous runoff, and also help purify the air and lower atmospheric temperatures in urban areas.
Yes, I have learned a lot about roofing, roofing systems, and roofing technology over the years -- and thats why I recommend that if you will be replacing your homes roof within the next few years that you begin now to read and prepare for this most challenging of home renovation projects.
Simon Harris owns and operates http://www.total-roofing.com The Basics Of Roofing
Roofing Diy, Roofing Cost, Roofing Installation, Metal Roofing, Roofing Materials, Roofing Shingles, Solar Roofing