Roofing Shingles
Despite the tendency to new architectural types, most houses are built with roofing shingles. They provide good protection against the weather and give houses a good selection of looks and appearances. In addition, they’re such an important industry that there are big names that dedicate themselves to roofing materials and installations.
It is precisely because there are so many manufacturers and so many models and types of roofing shingles, that it can be difficult to select one. The best place to start is to ask someone that you trust and has experience with roofing shingles. You’re more likely to get a honest answer from such people than from sales agents who might be more interested in making a commission.
You can also consult the online roofing shingles catalogs from the main manufacturers, like Iko and Gaf. It’s much better if you do this with your spouse or domestic partner, or the person you’re planning to live with, especially if you don’t have a very good aesthetic sense, because there are so many colors, types, and designs of roofing shingles that it can be difficult to narrow down your options to a manageable number.
Once you have a better idea of what you want, you can start speaking with sales representatives and get prices and quotations. Some people prepare a spreadsheet or something similar to compare prices as well as other relevant information, such as design, availability, guarantee, installation, etc. It might seem like a lot of work for just roofing shingles, but remember that you’ll be looking at those roofing shingles for the following 30 or 40 years, so you’ll want to get the ones that look right for your house and satisfy your needs.
Most manufacturers of roofing shingles will also have available a list of licensed contractors that can install your roofing shingles for a fee. If you don’t have experience with installation of roofing shingles (and if you’re reading this article, chances are you don’t), then it’s better to hire one to install them. Not only they know what they do, but most manufacturers require you to use one of their contractors in order to give you a guarantee for their products. They are usually more expensive than an independent contractor, I’d advise you not to experiment and get someone that has the experience with the products you’re getting. In addition, you’ll be able to forget about problems with your roofing shingles for the next 40 years or so.
