Metal Roofing Tax Credit ? Get It While You Can!

Under the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, energy efficient metal roofs installed over the last couple of years have been eligible for a tax credit, usually of $500. All of our products with hI-R paint systems are eligible for this credit due to their reflection of radiant heat which reduces air conditioning costs.

Currently, there is no approved plan in place for this tax credit to be continued beyond the end of 2007.

So, herein is an opportunity. If you are anticipating a metal roof purchase in 2008, it may make sense for you to bump that purchase up and buy the roof in 2007, making you eligible for the $500 tax credit on your 2007 tax return.

Roofing that will save you energy dollars and make you eligible for a nice tax credit? What could be better than that?

Hurricane strength storms have visited southeast and central Texas in the past few years.a Some of the most recent history has seen lots of College Station roofing damage.a Many areas of the country are in hurricane zones, like the Gulf of Mexico.a However, many homeowners do not realize that a hurricane does not necessarily dissipate before traveling inland.a In fact, hurricanes simply slow down activity until energy is released.a That release of energy often comes in the form of strong winds.a Hurricane force winds can be measured well over 100 miles inland.a College Station, TX falls just outside of costal properties, but does experience hurricane force winds.a The roofing industry has responded by creating special roof types that hold better against hurricane winds.

Backed By Research

Wind researchers the Center for Building Science and Technology in France used a wind tunnel to perform testing on different housing structures.a Several other studies have pointed to a round open floor plan with a hip roof.a The design minimizes the force of winds on the structure, however, the shape of the prototype housing structures are not currently widely used. Though the new design and architectural styles are still being ironed out, the research has provided detailed analysis on what current roofing systems hold up the best against hurricane force winds.

College Station Roofing Construction Recommendations

• Homes with a square, hexagonal, or octagonal floor plan and more than four roofing panels have reduced wind loads. The open floor plan serves to distribute the force of the winds across the roofing system.
• Optimal structural integrity of the roofing system and its attachment points reduce damage done to the roof and reduce the amount of debris. The use of increased number of attachment points helps to keep the roof and components in place.
• High ridge roof corners are subject to greater wind loads because of their angle and the uplifting force of winds.

Wind Resistant Roofing Materials

As technology continues to improve so does the technology of the roofing materials used in College Station roofing system built for hurricane winds.a Building codes often require the roof?s base layer to serve as a secondary water barrier.a Usually this applies to costal municipalities, but the extra layer or protection does help prevent water entry.a Other roofing options like metal roofing and concrete tile provide additional stability due to their composite material strengths.

Attachment is also very key in ensuring the College Station roofing holds up against hurricane strength winds.a Manufacturers and professional roofing contractors have a guidelines that determine the number of attachment points for each roofing component.a Additionally, materials like fiberglass shingles often come with a self-adhering strip that provides both water protection and additional attachment strength.

Schulte Roofing is a professional College Station roofing contractor that has over 18 years of servicing roofs in hurricane prone areas.aa With over 100 years of combined experience in the roofing industry, Schulte Roofing can design and build the hurricane proof roof for your budget.

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Why natural slate siding is a worthwhile investment:

Durable and Reliable
An incredibly strong material, slate siding has a guaranteed lifetime of 75 years, usually lasting upwards of 100. Effective against all elements, slate is adaptable for any environment? fireproof, protective against hail and non-porous, which prevents cracking caused by trapped water.

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Popular siding options such as stone, stucco and wood require maintenance to withstand the years of weathering. Slate siding, comparably, is entirely maintenance free once installed. While some slate colors will slightly fade, other strains will remain the same color from their first day to their last.

Energy Efficient
With improper insulation, heating and cooling systems can have a homeowner hemorrhaging money. Slate siding is thermally insulating, maintaining a steady internal temperature and lowering the strain put on these devices, which saves a considerable amount of money. In terms of sustainable architecture, slate siding has been a choice material for ?passive homes?, innovative structures that aim to be as efficient possible without sacrificing comfort.

Environmentally Friendly
Considering slate?s natural properties, it requires minimal processing from quarry to construction site.Hand-split by skilled architects, no harmful chemicals are applied and ozone-damaging CO2 emissions are avoided. After a slate quarry has been mined through, most are re-filled with water and stocked with the area?s native flora and fauna.

Aesthetically Appealing
All functional purposes aside, slate is a gorgeous material that is often specified on high-end projects for its regal and classic appearance. Whether selected for its sleek, darker shades or for bolder greens, purples and reds, slate siding takes a classic material and makes a modern statement that is sure to turn heads.Additionally, adding slate to a structure typically raises its market value, making it an all-around reliable, gorgeous, and savvy investment.

While roofing materials are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, they will eventually show signs of deterioration and there is no real time line as to when this deterioration may begin since different weather conditions cause this time frame to vary. So the only way to know when deterioration is starting is for the roof to be personally monitored and diagnosed.

Inspections

Monitoring the condition of a roof requires regular inspections. This should be done annually, ideally before the winter season begins so that there is adequate time to perform any necessary repairs before the first snow begins. Examinations should also be performed after a severe storm with hail and strong winds as these kind of storms can easily cause damage such as broken shingles and ones that have been ripped from the sheathing.

An inspection can often be done simply by using binoculars. Yet there are some areas such as the valleys and the flashing that will require inspection by actually climbing onto that top structure. In such cases, such a scrutiny should be performed with extreme caution. Rubber-soled shoes should be worn for better traction and only when the roof is completely dry.

Signs

Following are some of the signs to look out for during an inspection that are a good indication of an unhealthy roof.

• Curling ? Newly-installed shingles are normally flat; however, constant exposure to heat and rain will eventually cause the shingles to develop a curvature. Curling is bad since the sides of a curled shingle are open for water to enter, which can create considerable drag that may allow shingles to be ripped off easily during strong winds. Curling does not happen overnight and is usually only seen on older shingles. Asphalt shingles generally start to curl after thirty years of constant exposure to heat and cold; curling on wood shingles usually occurs much faster, after about ten to fifteen years of use.

• Buckling ? Buckling usually occurs due to thermal shock; sudden heat can cause material to expand. The lack of proper expansion spacing between shingles can cause them to bend upwards. While buckling may be temporarily relieved when the temperature drops, any cracks that have occurred due to this expansion will be permanent.

• Ceiling Stains ? Spots are usually seen as brown stains on the ceiling caused by water leakage. If a stain is only located in one place, then the damage is most likely repairable; however, if there are many spots like this all over the house, then the roof will most likely need to be replaced.

• Brittleness ? Most materials tend to turn brittle over time due to constant heat exposure, with the exception of slate and metal. For example, asphalt shingles and PVC are naturally flexible when new; however, they will lose flexibility and become brittle towards the end their service life. To test for brittleness, simply bend one end of the shingle; if it breaks then brittleness is already starting to take place. Falling and missing shingles are a clear indication of such a problem.

Repair vs. Replacement

After an examination finds that the roof does show damage, the question of whether to repair or replace arises. In most cases, the decision is quite easy, as a small amount of damage can require repair and a large amount can mean replacement It there is no clear distinction between the two, the age of the structure will have to be determined.

If the expected service life has been passed, further problems are inevitable; even if the damage is minimal, such problems will begin to surface and total replacement is a sound option. If the roof is not beyond its service life but three-quarters of it is damaged, then replacement is still the most practical option.

Learning how to diagnose unhealthy roof problems is an important asset to learn. Spotting damage early can prevent a problem from getting worse and keep the cost of repair to a minimum. If a roof is already past its service life and due for replacement, continuous inspection of its condition will better prepare an owner for the inevitable replacement project!

Contact Schulte Roofing For Any Houston Roof Needs!

Are you looking for a Houston roof company to diagnose any roofing problems? Check with Schulte Roofing at 800-367-7663 who is well-known for helping greater Houston area customers with all of their roofing needs!