Roofing Help and Advice Blog by RoofingCalc.com

Roof Flashing: What It Is and How It Works – The Ultimate Guide

January 16, 2022May 13, 2021

This guide answers some of the most frequently asked questions homeowners have about roof flashing. Whether you are tackling a complete re-roofing job, or simply need to repair the existing flashing on a leaky roof, this guide will help you find the right information in no time!

End-wall copper flashing on an asphalt shingle roof

via: Runyon and Sons Roofing

Table of contents:

Here is a quick table of contents to help you quickly find the right information.

What Is a Roof Flashing and Why Is It Important?

While roofs are purposely constructed to allow rainwater run-off, they can often have several vertical features or protrusions, such as chimneys, parapet walls, half walls, dormers, skylights, vent pipes, and the like, where water can pool up and/or drip into the crevices between. The areas can eventually become damaged and allow water seepage and leaks into the house. To prevent this, professional roofers apply roof flashing to divert rainwater down the sides of the vertical surfaces, keeping the water from stagnating.

Roof flashing is typically a thin metal material fabricated from rust-resistant metal, such as G-90 galvanized steel, a frequently used flashing material, copper, or aluminum. Depending on the company, flashing may even be available in lead or zinc alloy.

Steel, copper, and aluminum are particularly used because of how malleable these metals are, rendering them easier to shape. However, the homeowner should note the different characteristics of each metal:

Galvanized steel is less costly than aluminum and copper, and is well resistant to corrosion. It is for these reasons that steel is most often chosen for flashing.
Copper is quite durable, but it discolors into a patina over time. Some homeowners appreciate the classic appearance of copper with patina.
Aluminum is easier for roofing professionals to shape and lighter in weight. Aluminum must be coated to be preserved. Bare aluminum breaks down when touching alkaline surfaces, such as mortar used to secure bricks. As long as the aluminum is coated, it can be used on concrete or stonework.

Asphalt Roofing Shingles: Costs, Pros & Cons – The Ultimate Guide

July 29, 2023May 7, 2021

Asphalt shingles still dominate the US roofing industry, accounting for more than 70% of all residential, sloped roofs including new construction and replacements. That’s probably why you’re here – asphalt shingles are on the short list of materials you’re considering for your home, garage, or business.

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GAF Timberline HD Birchwood Architectural Asphalt Shingles on a Cross-Cable Roof with two dormers

Source: GAF

However, not all asphalt shingle roofing products are created equal. This guide will help you:

Understand the main types of asphalt shingles
Compare top products and brands from most popular manufacturers
Ultimately choose the best asphalt shingle type and style for your home

What are Asphalt Shingles?

There are many reasons for the popularity of asphalt shingles, and we’ll cover them in the pros and cons section, but the main reasons are low cost and ease of installation – the combination of low cost and fairly decent durability and longevity aka the value for the money.

Note: If you come across a discussion of organic shingles in your research, the information is likely quite old or encyclopedic. Organic shingles didn’t perform up to the expectations of quality and performance, so most manufacturers stopped making them in 2008.

Did you know? The longevity of any asphalt shingle product is determined by the shingle thickness and quality of construction. More on that below:

Composition of a modern asphalt shingle:

Fiberglass mat: The core of today’s durable asphalt shingles is fiberglass mat. This material is chosen because it is lightweight, resists tearing, and holds asphalt very well.
Asphalt: The fiberglass mat is run through a saturator tank where the glass fibers are thoroughly coated with hot asphalt, a petroleum-based material used for its strong resistance to moisture. The weight and toughness of the asphalt is useful for wind and hail impact resistance.
Mineral granules: The part of the asphalt shingle that will be exposed to the elements is coated with mineral granules that are available in a wide range of colors.
— Shingles can be given a single color to produce a solid-color shingle or a blend of colored granules for a more nuanced look.
— The ceramic-coated granules also reflect the UV rays of the sun – the single worst threat to shingles.
Sealant strips: Continuous or intermittent lines of raw asphalt are applied to the top part of each shingle that will be covered by the next layer installed. The sealant strip bonds the shingles together once they heat up in sun and warmth.

Did you know? The sunnier a climate is, the shorter the lifespan of the average shingle will be. One of the ways to extend the lifespan of an asphalt roof in a sunny climate such as Florida, Arizona, Texas, is to opt for a solar-reflective, light colored shingles designed to reflect solar radiant heat and UV radiation.

New Shingle Roof $7,500 Average price	New Metal Roof $14,500 Average price	New Flat Roof $8,225 Average price
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Marvin vs. Milgard Windows Cost 2021: Styles, Pros & Cons

June 28, 2021May 2, 2021

Marvin operates in the premium end of the window market, making each product to order, one at a time, customizing windows to the exact specifications of the customer.

Milgard primarily focuses on the mid-range window marketplace with its vinyl windows available in four different series.

Milgard Ultra Series single hung windows with colonial grids

The company has spent much less time competing in the high-end slice of the new construction and window replacement markets. Milgard currently offers two high-end lines, the fiberglass Ultra Series and the wood-clad fiberglass Essence Series.

Milgard Windows Cost

Milgard’s bottom-of-the line Style Line series standard 48-inch x 60-inch double pane, double hung vinyl windows run between $300 and $450 per unit (not including the cost of installation), depending on the window-specific options.

Milgard single hung aluminum window will cost between $200 and $350 per unit.

Moving up in class, additional series of Milgard vinyl windows are offered in the $500 to $650 price range.

The Essence Series is Milgard’s entry into the premium window market. It is constructed with Douglas fir, pine or primed pine on the interior and fiberglass, with 15 colors, on the exterior. Quotes typically run between $40 and $50 per square foot, or between $800 and $1,100 for a standard double hung window, not including the cost of installation.

Marvin Windows Cost

Marvin’s go-to double hung wood clad window is its contemproary Ultimate G2 Windows series. Prices range from $850 to $1,650 per window installed. This window is available with IZ3 coastal/hurricane certification for hurricane prone areas.

For Marvin’s top-of-the-line Infinity Series classic double hung window in Standard, Cottage or Oriel style, you can expect to pay between $1,250 and $1,850 per window installed, depending on your location.

Marvin Infinity Ultrex fiberglass windows feature color matched and neutral dark components with bronze and ebony interior finishes. An easy tilt finish makes cleaning a breeze.

Note that window pricing can vary considerably as manufacturers often run discounts and incentives on their lines.

Did you know? Final cost can also vary depending on the design options like premium materials, locks and hardware, opening control devices, and the like.

Installation costs depend on whether replacement windows can be installed directly into the existing frames or whether new carpentry is required.

It is not unusual for a new window with options and installation to add many hundreds of dollars to the unit price.