Installing Asphalt And Fiberglass Shingle Roofing

Asphalt shingle roofing is the most popular type of roofing and there are plenty of reasons for it too. Asphalt shingles are quite easy to install and hardly need any maintenance. Fiber glass roof shingles are on the other hand fire resistant. Both fiber glass and asphalt are available in a wide range of colors and signs.

Asphalt shingles are very cost effective they start at $.80 per square and go up according to the various factors like the height, geographical conditions and the slope of the roof. They are inexpensive and last for 15 to 20 years. Of course the life of the shingles also depends on other factors like the quality of the shingles, the thickness and the maintenance too. Weather plays an important role in the life of the shingles. In hot weather they tend to get spoilt faster. It is really important that you choose the correct person for installing your roof. Installing a new roof is very expensive and if the roofer is not an expert he may ruin the roof and you will always have trouble with it. Anyone may start a roofing business but few have the necessary knowledge and skills of it. There are some tips for what you should look for in a good roofer.

How to select a good roofer

To begin with a good roofer must be experienced. In this field experience counts and a roofer who has at least 15 years experience is the best one. A novice cant have that at knowledge which an experienced roofer will have.

Next you should also see to it that the roofer of your choice is available, if he is not available there is no point in waiting for him if your roof needs immediate attention.

A good roofer will always be able to give you reference of his previous work done. If he says he cant then it means he has something to hide. After getting the references do check them out. Once you have inspected the roofs and found them pretty well done then the next thing you must do is talk to at least two references that the roofer has given. You must find out from them if they are satisfied with the roofer and would they give him a repeat work. Next ask them if their roof has ever leaked and if it has did the roofer attended to the leak promptly and did he charge for it? Did he do the work aesthetically without damaging anything and within your budget?

You should also find out if he has at least $1 million of liability insurance and covers workmens compensation.

When you hire a roofer you must clarify with him how he is going to install the new roof. Will he install it on the previous one or lay a new one. You should not have more than two layers and if the present layer is curled or damaged you should not install another layer on it without removing the damaged one.

You should also know the guarantee period of the roofing. It should be at least one year, however three years is always preferable. You should also enquire about the shingles that he will use. You may enquire about its quality and all other relevant details. Dont forget to discuss the trash too. You must know how and who will remove the trash and how he will protect your plants, lawn and driveway while he is at the job. Last of all dont forget to discuss the payment schedule. One third as upfront is the normal routine and the rest when the job is done.

You must also enquire if the underneath plywood decking need to be replaced. Dont get it replaced if it is in perfect condition. Also get the roof jacks and pipe boots checked. Thus get all the relevant information and select a roofer only when you are full convinced of his capabilities.

As Long Island, LI Roofing Contractors, and Northern Virginia Roofing contractors we take great pride in maintaining customer satisfaction for all types of new roof installation and roof repair work for residential and commercial roofing accounts.

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The American Side of Niagara Falls, An Overlooked Gem

When most people visit Niagara Falls, they often head straight for the Canadian Side of the falls. Just across the Niagara River, in the United States, are some too-often-overlooked attractions and views of these majestic wonders. In the USA, one would be hard-pressed to differentiate Niagara Falls, New York from any other small upstate town. Aside from a small collection of hotels and attractions around the falls, and the towering Seneca Niagara Casino, the American side of the falls has little to distinguish itself as one of the most-visited vacation destinations in the country. It is only until visitors approach almost the brink of the falls themselves where they see that the American side has many wonders to behold.

Niagara Falls State Park
The United States part of Niagara Falls is in the Niagara Falls State Park (sometimes called "New York State Park" or "Niagara Reservation State Park"). Started in 1885, the park is the oldest state park in the United States. It was landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted who was one of the initiators and designers of the Niagara Falls State Park but he is better known for another creation: New York City's Central Park.

The Niagara Falls State Park manages and operates many of the attractions on this side of the falls. The park encompasses all of the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Goat Island (and surrounding islands), and about one third of Horseshoe Falls. Although the park itself is open year-round, including the Visitors Center, most of the attractions are seasonal and thus off-season adventures offer less direct activity with the falls.

The Visitors Center features general information about the falls, including a snack bar and gift shop. The large garden outside is maintained seasonally. Also in the Visitors Center is the Festival Theater, a year-round attraction which features the 1999 History Channel movie, "Niagara Falls: A History of the Falls."

While most Niagara Falls visitors will agree that the Canadian side of the falls is superior, with better views of all that great water, a distinct advantage to the American side is interestingly enough much closer access to the falls themselves, by actually standing "on top" of them (plus, visitors get a great view of Canada!).

Goat Island
Goat Island is the piece of land that separates Bridal Veil Falls from Horseshoe Falls. Accessible by car and part of the Niagara Falls State Park, Goat Island has an interesting location. from here, visitors can see rapids up close, which lead to the American / Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. It is additionally the location of several of the parks best attractions. Though the island is big, because of its location and the surrounding hostile waters, it is slowly eroding and will eventually disappear as the three Niagara Falls move upstream over many years. Goat Island is where several of the Niagara Falls State Park attractions are located, including Cave of the Winds. Shuttles take visitors around Goat Island and throughout the park, but there are additionally many walking paths, benches, and scenic vistas on which to stroll around endlessly.

Luna Island
Luna Island is the tiny island that separates the Bridal Veil Falls from the American Falls. It is accessible on foot, but no cars are allowed (the island is so small, more than a few cars wouldnt fit, anyway). The walkway to Luna Island is on Goat Island. The walk to Luna Island is worth it, as it situates you in between two waterfalls, which is an unusual place to be.

American Rapids
The rapids approaching the American Falls visible only on the American side, roar through the middle of the park and around the several small islands before toppling over the brink of the American Falls. The rapids reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. At night, they may be illuminated with bright spotlights for a more unusual view.

Terrapin Point
Horseshoe Falls is bordered on the Canadian side by Table Rock Point, and on the American side by Terrapin Point. Here, visi-tors can feel the mist of Horseshoe Falls as they look across the gorge at Canada. More remote than Table Rock Point, Terrapin Point has great views of the Canadian Fallsview resort sections, and the mist here can be just as powerful as Table Rock, if the conditions are right.

Cave of the Winds
The curious name of this quintessential attraction is misleading. Cave of the Winds is not a cave, but rather a walkway that leads visitors over to the base of Bridal Veil Falls the smallest of the three Niagara Falls. The attraction, however, used to be a cave. Named after the Aeolus, Greek God of Wind, it stood behind Bridal Veil Falls and was a popular tourist spot as early as the 1800s. The earliest tourists had to climb down a rope, and eventually a staircase, to reach the cave. However, there were occasionally cave-ins, which killed or injured tourist. It was intentionally destroyed in 1955 because it was in danger of collapsing.

Visitors are given a poncho and special footwear prior to commencing the hour-long adventure. In groups, they are led with a tour guide down an elevator to near the base of Bridal Veil Falls. from there, they walk on a wooden walkway to what has been dubbed the "Hurricane Deck" the closest accessible point to the falls. It is at this point where visitors get positively soaked, sometimes even more than on Maid of the Mist. Ice makes the attraction largely inaccessible in the winter, and also requires the decks to be completely re-built each year a process which can take weeks.

Observation Tower
Located just beyond the Visitors Center in the Niagara Falls State Park, the Observation Tower is the best place in the United States to view the American and Horseshoe Falls. The tower extends out a little bit from the mainland, but still does not come close to the spectacular views from the Canadian side of the falls. Still, the tower offers a very different point of view than the one most visitors are used to. Also, there is a Maid of the Mist dock at the Observation Tower. When boarding here, the tour encompasses basically the same experience. However, near the dock, there is (when weather permits) a path where visitors can walk up next to the American Falls kind of like the Cave of the Winds, but free, and you dont get as wet.

Whirlpool State Park
Located on the American side of the Whirlpool Rapids area, the Whirlpool State Park is a hearty adventurers place. Here, a crude cement staircase makes a long descent into the Great Gorge, down to nearly the water level of the rapids. For those who dont wish to make the difficult descent, there is still the perfect place for picnics and play on the upper level, with great views of the whirlpool and rapids.

Dirk Vanderwilt is the author of several travel guidebooks for the Tourist Town Guides series. Tourist Town Guides offer independent, honest advice about America's top tourist hotspots.

For more information, visit http://www.touristtown.com

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