Infinite Roofing & Construction Roofing Blog

Roofing, Siding, Guttering and Solar info and topical blog - Capital Region NY

Asphalt Shingles vs. Metal Roofs

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The asphalt shingle roof is a staple of the roofing world—it’s durable, inexpensive, and easy to install, which is why you’ll see asphalt shingles on at least 90 percent of roofs in your neighborhood. However, metal roofing is becoming a popular option for homeowners as well because of its wide variety of design options, long life, and a sleek and sturdy look. So what should homeowners choose? Is an asphalt shingle roof or a metal roof ideal?

You can view more information about Shingle Roofs here and Metal Roofs here.

In this blog, the Albany roofing professionals at Infinite Roofing & Construction will debate the pros and cons of asphalt and metal roofs to help you make the best roofing decision possible for your home.

The Asphalt Shingle Roof

The asphalt shingle roof will always be the most popular option because of its affordable price—most asphalt roofs cost around $3 to $6 per square foot. That’s a solid price point for the lifespan of an asphalt roof, as many of these roofs last 15-20 years with frequent maintenance.

However, that maintenance comes at a cost—you’ll need your roof to be inspected and repaired at least once every two years. Due to the fact that asphalt roofs are susceptible to wind, rain, and snow damage, you’ll also pay extra for repairs, and you might even have to pay to fix water damage in your home if your roofing doesn’t hold up in extreme weather. This can make an asphalt roof more expensive than initially anticipated.

The Metal Roof

A metal roof is much more expensive than an asphalt shingle roof, and for good reason—while the average cost of a metal roof is around $10 per square foot (at least $6 more per square foot than an asphalt shingle roof), that roof is going to last you a very long time. Most metal roofs are projected to last up to 40 or 50 years, or even longer with mild weather, and these roofs need very little maintenance (if any), so once you have a metal roof, you essentially have a roof for life.

While metal roofs don’t have too many maintenance costs, you’ll definitely pay extra up front. It takes a highly specialized roof team to install a metal roof, which means you’ll pay more for roofing services and labor than you would with an asphalt roof. This can make metal roofs seemingly unaffordable for some, even though they don’t cost too much over the years.

And the winner is…

Well, it depends. If you’re planning on selling your home in the next few years, would it really make sense to spend all that money on a metal roof that you’re not going to enjoy? At the same time, do you really want to replace your roof every decade (and deal with potential leaks and damage expenses) if you know you’re going to be in your home for a very long time? These are things to keep in mind when making a decision on a new roof.

But one thing is for sure: whichever kind of roof you need, trust the professionals and Infinite Roofing & Construction. We’re happy to help you find the right roofing materials for your style and your budget. Don’t wait—get started with us today!

Read here for more in depth roofing information

Improving Your Curb Appeal

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Next to episodes of The Bachelor and international hot wing eating contests, the battle for the best curb appeal on the block goes down as one of the fiercest competitions in the world today. Who needs to keep up with the Joneses when the Atkins family has the best front porch in the entire neighborhood? For those who are aiming for better curb appeal (or at least better curb appeal than the next door neighbors), here are some tips from the professionals that can transform the exterior of your home.

Plant some plants.

If you’re going to have the best curb appeal on the block, you can’t do it without some lush plant life. Unless you want to blend in with the mess of homes with nothing but boring grass and cracked sidewalks, you’ll need a healthy mix of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grass for the most dynamic and lively front yard. Window-mounted flowerbeds are a great way to add a pop of color to your curb appeal, and framing your home with trees or larger bushes will soften the edges of your home, and give you added privacy and shade on your property.

Whatever the case, it’s important to strike a balance between high beauty and low maintenance in your yard, especially if you’re not willing to spend every weekend trimming hedges and mowing the lawn. Incorporating xeriscaping or hardscaping concepts into your yard could set you apart from your neighborly competition, and will help you conserve water along the way.

Revitalize your roof.

The average asphalt shingle roof has a lifespan of about 20 years—so if your roof is in its high teens, it might be time for a roof replacement, or at the very least, a professional roof inspection and touch-up. Without frequent maintenance or replacement, your shingles will crack, peel, chip, and disintegrate entirely, creating gaps and seams where water can enter into the home, and causing mold, mildew, water damage, and flooding. Plus, an old roof with algae stains and cracked shingles doesn’t do your curb appeal any favors.

Hiring a professional roofing company for a roof replacement will drastically improve the look of your home, protect from leaks, and improve energy efficiency and resale value. Not to mention there’s nothing that gives homeowners and potential homebuyers more peace of mind than the words “new roof.”

Spruce up your siding.

Siding is another great investment for the look and value of your home—and with a nearly endless selection of siding materials and products, you’re bound to find the perfect siding for your desired look and budget.

Vinyl siding has become a very popular siding selection because of its durability, affordability, and vast variety of colors and finishes. However, wood, metal, and fiber cement siding all offer a great look at a reasonable price. Keep in mind, certain types of siding don’t stand up well to certain climates, so find a siding option that’s guaranteed to stand the test of time.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our series on ways to improve your curb appeal, and check out more recent blog post from your Albany roofers at Infinite Roofing & Construction!

Improving Your Curb Appeal, Part 2

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In a previous blog post, the Albany roofers at Infinite Roofing & Construction gave you tips on ways to improve the curb appeal of your home. In this blog, we’ll continue with more tips to make your home the most handsome one on the block.

Have custom curbing and paving installed.

Even with a beautiful lawn, plants, and trees, your curb appeal might still be a little rough around the edges. Custom curbing and edging provides your yard with smooth, defined barriers between your plant beds, sidewalks, and lawn, and give your outdoor space another dimension of design depth and personality. Plus, the added craftsmanship that comes with curbing and edging will only do favors for your resale value.

Build a front porch or archway.

You can see it now: it’s a perfectly warm summer evening, and you’re sipping on a cool and crispy lemonade/iced tea/soda/beer/water as the sun sets on your neighborhood. You pick up where you left off in your favorite book, and bask in how quiet and peaceful your neighborhood can be in the evening hours. If you have a front porch, you have the perfect place to enjoy these summer evenings. But if you don’t have a front porch, you’ll be just another guy sitting in a trashy lawn chair on your front lawn.

Adding a small front porch, or at the very least, a decorative archway, turns your front entry into a spectacular focal point for your front yard, giving you a curb appeal boost at a reasonable price. Plus, you’ll be able to make good use of this livable outdoor space for years to come.

Replace your doors and windows.

It’s not the sexiest of home improvements, but replacing your doors and windows improves your home on multiple levels. First, new doors and windows instantly make your home look newer, as the edges of windows and doors can be the first parts of a home to show signs of age. Second, new windows and doors that are Energy Star certified can save up up 15 percent per year on your energy bills by regulating heat from the sun that enters through your windowpanes and ensuring your home retains precious HVAC-conditioned air.

Plus, replacing your front door has its design perks as well. Buying a new front door or repainting your old one with a bold color could be the final touch you need for a daring and stunning front yard design, but it’s not overwhelming in a way that could scare away potential homebuyers. Worst case scenario—if you or potential homebuyers don’t like the bold color choice, you can always sand and paint the door again for a more palatable look!

What Type of Siding Do I Need?

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As Albany’s siding expert, Infinite Roofing & Construction delivers expert craftsmanship and exceptional service that will ensure your siding installation is easy for you and beneficial for your home. We can install a number of different types of siding—the choice is yours to decide which type of siding is right for you.

In this blog, we’ll discuss a few of the most popular types of siding, so you can make an informed and educated decision on the best siding for your home.

Things to Keep in Mind

There are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing the right siding for your home:

 

  • Is the siding durable?
  • Is it water resistant?
  • Will it make my home more energy efficient?
  • Does it fit the look of my home/yard?
  • Does it fit my budget?
  • Will the siding handle my area’s climate well?

 

With these questions in mind, you’ll be able to pick the perfect siding for your needs.

Metal Siding

Metal siding is a very modern siding choice, which is great for those with big windows, flat roofs, or a mid-century modern style. Materials like aluminum and steel are very popular for metal siding because of their durability—after all, metal doesn’t mold, rot, or deteriorate with exposure to water or extreme weather conditions. Plus, it’s impervious to fire, color fading, and insects.

The main downside of metal siding is its ability to rust when not properly sealed. But with proper treatment, your metal siding will be strong and brilliant for years to come.

Wood Siding

For some folks, metal siding is too cold, sterile, and unwelcoming. If you like a warmer, more natural look, wood siding could be the beautiful and timeless siding option you need for your home. There are many types of wood siding to choose from that can give your home an earthy and comfortable look, like rich and warm cedar siding or bright and airy birch. Add a stain to your wood siding, and the color and tone options are limitless.

Unfortunately, wood siding can be pretty expensive, and it’s a potentially tasty treat for nearby termites. But with the right siding company on your side, you’ll be able to replace portions of damaged wood siding without too much hassle.

The biggest downside to wood siding is its high maintenance nature—you’ll need to stain your wood siding every 2 or 3 years to keep it properly sealed.

Fiber Cement Siding

Fiber cement siding isn’t a hugely popular siding option just yet, but that doesn’t mean this real wood alternative doesn’t have benefits for your home. Made of cement, sand, and wood fibers, fiber cement siding is very popular in Australia, and is currently making its way over to the States because of its fire-resistant qualities, durability, and similarity to the look of real wood. Fiber cement siding is also very versatile in terms of texture, allowing for fiber cement to emulate the look of wood, brick, or vinyl siding.

In comparison to vinyl siding, fiber cement siding can be expensive, high maintenance, and extremely heavy (it’s partially made of cement after all), so keep these things in mind if you’re looking to tackle a siding installation yourself.

Brick and Stone Siding

As the most expensive and most permanent siding option, brick or stone siding will last a lifetime, needs zero maintenance, and is resistant to basically anything Mother Earth can throw at it—but also requires a great deal of money and labor to install because it’s so heavy. If you’re willing to fork over the cash, you’ll feel like you’re living in your own personal castle with a stone or brick siding installation.

Vinyl Siding

Vinyl Siding is the most popular and versatile siding option on the market today, and for good reason. With a nearly limitless selection of colors and patterns available, vinyl siding is a great fit for almost any kind of home. It’s as durable as it is versatile with a 30-40 year lifespan, and unlike wood siding, it’s impervious to termites and weather decay. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to clean—just run some water over it with your garden hose.

With all of these benefits to vinyl siding, you’d imagine it would be a pricey siding option. However, vinyl siding might just be the cheapest siding option on the market. The few downsides that come with vinyl siding have to do with its susceptibility to warping in extreme heat and cold, and its knack for developing dents from stray baseballs, falling trees, and hail. Other than that, vinyl siding is a fairly safe siding choice.

Stucco Siding

If you want your home to look like it was delivered straight from a Tuscan vineyard, then stucco siding is the obvious siding choice. Made out of limestone, sand, and cement, stucco can be painted just about any color, and the look will last up to 100 years with very little maintenance. This type of siding is only suitable for drier, warmer climates, as heavy rainfall and high humidity can cause stucco to lose its shape and form. But if you’re in the right climate, nothing can beat stucco’s earthy, classic look.

Choose Infinite Roofing & Construction

For any of your siding needs, choose the experts at Infinite Roofing & Construction. With over 20 years of experience and an exceptional attention to detail, Infinite Roofing & Construction can provide you with the siding you need for your Albany, Schenectady, or Troy home at a cost that’s right for you. Don’t wait—schedule your siding installation today!

Choosing The Right Roofing

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Albany’s roofing experts at Infinite Roofing & Construction know everything there is to know about roofing materials and roofing installation, with over 20 years in the industry. But it’s up to you to pick the right roofing material for your home. Here are pros and cons for the most common roofing materials, so you can make an educated and informed roofing decision.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt Shingles are the most popular choice for roofs, and have been for awhile because of their combination of durability and affordability. These shingles are extremely heat resistant, water resistant, and easy to install, making them a great choice for roofing professionals and DIYers alike.

Although asphalt roof shingles can last 20-25 years, that’s a relatively short lifespan compared to more sturdy roofing materials like metal or slate. Asphalt is also very welcoming to algae buildup, which can cause unsightly discoloration on your shingles. But with a little bleach and water, you’ll be able to keep the algae at bay for as long as you have asphalt shingles.

Slate Tiles

Slate is a more sophisticated and upscale roofing option that looks great for larger, fancier homes, and it comes with a larger, fancier price tag, too. But many slate roofing tiles can last well over 100 years, making the initial investment a bit easier to bear. Coming in a variety of styles, slate roofing is extremely resistant to heat, fire, and water, and needs little to no maintenance to retain is natural and luxurious look.

However, slate roofing is a not a job for the average DIYer. While they’re incredibly heavy, slate tiles are also easily breakable if your step on them—so leave the slate roofing installation for the experts.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has been a trendy roofing material choice over the past decade or so, and for good reason. Metal shingles are nearly indestructible, lightweight, water resistant, and environmentally friendly, requiring very little maintenance during their lifetime.

However, metal shingles will lose their shimmer over time, and can develop rust if not properly sealed upon installation. But for those who like a more rustic, natural look, a little rust and discoloration just adds to the character and charm of your roof.

You’ll pay a heftier price for metal shingles than a standard asphalt shingle roof, and you’ll need a specialized metal roofer to tackle the installation. But if neither of these things are an obstacle, a metal roof could be an excellent addition to your home.

Wood Shakes

Wood shakes are another environmentally friendly roofing choice, especially if they’re manufactured using recycled materials. Plus, they can give your home an earthy aesthetic that can’t be achieved with asphalt or other popular shingle materials.

With a healthy amount of maintenance, wood shakes can last up to 30 years. However, if they’re not properly maintained, they’re susceptible to termite infestations, and dehydration that can leave your roof looking less like a wood roof and more like a haunted house roof. But for those who will put in the time to care for their roof, the beautiful, natural look and the eco-friendly nature of these shingles could very well be worth the money.

You can check out our roofing services page for more details about replacement and metal roofs vs. asphalt shingle roofs!

Choose Infinite Roofing & Construction

For all of your roofing needs, choose Infinite Roofing & Construction. We provide you with exceptional service and quality craftsmanship that makes the roofing experience simple and easy. Contact us to schedule a roofing replacement today!

Basic Benefits of a Roof Replacement

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roof replacementWelcome to the Infinite Roofing & Construction blog! As Albany’s roofing expert, we’ll be using this blog to give you ideas, tips, and inspiration on everything related to roofing, siding, and home exteriors. Before we dive into more complex topics, we’d like to talk about the extensive benefits of replacing the roofing of your home. While a new roof can be aesthetically pleasing, it has a number of other benefits that can improve your personal well-being, too.

Find out more detailed information on roof replacements here (also covers how to identify problem areas on your roof).

Increases Property Value

A new roof doesn’t just prevent leaks—it can drastically improve your home’s value as well. A new roof has an average ROI of 67%, making it an excellent choice for a home improvement investment.

The benefits of a new roof can be critical during home inspection and home selling time as well. Home inspections that uncover issues with plumbing, electrical infrastructure, foundations, and of course, roofing, can make potential homebuyers skeptical, and can lead to reductions on the listed price of your home.

When potential homebuyers hear there is a new roof on your home, it’s a symbol that your home is structurally sound and resistant to leaks and weather damage—making them that much more likely to take your home off your hands for the full asking price.

Enhances Curb Appeal

You might not expect it to be true, but a roof is a huge component of curb appeal as it relates to resale value of your home. An old, damaged roof can take attention away from quality landscaping, curbing, and siding. Curb appeal is a homebuyer’s first impression of your property—if it’s not a good impression, you could be at risk of turning off potential homebuyers before they even walk through your front door.

Prevents Health Risks

Old, leaky roofs can let water and moisture into your home—and with moisture comes mold, mildew, and bacteria that can be a detriment to your health. If you have the same roof for 10, 20, or 30 years, you could have a mess of bacteria seeping into your home that can cause allergies, headaches, respiratory issues, and a number of other health ailments.

A new roof deflects all kinds of debris, moisture, and other environmental hazards, keeping your home airtight and free of anything that could compromise your health.

Improves Energy Efficiency

All those cracks and holes in your old roof don’t just let bacteria in—they let your precious, air conditioned air out. A new roof allows your home’s air conditioner or HVAC system to work more efficiently, saving you a great deal of money on your energy bill. If you’re looking to stay in your current home for years to come, replacing your roofing could net you huge savings that make the initial expense of a roof replacement seem much more reasonable.

Creates A Feeling of Comfort

If your roof is in rough shape—as in “putting pans down on the floor to prevent rainstorm flooding” shape—you’re spending a lot of your time frustrated and stressed over whether or not your roof is going to hold up. A home does not feel like a home without a strong roof above your head, so you owe it to yourself to have the necessary replacement or repairs done to ensure that your home feels safe, sturdy, and comfortable.

Trust Infinite Roofing & Construction

For the best roofing in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, you need Infinite Roofing & Construction. We’re dedicated to providing you with the highest quality roofing and siding solutions, and we’re passionate about relieving the frustration that comes from having an old, dilapidated roof. Infinite Roofing & Construction is not your average roofing company—contact us today!