Roofing materials

Roofing tools

You can’t go wrong hiring a qualified professional for a roofing project. But with a little bit of time and knowledge, and often with the help of a few friends, replacing a roof can be a rewarding do it yourself project. The key to doing it yourself rather than doing yourself in is the right roofing tools. Most of the following tools can be found at the local hardware store.

A slate cutter does just what the name implies, cuts slate and shingles. It cuts through most roofing materials like a hot knife through butter. Industrial versions cut 1/2” thick shingles easily. Some models have a punch to get them started, which also offers better control in the cutting process.

Instead of throwing the shingles to the ground, which requires a constant trek to the perilous edge, consider a ridge bucket. These buckets are designed to hug the roof so they don’t slip even on a steep incline. It’s safer and quicker to use a ridge bucket to dispose of materials.

Use a hip runner to install ridge cap and hip ridges perfectly straight every time. Of all the roofing tools this is one the contractors always have, but do it your self enthusiasts rarely consider.

Seaming pliers aren’t for sewing. They’re for pulling shingles, especially stubborn shingles that seem to have a mind of their own intent on staying in place. Seaming pliers have teeth to grip the shingle without tearing it. Add a good pair of thick work gloves to save your fingers and hands from scrapes, bruises and blisters caused by gripping and pulling rough shingles.

What has a hammer head on one side and an ax and blade on the other? No, not a movie hero’s weapon, it’s a slater’s hammer. This roofing tool can be used both for removing and installing roofs. Don’t worry about it going to waste after the roofing project, it’s also a handy every day hammer.

Most local hardware stores rent these tools as well as sell them. This way a home owner can use the best quality tools rather than one that’s cheaper to purchase. Knowledge is also a roofing tool, perhaps the most important of them. Local hardware stores, as well as the Internet, are great sources of information on roofing and roofing tools. Between books they carry and staff on hand who can give you advice, they can prepare a person for every step of the roofing process.

Fabral roofing warranty

Fabral describes itself as the leader in metal wall and roof systems. The Fabral roofing warranty on their products is one of the best in the roofing business. in a nutshell most have a lifetime integrity warranty and 20-30 year fade and chalk or corrosion warranty. Such excellent warranties make Fabral an easy choice for metal roofing.

The Fabral Grandrib 3 and Grandrib 3 Plus metal roofing are, according to Fabral, “manufactured from only the best prime quality structural steel available—no seconds ever!” The finish is Enduracoat (TM) 2000, another Fabral product. As Fabral tells it “Whether your application is new or old, commercial, agricultural or residential, Fabral’s panels and paint systems are designed to exceed your requirements and expectations.” What’s the warranty? For Grandrib 3 it’s a lifetime integrity warranty, a 30-year warranty against fade and chalk for walls and roofs, and a 10-year edge rust warranty against acid rain. As expected the Grandrib 3 Plus warranty is even better. It’s a lifetime film integrity warranty, a 30-year warranty against fade and chalk for walls and roofs, a 15-year edge rust warranty against acid rain, and a 25-year non-perforation warranty against acid rain for walls, 20 years for roofs.

Fabral describes its Horizon 16 product in the following manner. “The elements can be tough on roofing materials, but Fabral’s Horizon 16 is up to the task. Horizon 16’s tough, metal construction brings maximum protection, low maintenance, long-lasting beauty and distinctive value to residential properties. Horizon 16 is incredibly energy efficient; many colors reflect the hot rays of the sun to keep homes cooler in the summer. While Horizon 16 weighs considerably less than a shingled roof, it is extremely durable—the fire resistant material can withstand strong winds yet maintain a quiet, soothing sound during a rain storm. Horizon 16 can be installed over any solid decking, or in many cases, right over an existing roof.” Since it’s a Fabral product, the warranty is as hefty as expected; a Lifetime warranty, a 30-year chalk and fade warranty for painted, a 15-year edge rust warranty against acid rain, and a limited 20-year paint warranty on Bright Copper Penny.

Ultra-Loc is another Fabral residential roofing metal material. “Ultra-Loc’s tough, metal construction brings maximum protection, low maintenance, long-lasting beauty and distinctive value to residential properties.” The warranty includes a 30-year chalk and fade warranty for painted, a 15-year edge rust warranty against acid rain, and a limited 20-year paint warranty on Bright Copper Penny.

The verdict is in. The Fabral roofing warranty is solid, for any product. More information on all of Fabral’s products, including the Fabral roofing warranty for each, can be found at their web site http://www.fabral.com.

EPDM roofing

An excellent rubber roofing solution for flat roofs where inflexibility, weathering and failing joints often cause roofs to leak is EPDM roofing . If you’ve been struggling with a flat roof leak, or you have a flat or gently sloping roof project, you’ll be happy to discover EPDM rubber roofing. With billions of square feet installed, EPDM has been proven to give many years of leak free service. The best part is, it’s easy to install.

EPDM is ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber with a benefit of not tainting run off water. This means the water coming from the roof can be re-used for sanitation purposes. Since an element of the green movement is to harvest rainwater, EPDM roofs are popular in green projects. Like TPO roofing, EPDM roofing is a membrane product. It is commonly used in big box stores with large open areas. Chances are if there’s a Walmart nearby it has an EPDM roof.

EPDM has been in use as a roofing material since the 1960’s. Efforts to recycle it began in the 1990’s. Presently there are more than 1 billion square feet of EPDM new roof coverings installed every year, with over 20 billion square feet already installed. EPA standards in 2007 raised the recycle bar to call for 50% of roofing materials used in any new project to be recyclable. An EPA study conducted in 2007 was used to determine if EPDM could be recycled to that level. The results were positive, but with some question remaining as to whether the recycled material could be used and produced in enough quantity to be feasible.

The EPDM Roofing Association, or ERA, is a trade association for EPDM. According to this group, “Since the early 1960’s, EPDM single-ply rubber membrane roofing products have gained wide industry acceptance and respect by providing long-term, economically efficient, dependable roofing solutions for the construction community. Their attributes include long-term warranties, low life-cycle costs, reduced labor costs, minimal maintenance and user-friendly code approvals. The sustained growth of EPDM roofing systems is attributed to the development of complementary technologies that have made it possible for EPDM roofing systems to be beneficial in a wide number of applications. Architects and contractors have come to depend on this proven track record of performance. As environmentalists and code regulators place more emphasis on the long-term performance of building materials, EPDM has become an increasingly obvious choice. The need to provide the construction and roofing communities with current and accurate data documenting the many benefits of EPDM roofing systems led to the formation of ERA.”

Wind resistance is one EPDM benefit heavily pushed by the EPA. EPDM roofs can be designed to resist winds of 120 MPH or more. For buildings in hurricane areas, that’s of huge benefit.