Shingles are by far the most popular type of roofing material. They’re relatively cheap and come in a number of different varieties. Here’s our 101 guide to picking shingle colors.

Your Roof

Your roof accounts for about 40% of your home’s visual exterior, so it deserves as much consideration as you’d devote to its interior design. The higher your roof’s pitch (or the greater its slope) the more shingles you’ll be able to see from street level. When you’re selecting your roofing shingles it’s important to choose a color profile that will enhance your home’s architectural style and draw the eye upward toward any special details, like dormers and gables. Color is a critically important factor. Not only does it have a psychological effect (calming, soothing, exciting, etc.) on us, it can serve other purposes that we’ll explore more fully below.

Consider Climate and Geography

In the past, light-colored asphalt shingles weren’t as prevalent in the humid southern climate. But over the last few decades several types of shingle-roofing-materials have been developed that can actually play a significant role in insulating your home to keep you cooler in the Summers and warmer in the Winters.

Should You Go Light Or Dark?

This, for most people, is a primary concern. It’s important to know that black shingles are typically about 10 degrees warmer than white ones. But, when it comes to other colors, like blues, grays, and browns, color variations don’t make that much of a difference in terms of temperature.

Don’t Forget About Lighting

In the American North, natural sunlight has a cool, bluish cast to it; the farther south you go, the warmer and more reddish the character of the light becomes. The same color blend of cool greys and icy blues that looks so fantastic on a home in New England might look washed out in the orange sunset glow of the Desert Southwest or the tropical light of Florida.

Use Complementary Color Schemes

Perfect matching the side of your house to the colors on your roof is usually not a great idea. It comes off as looking too matchy-matchy. Like someone wearing an all-denim suite. You should consider using complementing, or even sometimes, contrasting colors on your roof as on the color of your home’s exterior walls.

KISS

KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid! This is almost always a good rule of thumb, and picking shingle colors for your roof is no exception. This is especially true if/whenever your home has colorful or vibrantly colored exterior walls. Again, think of it like clothing: You can look good wearing a vibrantly colored shirt so long as you keep the color of your pants somewhat simple or neutral colored (and visa-versa) but wearing both a colorful shirt and colorful pants, just as having both a vibrant roof and vibrantly colored exterior walls, can come off looking a bit ridiculous.

Give Aastro Roofing a call today at (561) 409-3280 for any and all of your roofing needs!

The intense heat of summer can take a toll on anyone, even your roof. The extreme Florida heat may lead to roof deterioration. As such, it’s important to do the necessary preparations to ensure that you and your family will remain protected and comfortable. Here are some tips for preparing your roof for summer.

CHECK THE SHINGLES

The shingles and tiles are among the main components of your home’s roof. You want to ensure that these parts make it through the months before summer kicks in. The transition from Winter to Spring can be tough on your roof. This is why you need to check if there is any curling, cracks, or broken pieces present.

Any damage in the shingles increases its chances of coming loose or breaking off due to high winds or rough storms. When this occurs, the roof quickly becomes prone to water damage. You never want water to enter your home because it can produce a lot of damage in a short period of time.

INSPECT THE GUTTERS

You also want to inspect your gutters. They should be free from any kind of damage and clogs. These can cause the water to accumulate on your roof and leak down in places where it shouldn’t be.

The water can seep down into the attic if it continues to pool on the top of your roof. This can lead to problems such as molds and structural damage. Check if there are any needed adjustments to your gutters. Things to look for are the tightness and correct angle of downspouts.

CLEAN YOUR ATTIC

Your attic needs to be clean to have proper ventilation. The hot air shouldn’t be trapped in. This is to prevent it from causing damage once moisture reaches the roof’s rafters and wood decking.

CHECK THE PROTRUSIONS AND OPENINGS

One very important step is checking the protrusions and openings inside and outside the roofing system. The flashing or metal strips found in the chimney, satellite dishes, vents, and skylights tend to deteriorate over time. They need to be attended to in a timely manner to prevent premature damage.

Furthermore, there is a possibility that the roofing protrusions got damaged by hurricane storms earlier. This could lead to serious problems if they are not resolved immediately.

HIRE AN EXPERT

Even though the steps given above can all be done yourself, you still need to enlist the help of a professional to inspect your roof. A roofing expert has comprehensive knowledge on roof maintenance. He’ll be able to find problems that an untrained eye might miss. An expert will be able to give you advice on the needed repairs to prepare your roof for summer and even give you a free roofing quote on what the repairs will cost.

Proper maintenance is important for repairing common problems in your roof. The quicker you are aware of holes and leaks, the less amount of damage there will be. By resolving problems before they get worse, expensive repairs can be avoided.

Our team at Aastro Roofing has been assisting hundreds of homeowners in keeping a healthy roof. If you need an expert to help you with roof repairs, roof replacement or shingle repair, our family is ready to serve you. Call us today at (561) 409-3280!

Correct gutter maintenance is one of the most effective ways to prevent expensive water damages to your home. Rain gutters do more than you probably think. They collect water and guide it away from your home, preventing water damage, basement flooding, and even serious damage to your home’s foundation.

With over 30 years of roofing experience, we know what common repairs you should look out for. Read on to learn more about the common gutter repairs and what you can do to fix them.

Cluttered Gutters

By far the most common issue is caused by cluttered gutters. Neglecting to clean out branches, leaves, dirt, trash, and any other kind of debris makes your gutters completely useless. An accumulation of debris can lead to more expensive issues in the foundation of your home and even in your roof. Clogged gutters have no water flow and can create a constant overflow of water up into your roof. A collection of water can cause mold and fungus growth and loose roof shingles or tiles.

Luckily, this issue is easily preventable if you properly maintain your roof and clean your gutters. A good rule of thumb is to follow a monthly home maintenance checklist. A monthly checklist may seem excessive, but it’s better to be proactive against possible issues.

Sun Damage

Just like your roof, gutters age as the years go by. The constant Florida sun will cause your gutters to age even faster. Eventually, you will notice bending, warping, and discoloration of your gutters. When this happens, rainfall will not be properly dispersed away from your home.

To repair this, you would need to replace all of your old gutters and warped hardware. This is not an expensive repair, but it certainly can be time-consuming.

Loose Gutters

This is especially a problem during Florida’s hurricane season. Loose or hanging gutters during a hurricane can cause damage to your house and those around you. Even when storms aren’t approaching, loose gutters prevent correct water control. Again, this can cause foundation and roof issues because of water damage.

To repair loose gutters, you need to tighten or purchase new hardware. We can’t stress this enough, if your gutters aren’t in good condition, they can not effectively do their job.

Leaks

This issue is more prominent in older homes and in gutters that have had a lot of wear and tear. In gutters that aren’t seamless, the joints can form holes and leaks. Gutter leaks are common but proper maintenance can prolong the life of your gutters.

If you are handy, this is a quick fix. Leaks can be easily repaired with caulking or gutter sealant. For larger leaks, you can purchase a gutter patching kit at your local hardware store.

Rain gutters are a key component in keeping your home and roof healthy and happy. With proper maintenance, these issues can be easily avoided. But, if you find yourself with damaged gutters and needing a helping hand, contact us for a free estimate or give Aastro Roofing a call. 561.409.3280

If you’re thinking of going green and want to know where to start, you can begin with your roof. It’s true that energy-efficient products come to mind come with a price tag, but having a “green” roof is quite affordable. Small incremental changes that you make to your roof can make a great impact.

Choosing the top insulation to make your roof energy efficiency is easier said than done, though. Here are our top tips to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

What is Insulation?

When it comes to making your roof more energy-efficient, the very first step is insulation. There are many forms of insulation and most involve cold or hot insulation. Cold insulation is the most affordable type and is quick to set up. It is usually installed above the ceiling of the top floor in your home.

Warm insulation, on the other hand, is directly installed under your roof and helps reduce heat loss. It is a great way to ensure that no warmth will be lost during winter and that it won’t get too hot in the summer.

The main thing to consider when installing insulation is that you will need to have immediate ventilation below your roof tiles. This helps to make sure that there is no condensation.

How Much Will I Save?

When it comes to installing insulation for your roof, homeowners have reported saving as much as 20% on their energy bill. This is especially true in Florida’s rapidly changing climate. One minute the sun is shining and the next it’s pouring. Insulation preserves the ideal temperature in your home by it cold or warm when necessary. As heating or cooling your home accounts for a good 50% to 70% of the energy used in your home, you can see why you’ll be saving a lot on electricity bills!

Interestingly enough, the best energy savings come from the first inch of insulation installed in your home. The more insulation you add, the higher the savings. However, too much insulation in one area can reduce its effectiveness.  Also, note that for insulation to work properly, the air spaces within the insulation must be maintained.

Insulation Materials

There are many forms of insulation materials you can opt for. These range from blankets, fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose all the way to foil-faced plastic films. The method of installation you choose will vary based on the materials used. Installing fiberglass insulation, for example, would be very different from foil-faced plastic films.

The type of insulation you will choose depends on factors such as how you intend to use it, how much you’re willing to spend on the process, and the easiness or difficulty of the installation.

When it comes to going green and making your home more energy-efficient, there are many options. Insulation is one of the most cost-effective and productive ways of becoming more environmentally-friendly. With insulation, you’ll be able to save money, save energy, and have a more valuable home.

If you’re ready to go green and start the first step, you’re going to need roofing experts who know what they’re doing. Make sure to contact Aastro roofing and get your quote now.