Michael Holigan: After your new house is framed, it's time to get it dried in, which means putting on the roof.
Al Carrell: Now, there are a number of different types of shingles that are available. We're going to show you some of the most popular. And this one right here is a composition shingle, which is very popular.
M.H.: And it comes in a lot of different life spans. You can buy a 20 year, 30 year, 40 year, even a 50 year shingle.
A.C.: One of the beauties about it is, it goes on very fast, which means you're not paying a lot for labor. After it goes on, Mother Nature goes to work with you. These little tabs right here, the black spots, that's tar. When it gets hot, why, it causes the shingle to stick to it. That way, when the wind blows, you're not going to have those shingles lift up and tear off.
M.H.: But just for safety sake, make sure they put felt down below your shingles, in case a shingle does come off, or any water gets up underneath the shingles, it will hit the felt and go outside of the house instead of going inside.
A.C.: When it comes to other types of roofing, your choices are virtually unlimited. There's tile, steel shingles, standing seam, Hardy shakes, which are actually another type of composition shingle, slate and wood. Now all of them are quite a bit more expensive than the standard composition shingles, but all generally within the same price range of each other.
M.H.: One of them can be more expensive than you may be ready for. This is one of the reasons why I advise home owners to avoid wood shingles.
A.C.: But if you feel that you must have wood shingles, please make sure that they're treated with a fire retardant by a qualified expert. Now, the best method is buying wood shingles that have been pressure treated with a fire retardant chemical in the factory. But there are some fire retardants that can be applied later, with varying degrees of effectiveness and protection for your family. The most important thing to remember is that exposure to wind, rain and snow will eventually wash away even the most effective fire retardant, so you probably want to have it reapplied at least once a year. A good fire retardant ought to cost you somewhere between 35 cents and $1.50 per square foot. And it's a good idea to get a recommendation from your local fire department before contracting to have any fire retardant applied to your roof.
M.H.: A tile roof can be attractive, but it's a heavy material. So it will cost you a little more to frame the roof in preparation to support the weight. And by the way, think twice before you choose a tile roof if you live near a golf course or in an area where debris may fly in high winds from time to time. Anything that hits the tiles may cause them to shatter. Steel shingles or steel tile roofs are really growing in popularity. They don't burn, they can't shatter, and hail damage is usually not a problem. They're a good looking and durable way to go and some style are even nailed in from the front as well as the top to keep them from flying up in the wind. The most important thing to remember is to hire a steel shingle specialist who knows the product well and knows what he's doing with steel shingles up on your roof. Another advantage of steel tiles is they don't weight as much as clay tiles, so you don't have the added expense of additional framing support underneath. When choosing roofing materials for your new house, be sure to take into consideration any additional cost of framing and installation as well as any ongoing maintenance that might be involved with the type of roof you think you'd like to have.
Episode 30 1996 - 97 Season
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