I’m always happily surprised at how stylish metal roofing can be, especially for the price.

Wood shake is awesome, it lasts longer, and has a very unique, rusticated look to it. 

Installing a new roof can be a daunting process, especially if it is your first time carrying out such a project. There are a huge number of brands in the roofing market, and all of them offer different products and features. GAF is one of the premium manufacturers for asphalt shingles, a very popular choice. 

By comparing GAF Timberline American Harvest and ArmorShield II asphalt shingles, you will be better educated and more able to choose the right shingles for your roof. It is very important to consider roofing costs, roofing warranties and roofing estimates during this choice to make a decision that respects your budget.

GAF has been manufacturing roofing products since the late 19th century and is considered the number one residential roofing manufacturer in North America, grossing over three billion dollars in sales each year. GAF is known for its advanced technology that produces a fine product that will last homeowners for generations to come. It offers asphalt shingles for both commercial and residential roofing with a wide variety of colors and features.

GAF’s Timberline American Harvest asphalt shingle line is its top selling line in North America. The company has wooed consumers with its excellent customer service and superior products. These shingles are a part of the company’s Lifetime Roofing System. This means that the shingles are manufactured to ensure a lifetime’s use when installed appropriately with other GAF roofing products. 

These shingles are also designed with GAF’s patented Advanced Protection Technology. This technology uses a multi-layer build to provide extra durability and longevity. The DuraGrip adhesive seal also ensures that your shingles will never blow off during high winds. These shingles come with 130 mph Limited Wind Coverage and a Lifetime Limited Warranty. These asphalt shingles cost significantly more money than other similar shingle lines, but they offer  a range of additional features:

• A Class A fire rating
• A custom-designed color palette
• Extra-dimensional styling
• Sophisticated design

GAF’s Timberline ArmorShield II shingles are high-end impact-resistant asphalt shingles. Although these shingles are stylish, their main feature is their durability, which can help you save a lot of money on your monthly insurance bill. These shingles have been awarded a class F rating by Underwriters Laboratories, which is the highest rating for shingle wind performance. 

These shingles also pass the UL 2218 Class 4 standards for impact resistance. This means that your shingles are sure to withstand high winds and chaotic rainstorms without damage. Like the American Harvest line, ArmorShield II shingles are backed by a Lifetime Limited Warranty and  130 MPH Limited Wind Coverage. 

You can purchase these shingles in these colors:

• Barkwood
• Charcoal
• Slate
• Weathered wood

Whether you are looking for 3-tab shingles or architectural shingles, you should read reviews and consult a professional roofer to help you make your final decision. 

GAF Timberline Ultra HD vs Cool Series asphalt shingles

Many homeowners and builders opt to use GAF shingles when undertaking a roofing project. It can be beneficial to compare GAF Camelot vs Country Mansion asphalt shingles, two of GAF’s top-selling 3-tab shingles, when choosing shingles for your roof. Both have some great attributes that make them ideal for nearly any roofing application, so you cannot go wrong no matter which you choose. 

When you decide to install asphalt roofing shingles, you are making a smart move. Asphalt roofing shingle cost comparisons show that they are more affordable than most other types of residential roofing shingles. GAF Camelot shingles are a top choice because they offer:

• Attractiveness: Stunning colors and a unique design give your home a beautiful look.

• Heaviness: Camelot shingles are as much as 60 percent thicker than other so-called premium shingles. This adds to their durability.

• High performance: Camelot shingles have a warranty against wind damage in winds up to 130 mph. Each shingle features a patented adhesive seal that holds it tightly in position to reduce the incidence of blow-offs.

• Variety of colors: Nine different shingle shades are available.

GAF’s Country Mansion asphalt shingles are an ideal choice for many homeowners who want the look of a handcrafted slate roof without the added expense. These designer shingles offer:

• Artisan designs: Dimensional designs and oversized tabs create a beautiful display that is unparalleled by other types of shingles.

• Safety: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) gives these GAF shingles their highest rating.

• Class A: This rating means that these shingles are safer than wooden shakes and some types of synthetic or plastic shingles that carry a Class C rating.

• Lifetime warranty: For as long as the original owner owns the home, Country Mansion shingles are under warranty.

• Natural color options: The color palettes used in the creation of these shingles are specially designed to showcase the natural appeal of the shingles.

• UV-resistance: These shingles feature special granules that extend shingle life and durability by protecting the shingle against damage from the sun.

• Cracking and splitting protection: A special core construction method makes these premium shingles resistant to cracking and splitting.

No matter which you choose, both of these GAF shingle choices are affordable options that cost just a fraction of what you would pay for expensive metal, slate or wooden shakes roofing. Both also offer StainGuard protection against algae. Moreover, both Camelot and Country Mansion shingles from GAF are crafted with Advanced Protection technology that gives you the ultimate in wind uplift resistance, granule adhesion, flexibility, toughness and resistance to fire. Both are also rated to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, from the heat of the Arizona summer to the cold of the Montana winter. 

Your roofing professional will likely prefer one over the other, and can make recommendations based on roofing cost and roofing warranty for each shingle type. 

A guide to GAF asphalt roofing shingles: Timberline Natural Shadow vs ArmorShield II

When deciding to install new shingles, there are many different styles and options you must choose from. Doing some research before you settle on a shingle style is the first step in your home improvement project. You can compare GAF Camelot vs Grand Canyon asphalt shingles to determine if either product will complement the exterior of your home.

Founded in 1886, GAF has become one of North America’s leading roofing material manufacturers. The company has won numerous accolades in its 125-year history, providing a wide variety of roofing solutions. The Camelot and Grand Canyon asphalt shingles are just two of GAF’s most popular products.

Camelot Asphalt Shingles

Camelot asphalt shingles are part of GAF’s Lifetime Roofing System. This means that your Camelot shingles will come with a lifetime limited roofing warranty and non-prorated coverage for the first ten years of your new roof. The Camelot style offers a sophisticated and polished look for your home. The Camelot style has some very attractive features:

• Fiberglass asphalt construction
• Class A fire rating
• 130 mph limited wind warranty

The color options available in the Camelot style vary depending on the area that you live in, but StainGuard protects all of the Camelot shingle colors. This feature prevents algae growth on your roofing materials after exposure to moisture.

Grand Canyon Asphalt Shingles

Grand Canyon asphalt shingles are also part of the Lifetime Roofing System. Like the Camelot range, these shingles are more affordable than other options and will reduce your overall roofing costs. The Grand Canyon shingle adds the wood-shake look to your home for a fraction of the cost. Each shingle is layered with the following features:

• Diamond cut granules
• UV blocker granules
• DuraGrip adhesive
• SpecSelect asphalt grading system
• MicroWeave and FiberTech core components

Color options in the Grand Canyon shingle also vary by geographical location. When you decide to install asphalt roofing shingles, be sure to determine which colors are available in your area before you seek a roofing estimate.

Remember that some local ordinances require that specific roofing materials be used in any roofing project. Before you settle on a shingle, check with your roofing contractor to make sure that the shingle you choose is approved for use in your area. The Grand Canyon and Camelot shingles have been officially approved for use in areas that include Florida and Texas.

Residential roofing projects can improve the beauty and value of your home. When you decide to replace your roofing shingles, learn about all available shingle options. You may opt for three-tab shingles, or you may want to consider more expensive options.

The starter home that you buy as a young couple can quickly make you feel like the walls are closing in on you. That is why several manufacturers offer modular and prefabricated room additions. These kits give you the same amount of space that additions would, but at a fraction of the cost.

C-Thru Sunrooms’ Alpha Line addition

You can choose from kits that resemble a sun porch or enclosed porch, or opt for one that gives you an extra bedroom or home office.

Building an addition onto your home is a simple way to give your family more space. You might need a guest room, a bedroom for a new child, a game room or even an office or den for working from home.

When you talk to a contractor about the job, you might be surprised at the overall cost. By the time you factor in the cost of labor and materials, a 100-square-foot room can cost you about $40,000. Modular additions and room kits are much cheaper because the manufacturer assumes that you will do the job yourself.

The popularity of modular room additions grew in the months following Hurricane Katrina. Small prefabricated homes from FEMA began appearing around New Orleans, and homeowners started using those same types of homes across the country. Now known as Katrina Cottages, the homes are available from Lowe’s and other retailers, including Cusato Cottages and a company called Katrina Cottages.

Plans for the small houses begin at $700, and you can find pre-built homes starting at around $15,000. Many homeowners use these small buildings as extra rooms by attaching the homes to one side of their house and adding a doorway to connect the spaces.

Most modular room additions are fairly basic. You get the walls, roof and floor in the kit, but anything else you need costs extra, including doors and windows. You must also deal with laying down a foundation that keeps the room firmly above ground.

One of the newest trends in the world of DIY involves prefabricated room additions. Also known as kits, you get the equipment that you need for adding a room onto your home, but you might still spend several weeks or more working on the project. C-Thru Sunrooms, Elite Pre-Fab Homes, North Country Creative Structures and SunPorch are a few companies that specialize in prefabricated rooms.

Adding more space to your home once meant a costly investment, but there are now many cheaper options available. You can purchase the plans for an addition for less than $1,000, which gives you the chance to customize the room for your needs.

It is not uncommon for homeowners to accumulate a lot of belongings over the years, especially those who are raising families. Interior modular storage units are often used in all areas of a home to help homeowners free up space and to stay organized.

Photo credit: Shoe storage by gregoirevdb 
via Compfight CC.

Some popular areas of placement include:

• Closets.
• Attics.
• Basements.

Whatever your needs, interior storage units can be beneficial throughout the entire home.

Modular interior storage for living areas

Depending on your situation, hiring a contractor to add shelving to your home may or may not be a practical choice. Modular interior storage shelving can be a less costly alternative and help you accomplish the very same look and function for less money. With this type of indoor storage system, you can eliminate the cost of a contractor building from scratch because you can most likely complete the project yourself.

Closets are often used for storage, so they are usually very crowded. Modular shelving helps free up space in cluttered closets. Shoe lovers often use this type of storage shelving to organize and store their shoes. There are many different types of indoor modular shelving for living areas that can also add to the decor of your home.

Modular storage systems for attics

Modular shelves for attics are designed primarily with storage in mind. While some people have finished attics, most opt to use it for storage. Modular storage shelving is often manufactured to fit between attic trusses, and they generally use the trusses as braces. This type of interior storage shelving addresses the common issue of attics having walls that slope.

Decorative shelving is also available for attics for a more attractive option.

Modular storage systems for basements

Like with attics, it is common for homeowners to use their basements as main sources of storage for belongings they do not regularly use. However, there are also a lot of homeowners who have chosen to have their basements at least partially finished to increase the living space of their homes.

There are modular storage systems available for basements, whether the basement is finished or not. Purchasing them for a finished basement, however, may become more costly than purchasing them for an unfinished one.

In many areas of the country, tornadoes are a fact of life. What do you do when disaster strikes? How do you keep your family safe? You may want to investigate the benefits of the prefabricated above-ground storm shelters offered by many storm shelter suppliers.

 One of these units may be preferable to having a space in your home converted into a safe room. They are an especially good option for homes without basements or those situated in areas where the water tables are high. There are lots of choices, so you’ll have to consider your needs. Comparing the features offered by leading suppliers can help you get started.

Canton Enterprises features

This Canton, Kan., supplier has been manufacturing above-ground storm shelters since 1990. They serve the entire continental United States. Facts:

• The units are constructed of 4-inch thick concrete supported by 3/8-inch rebar.
• These above-ground shelters are handicapped accessible.
• Air is provided to the unit via an 8-inch turbine.
• The unit needs to be installed into a hillside or surrounded by dirt.
• A basic unit costs around $2,000 installed at a readied site, and this includes delivery.
• Out-of-state orders will require a delivery fee.
• The company offers a lifetime leak guarantee.
• The purchaser will need to have electricity installed separately, if desired.

Heartland Storm Shelters and features

Heartland Storm Shelters is a manufacturer from Ohio who also acts a dealer. Heartland has sold shelters since 1988. The company also has dealers located in several surrounding states, and they will send shelters across the country.

Facts:

• The basic structure is the same for all applications and can be installed above ground, partially buried or completely underground.
• An emergency jack is included for use in case of doorway obstruction by debris.
• Units are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
• These units are handicapped accessible.

American Storm Shelters and features

This Dallas/Fort Worth supplier has been constructing storm shelter since 1998. The company services a 150-mile radius from their facility using its own crews. They do subcontracted crews for installations outside its normal base of operations.

Facts:

• Structures are comprised of concrete blocks and poured concrete reinforced by 3/4-inch rebar.
• The units can be installed in new homes, attached to existing homes or act as free-standing structures.
• Texas Tech University — known for designing safe rooms — developed the specifications that are used in the construction of these units.
• Lights, seats and an emergency jack are offered as optional add-ons.

With this information, you should have some idea of what you need in a tornado shelter. Some units are very basic and are only meant to be used in a true emergency situation. While others offer additional amenities.