The Evolution of Wood Shingles

Wood was used for all construction purposes from the early days of American settlement in the 17th century. Wood shingles - lightweight and simple to install - have largely kept their popularity for the centuries to follow. New wood shingles can be designed in different patterns, shapes, sizes and exposure lengths to fit with English, German, Dutch and other styles. With wooden shingles each building looks unique.


History of Wood Shingles

The wood that was used in the past was usually the wood found in the region the home was built. This dependency on local woods contributed to the variety of wood shingles, as did the hand-techniques of using only the inner, heartwood section of the logs for better quality wood, smoothing the wood shingle pine on a shaving horse to make them fit evenly on the roof. Only later, with steam-powered saw mills, did wood shingles become more uniform. This is the time that Carpenter and Queen Anne architectural styles developed. Even though wood shingles are flammable and other roof shingles are widely available, wooden shingles have remained with us to this day. Today’s undressed wood shingles, their rough surface looking historic, are in fact a modern style.

Wood Shingles and Shakes

Wood shingles that are rough and rustic are called shakes. They come in varying sizes and lengths of 16, 18 and 24 inches. Nailing wood shingles is done in a way that enables air circulation, while shakes are laid so that they form a tight surface. Both methods are devised to assure durability and resist decay. Treatment of wood shingles and shakes can slow down natural weathering processes, though expect a 1/4 inch or more to be lost over the period of a century. Wood shingles and shakes alike can be installed over previous layers of asphalt shingles or wood shingles. Furthermore, wood shingle roof repair is made simpler this way.

Cedar Shake Roofing

Cedar is an outstanding insulating material, and can help lower heating and cooling costs more efficiently than metal or asphalt roofs. Roof cedar is resistant to high winds, and does not add excessive weight to the structure of the home. Cedar shingles and shakes have been used for hundreds of years and already proved their durability in all kinds of climates. Its’ rich, warm color and texture blend strikingly in any normal environment.

Advantages OF Seamless Gutter

These gutters have less seams and probable leakage points than other rain gutters, as they are formed from one continuous roll. Seamless gutter means there are no joints to leak.Seamless gutters are a marketing term used to describe a specific method of rain gutter installation.

Gutter is a narrow trough or duct which collects rainwater from the roof of a building and diverts it away from the structure, typically into a drain.The gutters on any home are absolutely integral to keeping everything safe, dry and in proper working order. The benefits of gutter are:

• Safeguard your Expensive Landscape. If you have unguttered roof, the plants, flowers, mulch and soil situated under the drip line of the roof can suffer from the water runoff. This runoff can result in a watering condition that could permit harmful fungus to develop as well as attracts the ants, roaches and termites.
• Keep Away from Staining of Masonry and Siding. Rainwater releasing off an unguttered roof will hit the ground with ample force to cause a splash back. Within the splash back are dirt, grass and minerals that end up on the exterior of your home. Over a short period of time, a stain appears that can be difficult to remove or hide.
• Avoid Foundation Problem. The expansion and contraction of the soil that surrounds your home is the number one reason for slab failure. After a period of rainy weather, the soil around the perimeter of your home expands as it becomes saturated with moisture. A dry, hot summer following the rain can cause the soil around your foundation to contract and pull away. As this cycle repeats, support to the foundation can be compromised leading to cracked masonry as well as sticking doors and windows. A properly designed and installed gutter system helps keep the soil surrounding your home at a consistent moisture level by directing roof run off safely away from your house.

There are different types of gutter. One of the types is seamless gutter. Seamless gutter means there are no joints to leak.Seamless gutters are a marketing term used to describe a specific method of rain gutter installation. These gutters have less seams and probable leakage points than other rain gutters, as they are formed from one continuous roll. Traditional gutters use aluminum pieces, which are attached on site and have visible seams. Now the benefits of seamless gutter are:

• With no seams except at the corners you can be sure that there will be no leaks.
• Seamless guttering provides a more uniform appearance.
• With continuous gutters, the number of seams is drastically reduced, and the few that remain (downspout outlets and gutter corners) are securely fastened in place and sealed with a high-quality water sealant to minimize the possibility of leaks.
• Minimize the amount of maintenance you need to perform every season. Routine cleaning is still required, but the time spent on your ladder will be greatly reduced by not having to reapply caulk to all the seams along the sectional gutter runs in addition to cleaning them.
• Help to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior.
• Seamless systems also replace inefficient and unsightly spike and ferrule hangers to instead use several hidden brackets. The brackets attach to the roof, under the shingles, to provide superior strength and offer a very clean look.
• Formed on the job for exact measurements
• Seamless guttering offers a smooth look from end to end and many installers use stronger brackets to attach the gutters, making the entire system more durable.

Although they're called "seamless," this type of gutter does, in fact, have a few seams -- it's just that there are no horizontal joints. Most of the roofing contractors are likely to recommend seamless gutter.

What Is Hot Tar Roofing?

Find out what is hot tar roofing and how it works from your friends in Top View Roofing Oklahoma!

Roof Siding

Vinyl Siding 

Vinyl siding is plastic exterior cladding for a house, used for decoration and weather proofing as an alternative to traditional wood siding or other materials. It is an engineered product, manufactured primarily from polyvinyl chloride. It is often choice of homeowners who want to improve the looks of their home without painting. Several benefits of vinyl siding are durable, long last, inexpensive and easy to maintain.

Durability: Vinyl siding is proven durable and last for a very long time. It is resistant to most weather conditions without worry of severe damage and can withstand years of sunlight without fading.

Maintenance: Vinyl siding is very easy when it comes to maintenance because it never fades from the elements. Consider these: the only regular maintenance of it is to be spray washed once or twice a year.

Affordability: Choosing of type of siding, cost likely will be a factor. Vinyl siding is at the top of the list in its low cost in terms of product and installation, aside from its many advantageous features. One reason for vinyl siding's affordability compared to some of its competitors is it's easy and quick to install. It also doesn't require the additional cost and labor of painting or staining, like wood, fiber cement and stucco do. It can be cost effective also because there is no need in repainting and repairing. Others also believe that vinyl siding can help reduce energy bills by serving as an extra layer of insulation.
Looks: Vinyl siding comes in many grains and colors to suit most homes. The good news about newer siding is that the color is baked through the vinyl instead of applied. This means that the color stays true over a long period of time and will not show scratches or small imperfections. While vinyl siding is becoming more popular, there are many misconceptions about siding. Some of those misconceptions are that siding is indestructible and maintenance free. This is not always true. There are some precautions to be aware of before choosing vinyl siding.

Cedar Siding

Cedar is a wood with exceptional beauty. Naturally, it has a richly textured, tactile grain combined with a palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown. This is definitely a beautiful way to finish your home exterior. However, before choosing the cedar wood siding you have to make sure that you have a fully understanding about the whole information including benefits and challenges of cedar wood siding.

Cedar has many advantages than other choices of sidings. Consider some of these advantages:

Durability

Cedar has been known as a durable building material. Cedar wood has natural oil that helps protect the wood against from rot, decay, and insects. It tends to be about 80% as strong with antibacterial and fungal resistance that keeps away also moths therefore there is no need to treat chemical in order to last. It is also stable that never buckles or curls. With proper maintenance, cedar siding will last for years to come and will age gracefully.

Environmentally friendly

According to studies, Cedar wood is the most environmentally friendly. Harmless to environment because when it reached the end of its useful life, cedar siding is 100% biodegradable.

Acoustic properties

Cedar wood has the capacity to dampen sound vibrations. Sound energy change into heat energy through the cellular interlocking pores found in the wood. It can be used to lessen noise and confine it to particular areas.

Other Cedar Siding Considerations:

Cedar siding meet challenges also. There are several things to consider if it is the right choice of siding:

Maintenance:

In order to keep cedar’s original beauty, inspection and maintenance is a must on a regular basis. Resurfacing cedar siding may need to take place as often as every 3 to 5 years depending on environmental factors.

Fire considerations:

As wood siding, cedar siding has a risk of fire damage however, it has a minimum risk than other wood siding.

Cost:

The very downside of cedar siding is the material cost. It is on average about 25% higher compared to standard materials. When it comes to installation, it is very time consuming which is one of the factors that will automatically add up the price.

However, in the end, if you decide to use cedar shingles into your walls, no matter how difficult is in your pocketbook or your nerves, you’re sure to have a lovely looking place.

*By your friends from Top View Roofing in Oklahoma & Texas*

Top View Roofing have over a hundred years of combined experience in the construction industry and provide all customers with individually tailored roofing services that are competitively priced and backed by the finest materials and workmanship in the business. Over 100 years of roots in the Midwest! Call us today: 888 602 HAIL (4245) or visit our site at www.topviewroofing(dot)com.

How To: Flat Roofing

Flat roofing in Oklahoma is another roofing option as shown in this video.

This How To Roofing video is brought to you by your friends in Top View Roofing.

Deck Preparation

Watch how deck preparation is done when roofing Oklahoma.

This video is brought to you by your friends in Top View Roofing.

Four Common Roofing Problems

Did you know that roofs can be one of the major problems you’ll have to deal with as a homeowner? And sometimes, rather than save on costs on home maintenance, you will end up spending more. Here are four common roofing problems and its causes.