Slate and Simulated Slate Roofing

Slate is beautiful, natural and can last for up to 50 years. It's no surprise why it's the roofing choice of the high-end homeowner. What if you can't afford the cost of natural slate, but you like the look of it? That's where simulated slate comes in.

Simulated slate is a mixture of slate, concrete and non-alkaline glass fibers. The best part is that it is made from slate molds, which makes it near impossible to tell that it isn't slate. It's also extremely durable. The combination of concrete and non-alkaline glass fibers make it very versatile and just as strong as slate.

There is also one huge advantage simulated slate has over standard slate. The weight of slate is very heavy and not all homes can structurally support slate roofing. Simulated slate generally weighs in at half the weight of standard slate roofing. So you won't have to worry if your home can support the weight.

Some of the other benefits of simulated slate are that it's energy efficient and can block the suns rays. Helping keep your energy costs down in summer. It's also non-combustible and fire-resistant.

Simulated slate and slate are similar, if you can't decide try asking a professional about getting a roof estimate or inspecting your roofs structural support to see if it can support the weight of natural slate.

What Should You Look for in a Roofing Contractor

It’s never a good idea to make a purchasing decision without any education on the product or service. The same applies for hiring contractors to work on your house. It can be a daunting task choosing someone to work on your home, which in an investment. You wouldn’t randomly pick a brokerage firm from the phone book and you shouldn’t pick a contractor that way either. Here are some tips for finding a reputable and qualified roofing contractor.

1. Make sure to see some work that they have done. Check out their site or ask them for pictures of recent jobs.

2. Make sure they have an actual permanent address and not just a P.O. Box. A fly by night roofer is definitely not the company you want to hire.

3. They should also have a business license.

4. It’s very important that they are insured as well. If a worker falls or has an accident on your roof, it could lead to a lawsuit. Make sure that the contractor you hire is insured and can provide proof of being insured.

5. When they provide their estimate it should be detailed and describe the materials used, labor costs and warranty specifications.

6. Ask what they specialize in. It’s important to know what products and materials they are familiar with, especially if you are going with something other than shingles for your roof.

Following these guidelines will help make sure that you hire professionals for your job, which in turn provides you with peace of mind. And who couldn’t use that?

Estimates done through Satellite Imaging

There are a few new tools being used in the commercial roofing industry that you may not be aware of so that contractors and roofing specialists can provide a roofing estimate accurately and quicker than ever before.

Commercial roofing contractors are doing this through the use of pictometry and Google Earth.

Pictometry International, a company that provides detailed aerial photography, based out of New York provides detailed aerial photography of your roof through the use of low-flying airplanes. The shots are taken in 40-degree angles and its Electronic Field Study software allows a variety of measurements to be taken directly from the image, including height, distance and area elevation and bearing.

The shots pretty much look like a “Bird’s Eye View” out of an airplane, but this part is licensed by Microsoft and is a feature on their Virtual Earth service. It is very effective because the roofing contractor can create contour lines and overlay images with shapefiles while exporting GIS information.

What that means is the roofing contractor doesn’t have to leave the office to provide you with an estimate. Some customers have even been give estimates over the phone.

Google Earth is a product provide by Google, based out of California that lets you see almost anything on satellite or street level through use of images. Google Earth helps contractors locate your home fast an.

Alpine Roofing Construction utilizes the latest technology when it comes to roofing materials and off site roofing estimates

Tile Roofing Benefits

Roofing has come a long way in terms of durability, energy efficiency and aesthetics. If you are looking into upgrading your roof and don’t want to get copper roofing, deal with single-ply applications or composite roofing, we suggest looking into tile roofing. Tile roofing is gorgeous, energy efficient, and made for easy roof washing and cleaning.

Two very popular forms of tile roofing are slate and tile. Slate and clay are both natural and come from the earth and because of that, are very environmentally friendly. They also flow well with houses that are made of natural materials.

Slate roofs, if applied correctly, can last up to 130 years. Basically once you get it installed you will never need another roof. Slate is very durable, so it’s very tough against heavy winds and tropical storms (No wonder you see it a lot in the South). Slate is also non-combustible, so it won’t catch on fire.

Slate comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. No one slate roof is alike and you are not stuck with just one size. The roofing cost for slate is a little higher than other roofs, so consult a roofing specialist or a commercial roofing contractor if you are considering upgrading your roof.

The other style of tile roofing is Clay. It’s similar to slate and the main difference is that it will last about 30-50 years and it isn’t expensive as slate.

If you are looking for a roof repair contractor or roof replacement, call Alpine Roofing for a free estimate today.

Energy Efficient Roofing

The hottest thing right now in the roofing industry is energy efficient roofing. The summers are getting hotter and people are looking for long term solutions to save money and help the environment. Energy efficient roofing is also a great way to update the look of your business or home.

Upgrading to metal roofing is a great start on improving your homes energy use and value. Metal roofing can be offered in many different ways, painted, unpainted or granular coated metal. You should consider metal roofing, because it is aesthetically pleasing, highly reflective, recyclable, and very durable. Metal roof washing and cleaning is simple as well.

If you want a great metal roof the last a very long time, we suggest a copper roof. Copper roofing is not only becoming popular in residential living, but is very popular in commercial metal roofing. Copper starts out amber, but eventually turns into an elegant green patina. Since the patina is oxidized, it prevents corrosion, so you don’t have to apply a protective coating to it every year. Consult a commercial roofing contractor a cooper roof, roofing estimates and for your commercial roofing needs.

Another energy efficient technique is to install a radiant barrier to your attic system. Radiant Barrier comes in foil or spray and its main purpose is to reflect heat.

Cool roof is great solution for a commercial building. Cool roof is usually a white acrylic, applied to asphalt roofs to keep them expanding from heat. I would consult a roofing specialist instead of installing it yourself.

Cool shingles are on the rise for residents. Cool shingles almost like cool roof, but are light-colored and contain an algaecide to prevent grunge. Cool shingles have a higher Solar Reflective Index (SRI) than traditional shingles as well.

If you do want metal roofing, an energy efficient single-ply made with Hypalon, or a composite roof will do just fine! Hypalon is a type of rubber and is very durable. Composite roofs are great because they can come in wood, metal or ceramic. Composite roofing colors are light, while composite roughs are durable and the best thing about them is that they are all natural!

There are a lot of options when it comes to energy efficient roofing. If you are considering making your home more energy efficient or need repairs contact Alpine Roofing for a free roofing estimate today.

Single-Ply Roofing

If you haven't thought about singly-ply roofing, take out a magnifying glass and take a closer look. Single-ply roofing applications have made a quantum-leap in their technology.

Unlike copper roofing and composite roofing that has no membrane, single-ply's membrane like Hypalon, PVC, EPDM and TPO, is gaining more benefits and moving the "cool" roofing industry in an upward trend. These membrane structures are making energy conservation easy and because of it, you can earn a tax credit of to $1500.

That energy conservation isn't the only great benefits to single-ply, single-ply is also very flexible. Single-ply roofing cost is fairly reasonable and it's easy to install. This is not only true for residential roofing installations, but commercial roofing installations as well.

So how do you know which roofing membrane to choose? Here is a brief overview of the different types of single-ply roofing membranes.

Hypalon is a synthetic rubber. Because of that, hypalon is very durable and resistant to chemicals. Why is that good? Essentially it means that extreme temperatures or the sun’s rays won’t have much of an effect on a hypalon single-ply roof.

PVC is plastic. PVC makes single-ply stronger and resistant to fire. When things start to heat up, PVC won’t buckle!

TPO is a polymer and a mix between alloys and synthetic rubber. This combination makes TPO roofing durable and quick to install.

EPDM is very interesting as well. EPDM is known to be able to handle the weather well and that’s because it is made of a polymer like TPO.

These are the basic elements of single-ply roofing. If the idea of having a long lasting and energy efficient roof appeals to you then contact Alpine Roofing for your roofing estimate today.

Benefits of Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is one of the best improvements you can make to your home. The benefits of a metal roof go far beyond the energy savings that are associated with them.

Most roofing specialists will recommend a metal roof if you are looking for a durable and tough roof that is capable of handling strong storms and inclement weather. It's commonly used in areas that see tornadoes and hurricanes.

It's also easy to keep clean and looking good. Metal roofing can come painted, unpainted or even with a natural finish similar to copper roofing. This allows home owners to update their homes appearance as well as it's value.

Metal roofing is also extremely green. It's not just energy efficient, but it's also recyclable. Some metal roofing materials are also made from a high percentage of recycled metals. It also reflects heat and will help keep your house cooler while helping to lower your energy bills.

If you are interested in learning more about metal roofing contact us for a roofing estimate. Metal roofing is a great way to improve your home, help the environment and (thanks to this years tax credits) save you money.

Choose the Right Contractor

Choosing a roofing contractor is a very important decision, that will effect you for years to come. We suggest that you investigate all of the following items before choosing a contractor for your home or business:

• The contractor you choose NEEDS to have insurance. Allowing an un-insured company to perform work on your property is a bad decision. For example, if an employee from an un-insured roofing company falls off your roof, and is injured, the property owner is likely to be the party that will be liable.
• You also need to look into the history of the company. Are they a member of the BBB? If so, do they have a good rating? The BBB is a good tool to use when selecting a roofing contractor, it can protect you from selecting someone that other customers have had a bad experience with. Alpine Roofing Construction has maintained an A rating with the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Oklahoma City Better Business Bureaus.
• How much experience does this contractor have? Do they have experience with the kind of roofing system that are installing on your home? Alpine Roofing Construction has over 70 years combined experience and has been in business since the late '90s. We have crew members that have abundant experience in nearly every type of roofing system.
  

If you are looking for a qualified roofing company that will do the work right the first time, please call Alpine Roofing Construction at 214-528-9897!

http://www.alpineroofing.com/

Alpine Roofing Construction - Awarded Award 2nd Year in a Row

Alpine Roofing Construction has continued to satisfy customers all over the Dallas area, and was recently awarded the 2010 Dallas Award in the Roofing category, for the second year in a row. We were proud to receive this award again, and are glad we have been able to help so many people with all of their roofing needs. We have had thousands of customers in the past year, with all types of situations, ranging from a small residential roofing repairs to multi-million dollar commercial replacements. We are looking forward to continuing to provide excellent service to all types of customers. If you are looking for Dallas residential or commercial roofing services, call Alpine Roofing Construction. We look forward to servicing all of your roofing needs!

http://www.alpineroofing.com/

214-528-9897

Alpine Installs 80,000 Sq Ft Roof - Dallas Roofing

Alpine Roofing Construction recently replaced the roofing system on the Rent 1st distribution facility. Located in Haltom City, Texas, this 80,000 square-foot facility had an old tar and gravel system that was removed and replaced with an Energy Star rated Versico TPO roofing system. The new Versico roofing system carries a 15-year NDL warranty, without monetary limitation. The Rent 1st distribution facility houses all of the company's electronics and appliances for nationwide distribution. Alpine Roofing Construction specializes in large commercial roofing projects similar to this. Our experienced crews can handle all of your commerical roofing needs, and have been doing so since the '90s! If your business, multi family property, or industrial building is in need of commercial roofing services, please call Alpine Roofing Construction! We service the Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana areas.

Dallas: 214-528-9897

Oklahoma City: 405-720-9200

Toll Free: 877-528-9897

http://www.alpineroofing.com/