Roofing shingles can be made from almost every conceivable material, including metal, slate, copper, and even iron, but by far the most common and most popular varieties are made of asphalt.

Asphalt shingles are one of the most economical, durable choices for keeping out the wind and weather, and with the new Certainteed line of shingles you can get almost any color, style or look you want at a price you can afford.

Asphalt shingles are tough and weatherproof. Professional installation insures that your new asphalt roof will last for many years. The average asphalt roof lasts about 20 years depending on the specific type of asphalt shingle chosen. If you choose high-end architectural shingles like those made by Certainteed, your asphalt roof can last much longer than that.

Most asphalt shingles can readily be purchased at any retail or commercial building outlet, but installation is not as easy as many people think. To install an asphalt roof correctly you need underlayment, a nail gun and roofing nails, and more than just a basic understanding of technique. Mistakes result in leaks and problems. Many people do try to install their own asphalt shingle roofs, but a professional can usually get the job done faster and better.

Types of Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Asphalt shingles come in two basic types: organic and fiberglass. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Specialty asphalt shingles, such as Certainteed shingles, come in designer colors and architectural styles that are making them one of the most popular brands today.

Certainteed shingles incorporate special design features that make them look as expensive as higher-end roofing materials while providing lasting, quality protection from the elements.

Asphalt shingles are classified according to construction:

• Organic. Organic shingles are backed by a felt or paper that is waterproofed on one side. Organic shingles contain as much as 40% more asphalt than fiberglass shingles. They are heavier than other shingles, and because the backing is organic, if the asphalt is lost, they can theoretically begin to leak. The great advantage to organic shingles is their wind and weather resistance. Their weight makes them difficult to blow off. Organic shingles are often used in storm prone regions.
• Fiberglass. Instead of using a paper or felt backing, fiberglass shingles get their waterproofing from fiberglass granules melded into each shingle between the grains of asphalt. Fiberglass granules make the shingles much lighter in weight, easier to handle, and less expensive than organic shingles. Most low to moderate priced asphalt roofing shingles are of fiberglass construction.
• Certainteed roofing shingles. Certainteed shingles are a name brand designer asphalt shingle that are a favorite of professional installers and are comparable to much more expensive roofing materials in appearance and performance. They come in a wide variety of trendy colors and textures. Certainteed shingles can be shaped and textured to create a desired design effect. Sometimes called ‘architectural shingles, Certainteed shingles combine the best aspects of all the various kinds of asphalt shingles into one superior product.

Rubber Roofing and Flat Roof Construction

Unfortunately, asphalt shingles do not work well on flat roofs. Rubber roofing has been first choice for years for flat roof construction. In the past, rubber has not been the most aesthetically pleasing way to keep water and wind from leaking into a home. Spray on rubber roofs had the look of an industrial or agricultural product. Homeowners were not able to install this type of roofing without expert assistance.

All that has changed in recent years. Homes with flat roof construction can now have the look of asphalt by choosing specialty rubber roofing products. These rubber shingles are molded to resemble slate tiles or other standard roofing products.

Slate-like rubber roofing has even been featured on the popular TV series “This Old House” for a Victorian home renovation; an application unheard of in past decades when rubber roofing had a certain non-stylish stigma attached.

Today, homeowners can find any look they want at a price they can afford, especially if they work with a professional installer who has experience in what works and what does not.

The choices are many, the colors and styles are dramatic, and the roofing shingles last a long time for not a lot of money. No wonder asphalt shingles continue to be the most popular roofing shingles on the market.

About the Author:
Scott Gray is currently a handyman enthusiast who enjoys providing tips to consumers and homeowners. For more information about home handyman tips, how to hire a roofer and tips for learning how to remove vinyl or linoleum flooring be sure to visit everydayhandyman.com.

Soundproofing Wood Floors

A lot of people think that wooden floors are very noisy and cold. The cold is thought of when remembering the original wood floor boards in the house where the cold breeze from the cellar or basement void would come through. Before central heating this flooring could make the house very cold.

New floorboards are neither cold or noisy.

The flooring sold now comes tongue and grooved on all 4 sides which means the boards slot firmly together without leaving large gaps for the breeze to come through. This immediately eliminates any drafts from below the subfloor.

Even when laid directly onto joists, the insulation is very good and no cold can be felt coming through the joints.

The noise of wood floors is also minimal when fitted properly. When laminate floor had just come out this was often fitted without any or adequate underlay. This made the flooring very noisy as there was a hollow void between the existing sub floor and the new laminate floor. Due to laminate flooring also being made of hdf (high density fibreboard) rather than real wood, the noise was louder than that of real wood. It would often sound very hard and noisy with the taps of steps heard constantly.

Wood floor has more natural sound insulation and when installed properly the sound is minimal.

When using an engineered board the most common method is to float the floor by gluing the tongue and groove. As this creates a gap between the two floors it needs something in between to soak up the noise. This is where the underlay is used. The underlays range from a basic 2mm foam which can soak up the majority of the sound to the high density underlays which have been proven to have high acoustic properties and keep the noise to a minimum. Generally the price dictates the quality of the underlay but be careful to choose a wood floor underlay rather than a carpet underlay as these are not suitable for wood floors.

With solid wood floors, the boards are installed by either gluing down directly or by nailing down to the existing sub floor. Due to this, the boards do not have the void between and are therefore not noisy.

Written by Ruth Shann – for professional advice on wood floors contact Real Oak Floors

London builders: History of a bathtub

The bathtub is known for more than one thousand years. The most ancient baths, discovered during excavations of Cronos’s palace on Isle of Crete, date back to III century B.C. The ceramic baths discovered by archeologists were 2500 years old, but they were very similar to modern ones. By the way, one of the first bronze baths was discovered during excavations at Pompeii. At that time the baths were made of marble and terracotta. We also know that rich citizens of Greece and Rome had silver and even golden pools.

During excavations in one ancient city in India the archeologists discovered baths which age was more than 5 thousand years! Those “washing containers” were in each house of that city and its water facilities were very circumspect.

So even in old time people have appreciated curative properties of water. There is another historical fact. 2 thousand years ago sacred Hindu books “Science of life” contained the following phrase: “The water current is curative; water cools the fever heat and cures any illness”.

Culture of washing and stance on cleanliness of human body during different ages were reflected in design and accessories of bathrooms. One would think that Spartans, bent on religion of strength and health, did not know anything of bathrooms. Besides, they washed only in cold water because they feared to run into a sin of delicacy. Read More

The Features of a Cork Floor