As a homeowner, take care to make sure that your home’s roof is in a good state all through. This is because roofing is typically a major investment, as any home repair specialist you talk to will let you know. They can also answer questions that you may have, including “Is roof restoration worth it?” When you talk to a professional and get a good idea of what roof maintenance involves, you’ll understand more easily the impact that it could have on your home. From aesthetic to functional roles, there are many things that you should think about when considering roofing projects.
Keep in mind that all roof repairs, including roof resurfacing, need to be done by a professional. That’s because something that may have been a simple task could give you a lot of hassle if you’re not careful. Always remember to do your due diligence before actually hiring someone. A thorough background check as well as a look at other projects they’ve done in the past is usually enough. This way, you’ll avoid the issues that could come up as a result of hiring someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing and wasting money while risking your home.
Roofing work can get quite labor-intensive. From shingle and tile placement to directing drainage, a lot of effort and work goes into ensuring a roof is functioning optimally. However, recent advancements in roofing technology have made the job much simpler, faster, and more precise.
Other innovations have made roofing systems more sustainable and increased their durability. New techniques and materials have also been developed, revolutionizing the way roofing is done. Here are some of the latest roofing technology trends your roofing company needs to know about.
1. Aerial Photography From Airplanes
Aerial photographers continue to hone their skills and now provide images of homes and structures that roofers may order and buy to use for measurements and quotes. Because they typically involve the cost of hiring a pilot, these images are quite expensive. However, aerial photographers claim that using the human eye and basic principles of lighting and composition allows them to generate high-quality images that other unmanned options can’t.
2. Drone Photography
Drones have been a hot topic of discussion across multiple industries in recent years. These aerial devices continue to capture the imagination of everyday citizens and organizations as they try to make the most of their capabilities. The roofing sector is no exception.
Drones are now used by both independent roofing contractors and third-party service providers to capture aerial photographs and videos and any other relevant data for use in roofing jobs. This has eliminated the need to personally climb up a roof, saving them hours on inspections and estimates. However, your roofer must adhere to any local laws that govern the use of drones.
The full power of this latest roofing technology can be realized when used in conjunction with roofing industry-specific software. These programs allow roofers to combine the photos with other satellite imagery and property data to generate 3D models and offer informed suggestions for everything from the number of materials a roofing project may need to measurements.
For instance, Hover assesses and provides calibrated, customizable 3D models. On the other hand, EagleView Technology uses low-altitude aerial imagery, which it inputs into a vector-based measuring software that produces roofing measurements.
By using software to create advanced renderings of roofing projects and automating manual and time-consuming tasks such as manual measurements, roofers can streamline their operations. Some also make it possible for roofers to show their clients how their new roof will look before even bringing out their ladders. This allows homeowners to visualize different styles, colors, and even materials.
3. Estimation Software
One of the most important parts of a roofing company’s work is putting together a precise and fair quote for clients before projects even begin. With modern estimation software that can perform the calculations automatically, they can cut down the time it takes to create a quote.
There are free online resources such as Roofcalc or Roofingcalc.com, which provide a basic cost estimate of installing a new roof according to the information a roofer enters. Apps or programs such as Top View, Roofing Calculator App, RoofSnap, Stack, Exact Roofing, The Estimating Edge, or AppliCad produce more detailed quotes. These allow for more functionality, including incorporating labor and custom material costs and some presentation and modeling features after entering data.
With these apps, roofers can prepare estimates in less time using just a smartphone or tablet, so they don’t have to rush back to their office to use the computer, calculator, and notepad. Even as customers wait on-site, they can draw up accurate estimates promptly. These help with faster project start times.
4. Innovative Roofing Materials
Technological innovations don’t necessarily have to be digital. Besides helping roofers market their roofing skills to wider audiences and manage jobs, the industry is always seeing advances in roofing supplies. For instance, using goods such as high-performance asphalt shingles, which offer more color variations, enhanced aesthetics, and quicker installation, can improve the performance of new roofing systems.
IKO’s Nordic IR Shingles offer advanced design elements such as a larger nailing area to facilitate quicker, simpler, and more precise installation. There are also some innovations that focus on reducing the environmental impact of roofs, including shingles with reflective granules that reflect more solar energy than traditional roofing granules. As a result of this latest roofing technology, less heat enters the home through the attic.
IKO Cambridge Cool Colors shingles lower the temperature on a roof’s surface on sunny days all year long, potentially lowering the cooling loads on a home and air conditioning-related costs. From solar to tile roofs, innovations are everywhere, and your roofing contractor should be taking advantage of their benefits. By integrating technologies that improve business operations and employing innovative roofing materials and products, everyone wins.
5. Roofing and Robots
Robots have long been employed in the automotive industry and other sectors to increase productivity. The roofing industry is joining the revolution to make roofing work more efficient and safer. Roofers are using robots in the form of rovers to capture images of damaged roofs to assess their condition and create estimates. Some robots are even trained to install certain components during the construction stage of roof replacement and roofing repairs.
6. Green Roofing
A green roof is a type of roofing system that encourages vegetation growth. They feature a root barrier, drainage system, waterproofing layer, and a plant-growing medium. Roof gardens may include water features and large plants.
Although some may find it strange, this latest roofing technology has gained momentum in environmentally conscious communities. This ecologically conscious based aesthetic can be seen in commercial and residential properties. Who wouldn’t like a product that’s both attractive and functional while also helping the environment?
Green roofs also provide shade from the sun’s heat, which has a cooling effect and helps to lessen the global impact of human activity. This type of roof is also durable and a great addition if you reside in a highly populated area. Most home and property owners believe green roofs to be leaky, complicated to construct, and expensive, making their adoption slower.
However, they’re not much more complicated to build and install than conventional roofs. It’s possible to have a sustainable green roof without forking out a fortune with the help of professional roofing contractors.
7. Solar Shingles
Roofers can combine solar panels with various roofing materials to produce new solar shingles thanks to the integration of building-integrated BIVPs, or photovoltaics. Most people associate solar power installation with large, inefficient panels that weigh down your roof. However, solar shingles are a practical backup power source and can seamlessly blend in with other types of shingles. That said, solar shingles are still pricey and require plenty of sunlight to generate enough solar energy, just like the best solar panels.
8. Cool Roofs
With temperatures rising and the effects of climate change becoming even more prevalent, energy costs are soaring as we try to maintain cool indoor temperatures. Conventional roofs absorb heat from the sun, making your home’s interior spaces even hotter. If you add poor ventilation to that, you may feel like you need a second job to cover your monthly energy bills.
One of the latest roofing technology in the industry is cool roofs. They help keep energy costs low during the scorching summer heat. With the help of a reflective coating, these roofs reflect heat from your roof rather than absorb it. Cool roofs also help to prevent long-term solar damage.
9. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality makes it possible to change the environment around you in live video. In the roofing industry, this latest roofing technology allows roofers to simulate a virtual roof installation so their clients can see what their homes will look like with a new roof before the project begins. By simply pointing your smartphone camera in the direction of your house, you can virtually ‘install’ a new roof and view it from all angles.
10. Silicone Roof Coating
Silicone roof coating is a roofing technology primarily used in commercial roofing projects. However, an increasing number of homeowners are asking for this latest roofing technology to be applied to their existing roofs by roof coating services to increase the longevity of their structures. Silicone is applied in either spray or roll form over a pre-existing layer of roofing material. Unlike the typical 20 years, silicone-based roof coatings last up to 30 years.
A commercial building may have a maximum of two roofing systems per building code. Therefore, you’ll need professionals to remove at least one roofing system if you already have two roofs and wish to install a new one. The fact that coating systems are viewed as ‘maintenance’ rather than brand-new roofing systems is one of its most notable benefits. This is fantastic for structures with two roofs because it eliminates the cost of removing an entire roofing system.
The disruption of a building’s regular operations is one of the main challenges of roofing work. Applying a silicone coating can shorten a project’s duration by as much as 30%. This is more practical and helps save on labor costs.
With this latest roofing technology, between 80% and 90% of the sun’s damaging UV rays are reflected off a roof’s surface. Therefore, property owners and facility managers can minimize their building’s cooling costs during the hot summer months and lessen the burden on their HVAC systems to save thousands of dollars. A silicone coating also won’t deteriorate, chalk, or crack over time when exposed to direct sunshine.
11. Synthetic Compound-Based Materials
Some of the latest roofing technology have resulted in the creation of roofing materials that, although lightweight, have an incredibly long lifespan. The adoption of synthetic roofing materials has particularly increased in recent years. For example, synthetic roofing typically contains polyurethane, a type of polymer made of organic unit chains lasting up to 50 years.
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is applied to an existing roof in foam form, creating a solid layer with a 20-fold expansion capacity. Many people are unable to distinguish between a synthetic roof and a conventional one after the job since the final result is usually so seamless.
12. Metal Roofing Shingles
For centuries, homeowners have been covering their roofs with shingles and metal roofing. The concept of metal roofing isn’t new. However, this roofing style has retained its relevance as the most popular design due to the advancements in roofing technology and designers’ creativity.
Metal shingles and roofs are primarily made of copper, aluminum, steel, and several other alloys. Its durability, adaptability, and highly customizable nature have contributed to the widespread adoption of this type of roofing. You can easily achieve a range of sizes and shapes depending on the layout and requirements of a project.
Metal roofing systems are a great choice for many reasons. One of these is its ability to shed water. Metal roofing shingles also have an extremely long lifespan, lasting as long as 70 years when taken care of properly.
They’re also energy efficient as they can lower cooling costs by 10% to 25% in the summer. Metal is one of the best environmentally friendly roofing materials for summer heat protection.
13. Layered Roofs
These days, it’s common to see attractive layered roofs with varied shingle colors and designs. Eaves and decorations are getting simpler, and silhouettes are becoming more geometric and angular, giving them an even cleaner look. Tiered roof concepts are especially common in remodeling projects and new architectural homes.
In particular, most homeowners choose double-lined roofs with two layers, one with a flat slope and the other flat. Without having to build on top of your structure, these multi-layer roofs give each side a unique look, enhancing its overall functionality and style. Layering roofs are a great fit for modern homes when combined with historical designs.
The roofing industry is known for its emphasis on craftsmanship and precision. However, the sector is also adopting cutting-edge innovations that are making it possible for roofers to significantly improve how they communicate, operate, and interact with their clients. The latest roofing technology allows them to deliver better services while increasing their revenue and ensuring everyone, from the technicians to homeowners and their families, are safe. Everyone stands to benefit.
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