Having a roof over one’s head is one of life’s most basic necessities, so it only makes sense that we ensure that our roofs are in good condition at all times. There are numerous factors that will affect the condition of your roof, and homeowners bear the responsibility of knowing when their roofing requires repair, and when it needs to be replaced entirely.

Luckily, roofing damage and deterioration is easily detected, if you know the signs to look out for. That said, here’s a quick overview of the destructive factors and warning signs to look out for, when it comes to the condition of our roofs.

Shingle State

A regular inspection of your roof should be a part of every homeowner’s care-taking routine. Pay close attention to the shingles up there. A couple of missing, wobbly, or skewed shingles might require a simple repair job to fix the minor issues.

Should you, however, notice entire roof areas with curling shingles, significant discolorations, or a roof deck that sags towards the center, then a re-roofing operation will be required.

Leakages

These are some of the most most alarming signs of roof deterioration. When you’re in your attic, switch off the lights and look up at the ceiling. If there’s sunlight penetrating through in some places, then your roof is in bad shape. These openings will allow water and pests, such as birds and squirrels, to gain access to your home’s interior.

Water seepage, in particular, should not be allowed to go on once it is discovered. Look out for signs of water damage to your walls, ceiling, and attic. The inherent risk of water leakage is that it may lead to the formation of mold, which can pose a serious health risk to the occupants of a home.

Water seepage can also lead to structural damage and a hefty reconstruction bill, which could have been avoided with an earlier roof replacement.  You can also as roofing contractors to look for leaks and damages to your roof.

The Time Factor

The most inevitable factor affecting roofing quality is the unavoidable passage of time. The average lifespan of a shingle roof will be about 20 years, though this might be a bit shorter or longer, depending on the area’s climate.

Should you be approaching the 20-year mark, a look at your roof should tell you what needs to be done. If it’s looking good, then you could probably get a few more years of protection from it, but if it’s showing signs of wear, a replacement is called for.

Gutter Accumulation

A good way to quickly check on the condition of your roof is to take a look at the gutter that runs along its edges. Shingles are coated with a layer of minerals, and as a roof deteriorates, these minerals are stripped off the shingles and accumulate in the gutters.

Simply take a look at your gutters. Should you see these minerals, which look like small pebbles, then you’ll know your roof is getting worn out and is calling for replacement, sooner rather than later.

Conclusion

The fact of the matter is, the state of your roof plays a huge role in the overall quality of your home, as well as the physical integrity of the house itself. The key here is to take a proactive approach.

Fix any minor issues as they appear, and don’t put off a roof replacement operation when it is called for. That’s the way to keep your roof doing what it does best, keeping you and your family safe, protected, and comfortable.

There’s no question about it, one of the strongest choices you can make when it’s time to put a roof on your new home is a slate roof. A slate roof that’s installed correctly and maintained with care will last more than a lifetime; slate roofing regularly lasts well over 100 years, and it makes your home look elegant and classy. Plus, whether they’re made from natural materials or composition roof materials, slate roof tiles are very green, and come in a wide range of designer options. And, not only do the natural colors of slate tiles look great, but they’re easy to paint, making them a good choice for the homeowner who wants a more diverse and customizable house.

But, with these awesome advantages comes a price. The best slate roofing materials can cost upwards of four times the cost of traditional asphalt shingle roofing, or even more. Fortunately, the high-end stuff isn’t necessary for every roof; there are plenty of great synthetic slate roof alternatives to natural stone. You can even get the same great look from tiles made from recyclables! Let’s break down the numbers you might expect to hear from a roofing contractor in Raleigh when you call to ask, “How much does a slate roof cost?”

Costs Involved in the Price of a Slate Roof

Contracting jobs rarely come at the same price for different customers; this is because each and every job is going to have different demands. Obviously, a larger roof is going to cost more money, but it’s not just the materials. There can be a few factors that play into how much your slate roof will cost.

Labor

Nobody works for free! And, since slate isn’t the most common roof type in North Carolina, not every roofing contractor is going to be very well versed in the process of installing slate roofs. You don’t want to skimp on the labor cost and hire a substandard roofer who’s going to do a poor job installing your expensive roof. But, be aware that that experienced roofing contractors may pay their crews as much as $25 – $31 per hour, and it can take two laborers a whole 10-12 hours to install 100 square feet of roofing. $31 per worker is $62 per hour, which, at only 10 hours, comes out to $620 for that 100 square foot job.

Considering your roof is probably more like 1200 square feet, let’s multiply that out: $620 x 12 = $7,440. If you need your old asphalt shingles to be stripped up first, you could be looking at many additional labor hours on top of this. And that’s just to pay the guys installing the roof! Like we mentioned, these numbers can vary greatly, but this should give you the idea of the cost of a good slate roof.

Materials

You’ll see even more price variation when it comes to the actual cost of the slate roof tiles themselves. Natural slate roofing is the most attractive choice for many homeowners… until they see the cost of the tiles.

There are two varieties of natural slate tiles; hard and soft. As you might have guessed, hard slate tiles are more durable, and have a much longer lifespan– up to 200 years in some cases! But, hard slate is the crème de la crème of slate roof tiles. These sturdy and attractive tiles can cost a staggering amount of money. Still, we’re talking about a roof that’ll last you a lifetime; if you can bear this tremendous cost up front, you’ll enjoy the benefits of it for the rest of your days.

That’s not to say that soft slate isn’t still an excellent choice for your roof! The one key difference is that soft slate tiles tend to need replacing when they start getting old, whereas hard slate tiles can often be reinforced or refurbished into better condition. Soft slate tiles come at nearly half the price as hard slate tiles. They’re still quite pricey when compared to lowly asphalt shingles, or even steel tiles. But, if you’ve read this far, then you know a slate roof is a premium choice for a luxurious home.

Be aware, too, that there are going to be some extraneous material costs involved in any roofing job, and installing a slate roof is no different. Everything from copper flashing, weatherproofing materials, and even the very nails in the roof will be factored into the cost you’ll pay for your roofing job.

Synthetic Slate Roofing

In the 21st century, even homeowners who have a more price-oriented approach to their roof-buying are able to enjoy the awesome benefits and sleek visual appeal of slate roof tiles without having to take on the enormous cost of natural slate roofing. Synthetic slate roofing materials can be made from all kinds of sources, like galvanized steel, or even recycled rubber and plastic.

Because these are factory-made and widely available, synthetic roofing tiles can be incredibly easy to replace, and it’s easy for replacement slate roof tiles to fit any number of styles. And, they’re often lighter in weight than authentic slate roofing materials, while maintaining much of the durability.

So since we’re here to talk about cost, let’s get to the good stuff: synthetic slate roof tiles runs at about half the cost of natural slate! While this still isn’t quite the supremely low price of asphalt shingles, it staves off the normally very high slate roof cost for the homeowner who needs to keep his pocketbook in mind.

Ok, so how much DOES a slate roof cost?

The answer is… you’ll have to do a little math for yourself to figure it out. But here are a few samples to give you an idea to work with.

Let’s keep working with the two roofers earning $31 per hour. We determined that the labor cost of installing a 1,200 square foot roof would be $7,440.

Slate roofs can cost as much as $60-$80 per square foot. $80 x 1,200 square feet = $96,000. With the labor costs, that’s going to surge up over $100,000!

Again; not nearly as cheap as some alternative roofing choices, but if you want the best you can get, then you’re going to shell out a little more to cover your slate roof cost. Don’t worry, you can count on your neighborhood roofing experts at Authentic Restoration to give you a fair estimate on your new synthetic roof.

Synthetic Roofing Tiles

Synthetic roofing materials have revolutionized the world of exterior design, and given the cost-oriented consumer a much wider range of options for building their dream home.

Synthetic, also known as composite roof materials, look every bit as attractive as naturally-derived roofing materials, but they often come at just a fraction of the cost. This means a lower cost of goods, and less concern over maintenance, repair, and replacement costs. Additionally, being comprised of synthetic materials, the composition roof is more eco-friendly.

There are a variety of composite roof options and if you’re looking for a roofing company in Alabama  that can install them, Authentic Restoration is the leader. Let’s take a moment to go over the synthetic roof types you might be interested in.

Polymer Slate

You can enjoy the aesthetic and appeal of all-natural stone without all of the expense and hassle by instead going with the composite roof equivalent: polymer slate synthetic roof tiles by DaVinci Roofscapes or Brava Roof Tile.

Natural slate itself is a good protective roofing material, but it has a tendency to become brittle over time and it’s susceptible to damage from hail, storm debris, and even the weight of footsteps on the rooftop.

Both Brava and DaVinci’s composite roof slates are natural in their appearance, but far more durable and lightweight. They’re even a little bit wider than other tiles, meaning it generally takes fewer to cover your whole roof. And, they come in a range of attractive color options to complete the look of any home.

As any good roofing material should be, they’re highly fire resistant; after all, they’re made to emulate stone. They can withstand winds of just over 100 miles per hour, and they’re great at resisting the weather.

In fact, DaVinci is so confident in the durability of their slate roofing that they offer a lifetime warranty on their slate roofing products.

Synthetic Wood Shakes

If you’re more interested in the classic look and natural appeal of wooden roofing, then wood shakes are probably on your radar. But you’re probably aware of some of the issues that come with wooden roofing materials; they’re more flammable than most types of roofs, they need to be well finished and regularly maintained to avoid weathering, and they can lose their color under the sunlight.

This is another advantage of composite shingles, or in this case, a composite roof made of synthetic wooden shakes. There are a lot of great options to choose from, but some of the finest composite shakes come from Brava Roof tile.

Brava’s synthetic shakes are available in a range of thickness options to help give your roof the look you like best. They’re patterned with the same kind of “split texture” that authentic wood boasts, which also makes it far easier to split the pieces by hand (so that you don’t need any special tools to install it).

Plus, these particular composite roof shakes don’t look nearly as plasticky as some of their competitors. They come in eight different shades that you can mix and match to create just the right color to top off your home. They’re among the best looking synthetic shades on the market, and they beat the price of traditional wooden shake roofing materials.

Brava also proudly offers a long-term warranty on their products, offering up to 50 years of limited warranty coverage; AKA, more longevity than cedar itself!

Stone Coated Steel

Stone coated steel tiles are one of the ultimate choices in composition roof materials, featuring the functional and stylistic benefits of traditional asphalt shingles, with far fewer drawbacks.

This type of composition shingles is most often made using recycled materials, some of which can even be recycled after their use as roofing materials. This is not the case with asphalt shingles. Plus, metal roofs of all types are generally more green, having stronger reflective properties than asphalt.

Stone coated steel is much hardier and doesn’t take nearly as much roof maintenance or repair. Plus, they don’t weather under the sun or elements nearly as much as asphalt, so they don’t need to be cleaned nearly as often.

Decra’s stone coated steel composition shingles are some of the best in the biz. These shingles, available in numerous sleek-looking colors, are highly durable and are effective at resisting rain and small hailstones. They’re highly fire resistant, strong against stormy winds, and great at keeping the sunlight from heating up your home.

There are only a few real downfalls when it comes to stone coated steel roofing. This is one example of composition roofing that’s actually more expensive than its traditional alternative. Asphalt shingles are popular all over the United States because they’re inexpensive and they can last a long time. The latter is true of composition shingles, but the former isn’t; stone coated steel shingles are much pricier than asphalt.

Additionally, like all metal roofing materials, stone coated steel roofs can be noisy under inclement weather. Heavy rainfall, particularly late at night, can be quite bothersome for many homeowners. This is one of the serious considerations you’ll want to make before installing a metal roof over your head.

Authentic Restoration is one of the few Alabama roofing companies that you can trust to handle the installation of stone coated steel roofing; they aren’t the most common choice on the market, being a little bit more expensive than some other choices in composition roof materials. This means not every contractor bothers to work with them, and the ones who do don’t install them very often. You can rely on us to build you a beautiful composite roof that’ll last your home for decades.

Deciding on a Synthetic Roof for Your Home

Considering all of the advantages that composition roofs have to offer, especially on the cost side of things, it’s no wonder they’re becoming more and more popular across the country. Alabama is stepping into the 21st century by embracing the innovate technology that helps our citizens thrive; join the revolution and top off your new home with a composition roof. Whether you’re budget-conscious, safety-minded, style-influenced, or all three, there’s a synthetic roof out there to make your home stand out in your neighborhood.

So you’ve decided it’s time to put a new roof on your house. Or, maybe you’re building a new home and you’re trying to envision the perfect roof to put over the heads of your family. You’ve considered a myriad of options, and you’ve settled on a tried-and-true classic: an elegant wooden roof. Cedar shakes are some of the most stylish roofing materials you can find, and they’ve been a long standing tradition in residential construction all over the world.

Wood shakes, essentially, are simple wooden shingles fashioned out of split-in-half logs. They’re used in many countries and have been around for a long time. After all, they last a long time, and they’re very aesthetically pleasing. Their rough-cut and rustic look can give your home a beautifully quaint and old-fashioned touch, or a sophisticated modern touch. Cedar shingles and shakes that correctly installed are surprisingly good at protecting your home from rain, sun, snow, and all other manners of inclement weather. All around, a cedar shake roof is a great choice for your Indianapolis home.

Cedar Shakes: The Basics

Wood shakes can come from all kinds of North American trees, but primarily you’ll find redwood and cedar shakes on residential homes. You might see wood shakes made from pine when traveling far north or abroad, but they aren’t as common in the USA. Most often, they measure 24 inches in length for residential roofing, but you’ll also see them in 18” and 48” varieties used for other purposes.

Cedar shakes are made by taking blocks of red cedar wood and splitting them open, giving them their interesting grooved patterns. A side of them is then sawn down flat or to a slight angle.

Whether you decide that authentic or synthetic cedar shakes are the right choice for your home, you should know what kind of costs you’re facing ahead of time. Before talking with a roofing contractor in Indianapolis, take a look at these details about the price of getting a cedar shake roof.

What you Need to Know About Cedar Shakes

Appearance

We can’t overstate the natural beauty of a cedar shake roof; even the composition roof shakes have a very natural looking character to them. Cedar shakes give a house a very traditional and pastoral look. If you want a touch of history and antiquity to your home, cedar shakes will fit your style just fine.

Maintenance

Cedar shakes do take a bit more maintenance than other types of roofs. The material needs to be kept free and clear of any debris, like falling branches from overhanging trees. You also want to make sure you keep your rain gutters unplugged. Fortunately, unlike asphalt roofing, cedar shake roofs aren’t as susceptible to moss and algae, but if you see any forming, you’ll want to clear it away immediately.

Lifespan

Synthetic wood shakes, in particular, will last you several decades. However, traditional cedar shakes will vary in their lifespan depending on a variety of important considerations.

First and foremost, proper installation of quality materials will go a long way in avoiding issues throughout the life of the roof that shave years off of its overall longevity. Still, ongoing maintenance will be an important factor in getting those extra years out of your roof.

A newer house can make a difference, too; an older structure is always going to tend to have more roofing concerns than a newer, sturdier one. Plus, abrasive conditions like overhangs and regular human activity on the rooftop can significantly shorten the life of your cedar shake roof. And, of course, weather is always a consideration; a natural wooden roof will have to be weather treated, and this is another part of the routine maintenance you’ll be responsible for as the homeowner.

Durability

Natural cedar shakes can come with their share of frustrating issues; in particular, they can take a lot of abuse from heavy rainfall. Cedar shakes that are exposed to long periods of rainfall and that stay wet for extended periods of time are prone to rot and fungus. If there is organic material falling from branches hanging down over the roof, this can exacerbate any growth problems you might be having in the wooden material on your roof.

Fire Safety

Every homeowner is concerned with their wellbeing and safety, and the roof over your head plays a big role in that part of your life. Wood catches fire; everyone knows that. Fortunately, even for natural wood roofs, there are plenty of treatments that can give your roof the fire-resistant properties you want it to have. Make sure to have your roof regularly inspected and treated to ensure that it’s up to code and will keep you safe.

Synthetic Cedar Shakes

There are also synthetic cedar shake roofing materials available today that give you, as the homeowner, significantly added benefits. Composite roofs made from synthetic roofing materials can also be made in an even more diverse range of colors and styles to make them that much more aesthetically interesting.

Synthetic cedar shakes are more durable, being able to withstand high winds and harsh weather elements much more readily than natural wooden shakes. They last a whole lot longer, too; synthetic cedar shake roofs can last 50 years or more so long as they’re properly cared for. But, they also don’t take nearly as much routine maintenance as a natural wood shake roof. And, they’re far more naturally fire resistant than natural cedar shakes.

Between their stylish good looks and their resistance to the elements, synthetic cedar shakes are great for giving a touch of character to round out the look of any residential household.

The Cost of a Cedar Shake Roof

Roofing jobs are never inexpensive, so it’s important that you get a quality roof that’ll last you a long time. Cedar shakes, depending on the size and quality of materials, tend to start at around $6 per square foot. That’s the lower end of the spectrum, however. For a higher end cedar shake roof, you’re going to be looking at more like $9 per square foot. Now, considering that square footage your roof will require can vary greatly, especially depending on the complexity of your home, there’s no simple answer to the question, “how much does a cedar shake roof cost?” But, to start, you can expect a range that looks something like $17,000 – $26,000.

Remember, these numbers are estimates, and can vary a whole lot depending on your home and your individual needs. Give us a call at Authentic Restoration to get a free estimate on your new cedar shake roof, and don’t forget to ask us about our synthetic roofing systems!

It’s that time of year again and the hail continues to fall in Cullman, AL. Property owners are reporting a lot of hail damage to both residential and commercial buildings in the area.

The Cullman County school district has cancelled classes due to the extent of damages caused the storm. For those of you that have lived in Cullman for a while, know that many years ago we had a similar storm that wreaked havoc on the town.

If your home or office has hail roof damage, don’t wait, contact Authentic Restoration now, call (205) 982-5252. Let us provide you with a free hail damage inspection.

What to Do if You Have Hail Damage Roof

For over 20 years, Authentic Restoration has been the trusted name in Alabama for roof repairs and replacement. We are hail damage roofing experts and can provide you with a free inspection. We work closely with you and your insurance company to make sure your property is restored to its original state. Check out our reviews to see all the people we have helped!

What Roof Damages Can I Expect from Hail?

Hail can be nasty to your roof. If you have asphalt, chances are hail has come crashing down causing granuels to be displaced. This weakens your shingles and can lead to terrible roof leaks! If you have a slate or clay tile roof, chances are you have broken tiles that need immediate attention. The last thing you want to do is put off a hail damaged roof.

roof hail damage asphalt shingles

hail damage tile roof

Authentic Restoration has helped many homeowners in the area repair and replace their roofs, siding, gutters and much more. If you need help, contact us right away (205) 982-5252!