Shingled Roofs
Every building owner should know the basics about shingled roofs before making a buying decision.
There are two main categories of shingles:
- Organic asphalt made with paper, felt mat, and tar
- Ceramic granule coating inorganic, or fibreglass shingles, which are saturated in asphalt with a ceramic granular coating.
Price points vary, depending on whether you want Luxury, Premium, Designer or Traditional shingles. Key points that will affect the pricing of shingles includes:
- Durability
- Warranty length
- Warranty transferability
- Warranty coverage
- UV / Fade Resistance
- Resistance to streaking and/or discoloration
- Finish - Sculpted or 3-dimensional look
Common Shingle Designs
- Laminate shingles - which offer extended manufacturer warranties, enhanced construction, heavier weight (providing better resistance to wind tear-off), and a wider range of design options and colors, to enhance the aesthetics and curb appeal of your home.
- Fibreglass shingles, available in many design options, offer superior fire ratings, better resistance to algae and curling, and no limitations related to weight, an important consideration in roofing applications where heavier shingles cannot be used.
- Three-tab strip shingles - less expensive and are typically considered builder grade.
- Cedar shingles are composed of natural wood material. While cedar has a long life expectancy, it requires expert installation by a professional to ensure it performs year after year.
Flat Roofs
Flat roofs are typically constructed with either tar & gravel or modified bitumen systems. For your home, Big Star Roofing recommends modified bitumen – it is stronger, 66% lighter, and expands and contracts over time.
Other benefits include improved capacity to handle snow, better suitability for roof deck applications and reduced cost of disposal.
Construction of a flat roof by our roofing professionals is a multi-step process that includes preparation of the job site, vapour retarder, insulation, a membrane system, roof drains, sheet metal work, caulking and sealing, complete clean-up – and a long list of project details that you've probably never even imagined.
Safety is also a key consideration, not just for the roofers, but also for pedestrians.
If you get anything less, you could end up with a flat roof that will have a shortened service life or, worse, a failure that could put your employees, building contents and daily production at risk.
