Raise the Roof! Roofing tips and Industry Information Sharing

This is the 2nd installment of  “Do’s and Don’ts of Roofing – For YOU the Consumer!” which is available as a FREE download.

Too many Naples Florida Consumers and Roof Buyers think that getting two or three (and sometimes 8-9!) estimates is enough research – well that just won’t cut it! It’s not “Quantity” here that matters, it’s “Quality!

Do some homework – on roofing systems, roofing installations, roofing companies, and roofing technologies! You will be surprised how sophisticated roofing can be! Be careful, it’s not for the faint of heart!

The best way to tackle this “homework” is to sit down for a day and research online, browse a variety of websites, forums, and reviews. You may also want to consider talking to friends and co-workers that have built homes or had a roof replaced in Naples.

To give you a little “jumpstart” on your research, we’ve listed some of the most popular materials used for Naples roofing, and provided a very brief description. However, you should research each material, and find out the pros and cons for each.

Composition shingles – A clean look at an affordable price. Higher-quality versions made from asphalt or fiberglass shingles. A good bang for the buck.

Wood shakes – Provide a natural look with a lot of character. With variations like color, width, thickness, or cut of the wood, no two shake roofs will ever be the same. Expensive and not long lasting in Naples.

Slate – These are actual slivers of rock that are mined, shaped and sized and shipped to the job. It is another roofing material that you will see on more upscale homes. Costly, but very unique and long lasting.

Clay roofing tile – A good choice for homes with a southwestern, Italian, or Spanish Mission design, or even for homes with a modern, clean look. Very popular on South Florida homes. A great tile choice and less prone to mildew and breakage than it’s Concrete tile counterpart.

Concrete tile – By far the most popular roof covering in Southwest Florida. Available in a plethora of colors and styles! Remember… it’s not the concrete tile that keeps you dry but the roof covering under the tile!

Metal roofs – Metal roofs have come back into style (especially for those who love the sound of the rain). In the late 1700s, zinc, copper, and lead were the most popular materials used for roofing. Now, it is typically standing-seam galvalume steel. Famous historic buildings, such as the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello have metal roofs. Research by the Florida Solar Energy Center in 1985 showed that metal absorbed 34 percent less heat than asphalt shingles, and homeowners reported saving up to 20 percent on their energy bills. If you are on the coastline, you should seriously consider using Aluminum!