Roofershane’s Blog

Roofing prices on the rise?

As if things couldn’t get worse. Roofers and Roofing supply companies are frantic with the forecast for the next few summers. According to our supply companies, the governments bill that is centered on repairing the nations roads can cause serious problems for the roofing industry.

All that road work needs asphalt and asphalt emulsion to complete, most of the roofing industry uses asphalt materials such as shingles, tar paper, asphalt sealants, hot tar kegs and so on and so on.

If the asphalts are used for all the road work, what will be left for the roofing? Last year alone, asphalt prices jumped multiple times and then settled in a still higher than before slot. This year, a few supply companies are claiming that asphalt shingle and such will not only become extremely expensive, but may also become very difficult to get.

What this means to the average homeowner is if material prices go up, their total roofing quotes will expand. There are also more issues surrounding this soon to be “shortage”.

Over 30 years ago, the asphalts that were used to make roofing materials were a much better quality. Many old roofers would recall the tar being so pure that they used to chew it like gum. When companies learned how to refine the tar even further to make propane, the sludge that was generally used for asphalt became less pure. The materials were not as pliable and when hardened, had a glass like attribute.

The solution to make the asphalt more pliable was to add solvents to the material. The asphalt used on todays commercial and residential roofs are a lower grade of material of what those folks 30 years ago recieved. What is to happen to the materials when the shortage comes?

Prices will go up, material quality will go down and the end result is building owners and homeowners will pay more for less. If you are thinking of roofing this year or you want to see if your roof can last just one more year, you may be setting your self up for more cost than you realize.

To see more articles on this subject you can go to:

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Cost-of-New-Roofing—Rising-Through-the-Roof&id=2489722

http://www.ajc.com/living/content/homefinder/stories/2009/05/31/roofing_home.html

http://real-estate.nwfdailynews.com/news/asphalt-417-contractor-roofing.html

 

Roofershane

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