The amount of material required to cover 100 square feet of roof replacement surface is known as a roofing square.
This is also known as 1 sheet of the square footage of your roof material. A roofing square can contain more than one type of shingle, so the correct amount may not be exactly 100 sq ft.
Roof shingles are made out of asphalt, fibreglass, wood, slate, or metal. Shingles are usually either 3 tab or architectural shingles.
Architectural shingles are similar to 3-tab shingles but can be made with more than one layer of underlay. The additional roof slope layers give the roofing squares a textured look and provide better roofing protection against wind uplift. Architectural shingles are commonly found on steeper roofs.
The 3-tab shingles are the most economical option, they can be replaced without having to remove any roof pitch underlay. Some 3-tab roofing materials contain limestone granules that provide better fire resistance than regular roof size asphalt square foot shingles.
Architectural shingles have a textured look and come in a variety of styles and colours, this makes your own roof more aesthetically pleasing than 3-tab options. They also tend to last longer because the pitch of your roof uses high-quality material throughout. In addition, architectural shingles often include an extra layer of material in the surrounding area protecting the one roofing square from damage due to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. This will prolong your roof squares life expectancy substantially if you live in a sunny climate or if you want to prevent water penetration.
They cost much more per total square footage than both 3-tab and asphalt shingles. However, you will still save a lot of money on a slate or a metal roof during the off season. In addition, many buildings require special attachments for architectural shingles that can only be installed by a contractor. These attachments also make it unfeasible to install your own shingles if you do not have prior experience working with them.
Depending on the type of shingles you use, a roofing contractor can include an estimate of anywhere from 60 to 100 pieces. Typically, there are two sides with eight tabs on each side for a total of 16 tabs per one square roofing project. A square sometimes has more than 100 square feet length of shingles to allow for overlapping. There are 3 bundles of asphalt roof shingles per square width in the roofing industry. A bundle contains around 15 to 30 shingles.
The best roofing materials for a new roof are the ones that are compatible with your home, your climate, how much material and your budget along with other factors. Homeowners can choose from asphalt shingles, siding slate, metal or wood depending on how many roofing squares. Wood is extremely expensive but has excellent resale value if you ever want to sell your house. Slate is a solid stone so it requires very little maintenance but installation will cost thousands of dollars per roof's square footage as compared to other options which make it unfeasible for homeowners and roofing contractors on a tight budget who have low-slope roofs.
Terracotta is considered a high-end roofing material because of its aesthetic look and high price tag depending on the roof size. In general, terracotta shingles have excellent fire resistance which is a major factor as to why it will last for decades when properly installed. They are the go-to choice for roofers in Mediterranean climates with a lot of sunny days throughout the year.
Maintaining your roof shingles only takes a few minutes and it will prolong the life of your roof. You should inspect them periodically to determine that they are not worn out or torn. If that is the case, you should replace the missing pieces before water starts seeping into your home and causing damage. You should also check your attic for any signs of leaking because this can cause permanent damage to both the insulation and sheathing in your roof if you do not catch it early on. If you want to save yourself some money during the year, then cleaning off any leaves or moss growing around your roof is probably all you need to do to keep them in good shape. However, if you notice cracked or damaged shingles, then you should have the next row replaced by a contractor.
Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing material available because they are easy to install, repair and replace. They are also compatible with almost any house style or design and come in three bundles. However, asphalt roofs come in many colours so it is possible to measure one that fits your home's style or complement its colour palette.
It takes about a day to install a roof. On average, it will take around two days to replace your roof if you do not factor in the time it will take for repair and measuring any damage before you start installing new shingles. When replacing a roof, you should always have an inspector come out to measure your roof and ensure there are no underlying problems like rotting beams or bad flashing.
Roofing shingles are designed to keep your home protected from the sun's rays, rain and wind. However, if you have old asphalt shingles, then they might be leaking because they can begin to crack over time. Asphalt roof shingles are also not fireproof or watertight unless they are treated with a flame retardant chemical called Aluminised Fibreglass.
There are four types of roof coatings that are commonly used by homeowners, acrylic latex, silicone modified bitumen, elastomeric and silane crosslinked. Each type has different pros and cons depending on factors like price range, product quality and low vs high viscosity.