The main purpose of the roof is to protect the building’s structure and its’ contents from the elements. While every roofing product available on the market has the ability of doing that, some roofing materials are better suited to handle the particular climate in your region than others. Whether you live in an area that’s susceptible to rather high temperatures, high humidity or even a combination of high humidity and high temperatures (as with most tropical and subtropical climates), you will want to get the right roofing material which is capable of handling the climatic conditions in your area. In this article, we are going to discuss the popular roofing styles and how to choose the one suited for your area.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofing is becoming more and more popular as it offers a longer lifespan than most other types of roofs. It’s ideal for areas which experience extreme weathers, and is particularly good for the wet areas. There is no other roofing material that’s more capable of protecting your structure from strong winds or/and rains than an energy efficient metal roof. Nowadays, new metal roofing options are waterproof, rust resistant and can also resist growth of algae.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material. They’re the most versatile roofs and can be used in nearly any kind of climate. However, they’re the easiest to get damaged. If you live in a particularly windy area, it’s best to avoid this type of roof to prevent increased need for roofing maintenance. If you reside in an area with high humidity, it is important to avoid the algae growth from the dampness on your roof; to do this, you can use asphalt shingles with algaecides.

Clay Tiles

These type of roofs are very aesthetically appealing and are also very durable and tend to last for many decades. If you live in a relatively hot area, then the Clay tile roof is the ideal roof for you. Although it’s a bit more expensive than the metal roofs or the shingles, Clay tiles help to block heat and are relatively wind resistant.

Slate Roofs

Slate roofs are exceedingly tough and very durable. Slate roofs are aesthetically pleasing and their natural slate appearance will give character to your home or property unlike most other roofing materials available on the market. Slate roofs come in a wide variety of color, are non combustible, waterproof and they require little maintenance. Slate roofs are ideal for those who live in moderate to relatively hot climates, as they can easily absorb the heat and help keep the home’s interior cool.

[See Also: How to Pick the Best Roof Color for Your Home]

Contact the Professionals at Century Roof & Tile for Guidance

The great thing about roofs is that there are numerous types to choose from, all of which are available from Century Roof & Tile. No matter the type or style of roof you choose for your Bay area home, you can be rest assured that we’ll get the job done right the first time. So, whether you are building a new home or replacing an old roof, get the best roof suited for your particular region. Contact our East Bay Roofing Contractors today at 1-888-233-7548 or fill out our online contact form.

Roofing is a delicate matter given the amount of financial investment it requires. Many people try to cut corners by opting for cheaper roofing materials (which is not advisable either) or trying more cost-effective roofing methods.

Re-roofing is a hot-topic issue given that not many people know how to go about it. While some immediately resort to tearing down the existing roof and starting from scratch, a good number of people believe that installing new shingles over the old roof is a very smart move. From a financial point of view, this will save you a lot of money since you won’t have to spend money on removing the old roof. However, from an architectural point of view, this is potentially the worst thing you could do to your house.

Here are a few reasons why installing a new roof over the existing roof can be of benefit to you:

• The majority opt for this because it is way less expensive. You do not have to spend money on removing the roof or preliminary materials to cover the old roof.
• It is less time consuming. Roof installation will take a significantly shorter amount of time to be complete with this shortcut.
• Aesthetically speaking, you cannot tell the difference between a re-shingled roof and a newly installed roof. It looks just as good and also tends to be just as durable (in some opinions; not ours).
• One of the major perks of this style of roofing is that you get double protection from storms. Provided your old roof is not in complete shambles, you can rest easy knowing that you have some backup shingles in case one or two of them get blown off in the strong winds.

As much as the perks are enough to tilt anyone’s decision towards roofing over the old shingles, there a number of reasons that will convince you how re-roofing over shingles is generally–and in our opinion–a bad idea. These include:

• The manufacturer can deny a warranty claim. Hidden in the fine print may be some clauses that empower them to refute your claim if you have re-roofed over existing shingles.
• Some roofing contractors may not tell you this (we will) but adding a second layer of roofing is putting additional weight onto your house. In the long run, you will end up dealing with a problem brought about by a concave or overweight roof.
• Roof leaks are exponentially harder to detect. By not removing the old roof, you effectively inhibit efforts to inspect the underlying wood construction and find the source of the problem.
• Some building codes do not allow the installation of more than two layers of shingles.
• The new shingles are more susceptible to getting blown off by strong winds since the old shingles prevent them from sealing properly.

[Related: Why Asphalt Shingles Fail Prematurely]

Our East Bay Roofing Company is Here to Help

If the decision seems too hard to make, contact the professional Bay Area roofing contractors at Century Roof & Tile to get a more enlightened point of view on the matter. Roof installation can be a breeze or a hassle depending on the level of proficiency of the roofing company you settle on. Choose Century Roof & Tile and give us a call today at (510) 780-9489 or contact us online via our contact form.

Asphalt shingles, the most popular residential roofing material across the country, have the undisputed advantage of low initial cost. Whether they remain a bargain in the long term depends on how long they last. And how long they last varies tremendously. You may know someone whose asphalt-shingled roof has held up for thirty years or more. That homeowner might swear by asphalt shingles, and with good reason. However, another homeowner may have a horror story about having to replace asphalt shingles only two years after installation! This difference in longevity is due to several factors that are essential to understand when roofing with asphalt shingles.

The first factor in asphalt shingle life is the quality of the shingles themselves. Whether the base is felt or fiberglass, asphalt shingles rely on asphalt for waterproofing.  In addition, they rely on the top layer of ceramic granules to protect the asphalt layer from the degrading effect of UV radiation. The asphalt has two jobs: to keep water out and to hold the ceramic granules in place. If the asphalt is of low grade or if the manufacturing process does not ensure proper adhesion of the ceramic granules, the shingles will deteriorate quickly. Bad shingles may also split in random places.

Installation, including taking care of what is under the shingles, is as important as shingle quality. The decking, sheathing, and attic have to do their part to keep the shingles in good shape. Roofing paper must be installed under the shingles; whether you do the job yourself or hire a roofing contractor, make sure this step is not skipped. Situations that allow heat to build under the shingles cause the adhesive to fail and/or the shingles to deform (“cupping”). If you have one layer of shingles and are considering whether to have a second layer applied over it, keep in mind that stripping off the first layer does allow access to the sheathing to make repairs there.

Weather contributes to aging of asphalt shingles. Freezing temperatures allow ice to form in the smallest cracks, expanding the shingles. Here in the Bay Area, summertime can also be hard on asphalt roofs when roasting days alternate with cool nights. The result is thermal shock to roof shingles: rapid expansion and contraction stresses shingle materials to the point where fissures develop. Fissures provide moist habitat for algae and moss that can damage the shingle, particularly during damp weather, in shade, and when debris has been allowed to accumulate on the roof. Steep roofs are much better at shedding moisture and debris than low-slope ones. For this reason, shingles on high-slope roofs tend to last longer.

To avoid thermal shock, roofs need to be kept from overheating in summer. One option that helps is light-colored shingles. White shingles, in fact, may come with an “energy star” rating that allows part of the installation cost to be written off at tax time. No matter what color shingles you have, ventilation beneath the roof is key to minimizing shingle damage from heat and from thermal shock. You don’t have to wait until you need roofing repair done to take a look in your attic and see how well ventilated it is. Improvements here can save years on the life of your asphalt-shingle roof.

Contact Your Bay Area Roofing Contractors Today!

Century Roof and Solar uses only quality roof and gutter products from manufactures with the highest of standards, and quality control. Call us today at (888) 233-7548 to learn why we are the Bay Area’s premier roofing company.

In addition to finding the best, most reputable East Bay roofing contractor, you also want to utilize top tier products to ensure that your project goes perfectly.

To that end, consider GAF lightweight concrete roof shingles, if you’re installing a new roof on a residential or commercial building. Here’s why: Home Builder Executive recently awarded GAF with the Gold Asphalt Innovation Award for the company’s asphalt roofing shingles.  (GAF’s Press Release)

GAF Timberline Natural Shadow Slate

If you’re not an “industry insider,” this may seem like an obscure award. Who really cares?

Well, you should! Home Builder Executive is one of the key industry mavens; they help set standards and declare “winners and losers” in the homebuilding products industry. HBE editors carefully weigh various products — looking at interviews, data, and customer testimonials — before voting on winners. GAF also won plaudits for rolling out the first Lifetime Roofing System in the industry and for releasing products like Timberline American Harvest, Monaco, and Woodland Shingles. For good measure, GAF also helps out communities with its “Roofs for Troops” program, which has assisted over 5,000 military veterans and personnel.

Part of GAF’s “secret sauce” is its Advanced Protection Technology, which boosts performance of shingles with respect to wind resistance and durability, while conserving natural resources. The lifetime shingles made by GAF pass the most stringent wind tests used by the ASTM, and they come with a limited lifetime warranty.

We here at Century Roof and Solar believe that consumers deserve to know about the best, most durable roofing products. Our elite master certified roofing contractors use GAF lightweight concrete roof shingles.

Of course, we are also a flexible, innovative company. We want to help you solve your roofing challenges by meeting your budgetary requirements as well as needs for durability, strength and other parameters. Every roofing job is different.

No matter what complex factors you face, the team here at Century Roof and Solar can meet your needs and answer all of your questions. Get in touch with us today online to schedule a free estimate.

Likely, you have more urgent tasks on your plate than getting your asphalt shingles inspected. However, if you fail to do adequate seasonal maintenance, you may pay a bitter price. A damaged roof can lead to water damage to your walls and furniture, mold and mildew, pest infestations, and an increased risk of an electrical shortage and/or house fire.

Fortunately, identifying problems with your shingles is not rocket science.

The first step involves simple observation. Scrutinize your roof, top to bottom. Look for debris, broken shingles, curled edges, or buckling, cupping, or sagging shingles. Some shingles may have lost their granules or gotten discolored. These and other “red flags” might indicate a superficial issue or a deeper, more pervasive problem with the roof.

Of course, since you’re not a professional roofer, so you may miss more subtle signs that “something is not right” with the shingles or the overall structure. Connect with the team here at Century Roof & Solar to get the inspection done professionally.

In addition, check your attic, ceilings, and roof decking for signs of potential leakage. Rust, bad odors, condensation, and peeling paint can all indicate a serious leakage problem or worse.

Even if you’re a competent do it yourselfer, shingle replacement can be a fraught exercise. If you do it wrong, you could get seriously hurt (e.g. fall off the roof, electrocute yourself, burn yourself, etc). You could also do further damage to the structure and/or miss key problem areas that ultimately will cost you thousands and create a dramatic, ongoing headache.

The Bay Area roofing repair team at Century Roof & Solar can help you deal with your issues. Find out more about us online today, or call us at 1-888-233-7548 to schedule a free consultation.