Architectural shingles vary in sizes and materials from which they are made. However they are called, these roofing products provide unique three-dimensional appearance that rivals the frequent look of the natural wood shake. The basic design of the shingles still suggests the depth and surface of the usual roofing materials, but the variations make the shingles distinct in their own ways.

Depending on the product, as well as the sales regions, features of architectural shingles vary. Most are available in either "English" or "Metric" dimensions. Their weight is usually between 240 to 340 pounds, which results to the shingles' high resistance to strong winds and extreme weather conditions. Other attributes of shingles include resistance to algae growth, especially in damp regions. This design feature also helps prevent the black streaking commonly visible on shingles in areas with humidity and rainfall totals.

The main components of shingles include mat base made of fiber glass and asphalt that is carefully refined. Other than these basic materials, manufacturers also tend to require additional underlayment in architectural shingles to prevent leakage and/or waterproofing. The shingles are also available in different colors, but availability varies on different areas.

Shingle types may be classified based on the materials used. Aluminum shingles, though not considered as an alternative for residential areas, are now being made to resemble cedar shakes, slate and clay tiles. Long lasting, energy efficient and recyclable, they do not rust, rot, tear, or become infested by bugs or mold. Another type is made from copper, which is a strong, resilient, and environment-friendly metal. Copper shingles are often preferred by many people because even though it has a tendency to change color after a certain period of time due to chemical reactions with the atmosphere, it doesn't dry out or crack. Furthermore, no extra roofing reinforcement is needed, which minimizes expenses. There are other metal architectural shingles gaining popularity nowadays because of their stylish appearance and practicality. Being modernized, they can easily be painted to suit any style of roof. To make metal shingles resistant to corrosion, they are coated with zinc. Also, they are not subject to attack from mold, insects, or rot.

Shingles are also made from non-metal materials. These types are the older forms of architectural shingles that are still stylish and classical at the same time. Slate shingles, for one, are the elegant and durable that survived the changes in design with the passing of time and generation. Though now one of the most expensive roofing products available in the market, it is very desirable, especially in areas prone to forest fires because they are virtually fire resistant. Solar shingles, made from thin layers of amorphous silicon and stainless steel, are among the latest technology that helps consumers harness solar energy. They are used in commercial, residential and agricultural structures.

The assortment of various architectural shingles made from different materials showcases to different areas and regions depending on several functions as well as weather conditions. Home and structural owners ranging from commercial to agricultural industries have wider options of roof systems to choose from considering life span, efficiency and durability.

Don't sweat the details? Hey, not good advice when it comes to framing your home.

Your home's framing structure dictates the quality and strength of your final product. You'll want to pay close attention to every detail. But, there's more than one way to build a quality frame.

Your Major Home Framing Choices and Their Advantages

Before you have your blueprints drawn, you need to choose the framing method. This is vital because the material choice and engineering work depend upon it. All good blueprints identify and list these materials.

1) Traditional wood/stick framing:

• Materials

Wood stud framing is probably the least expensive of the choices you can make. The availability of product is usually the greatest. This is especially true if you're buying un-assembled product (not pre-nailed panels.)

• Labor

With wood stick framing, you are dealing with the most common materials used in the USA, Canada and most of Australia. This makes finding experienced labor easy.

2) Site built steel framing:

• Materials

Steel framing can be more eco-friendly with its longevity and its proclivity for effective recycling. The cost is not much different than wood, it is straighter and more uniform, and it's lighter weight.

• Labor

Finding labor for steel framed homes is getting easier. If you're a do-it-yourselfer that is used to working with wood stick framing, you should be aware that the process requires some different skills.

3) Panelized steel or wood framing:

• Materials

Panelized wall systems reduce the amount of labor you have to pay for, or do on site. The price of labor is built in to the panels you buy. These panels save you time and money on the building site.

• Labor

Well-built panels can allow you to hire fewer and potentially less skilled framers. You will pay more for the lumber (as panels) because of the fact you're purchasing labor as well. However, much of that labor is assembly line type work and inexpensive.

4) Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs:

• Materials

These panels will cost more than traditional panels but they save in other areas. For one, the insulation is already part of the wall, therefore does not have to be added. They may also provide a more energy efficient home, saving in energy bills giving you a better life-time value.

• Labor

Labor can be an issue depending upon availability of experienced SIP construction contractors. Always check with your local trade contractors before you have your architect design your home with SIP panels.

5) Insulating Concrete Forms or ICFs:

• Materials

The materials involved with ICFs are foam blocks, cement, and steel (rebar.) They can be used for basements and walls. Thermal mass provided by the cement can help with the heating and cooling of your home.

• Labor

This, like SIPs, can be a do it yourself project but you truly will need direction and help. Many ICF suppliers will "train" you to a degree. Be careful designing with ICFs if you cannot find experienced contractors and if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

What's Your Number One Goal?

Your choice will be dependent upon your approach. Are you a do-it-yourself builder? Are you interested in speed? Do you want the highest energy efficiency? Asking the right questions will narrow your choices and get you what you want.

Balance everything together, make your choice, and stick with it. Once your approach is built in to your blueprints, resist making major changes.

Will you live in the home for years? Choose what makes the best long term sense for you.

Its Built with Styrofoam Panels

Marquis Construction thinks they have found a way to meet their own needs and their buyers'. They build with SIPs - 4 & 6-inch-thick sections of EPS foam, like the material from which coffee cups are made, sandwiched between sheets of galvanized steel.

The panels, 4 feet wide, snap together with a T&G joint so they can be assembled quickly by workers. The foam is laminated between sheets of steel.

The panels, known as SIPs, have been around for 60 years, but only in the last ten years have they begun to be used in mainstream of construction

"It's a thermal and structural shell," the builder said homes are certified to withstand winds up to 140 mph, making it hurricane worthy. The absence of wood means it is inhospitable to termites. "There's no food value there,"

Marquis says their customers "immediately grasp the concept that a solid foam-core house has got to be much more energy efficient than conventional . It really sells itself."

In addition to energy efficiency, the steel panels provide a cleaner IAQ, mold resistive environment. They carry a 20 year corrosion warranty. They surpass Florida's hurricane codes, are impact tested and used for hurricane shelter construction in Ft, Meyers, FL.
Steel SIPs construction will reduce insurance premiums up to 53% in hurricane prone areas over wood frame construction.

Panels are easily and readily available for delivery through out the southeast US with a 2 week lead time.

Slide and fold patio doors have the benefit that they can open the whole side of the room to the outside space. PVCU patio doors are convenient to operate for everyone in the home. PVCU patio doors are also aesthetically appealing as they can transform the look and feel of your home, and add considerable value too.

Patio door repair is common, especially for sliding patio doors. If your patio door is having trouble sliding open or closed, first put your head down on the ground and see if the wheels have come off the track. You may be able to simply refit the patio door on the track. Newer patio doors have double contact points that better distribute the door's weight and minimize this wear, but your patio door may have only a single contact point. A new stainless steel cap should work for this patio door repair.

The latest PVCU patio doors are highly energy efficient due to the inherent insulation of our multi-chamber PVC-U profiles and advanced energy-saving glass technology. PVCU patio doors have the frames reinforced with galvanised steel for strength, toughened safety glass, advanced locking systems and internal glazing.

UPVC stands for Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride, and is a type of plastic used in windows, gutters and door frames. This material is popular due to its low maintenance and tough nature. UPVC doors are also very low cost compared to other door types such as wood. Most UPVC patio doors are made up mostly of glass, because this provides natural sunlight and also a view of the outside.

If you have a wooden patio door, you can level the door by shaving off some wood at the part where it is sticking. But before you do so, you can try on the few steps given above.

Windows and doors manufactured by curtain walling metal technology are attractive and have clean lines which are capable to enhance all types of office and commercial facades as demanded by modern building technology.

The Metal Technology high rise curtain wall system is designed as a stick system by curtain walling metal technology. This type of design allows mullions and transoms to be transported to site as prepared components and the grid work is assembled onto the building in stick form.

Carefully designed fixing brackets allow the curtain walling to be fixed back to the structure easily and securely so that all loads are transferred back to the buildings main structural form. Expansion joints are allowed on every floor or every other floor to accommodate any building movement by curtain walling metal technology.

In a case where curtain walling is required for low rise developments curtain walling metal technology’s system 8 low rise curtain walling is preferred. Being a metal technology, it is obvious that this kind of curtain walling systems are manufacturing is to exacting standards giving economy with required strength, and many years of aesthetic, trouble-free operation.

In order to help flood the buildings with light, curtain walling metal technology has used System 17 high rise curtain wall, along with its Latitude curtain walling, System 8 low rise and System 10 glazed doors.

Metal Technology's curtain walling systems offer a wide range of caps and profiles that allow the designer to select a profile to meet the design requirements of the project.

For example, curtain walling metal technology offers the Latitude system which particularly gives a strong horizontal focus and is excellent in drawing attention and drama to a glass elevation.

Curtain walling metal technology also can design and supply bespoke profile options giving the architect greater scope in his design.

Metal Technology has a wide retail portfolio with blue chip clients such as Asda, Tecso, Homebase etc in many parts of the UK and Ireland.

In order to win this logo, the product needs to pass through the strict criteria set by an independent panel. When the PVCu, uPVC, PVC window have this logo, it makes it quick and easy to spot the most energy efficient windows on the market. These ratings have been created by the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC).

The A rated Windows, A rated PVCu, uPVC and PVC windows mean that these are the products that help conserve heat in the winter and cut back on heating bills. The windows also keep your property cool in the summer as well as reducing mist and condensation which has often been a problem with existing double glazing.

The rating is based on u-value, solar factor and also air leakage value. To obtain the rating all factors must be balanced such as minimal air leakage through existing windows as well as the amount of solar heat that gets through the glass.

Currently, the British Fenestration Council's Window Energy Rating scheme is a non-mandatory system, calculates the overall energy efficiency of glazing products. Shoppers have been benefited by this system as it is easier for them way to distinguish between less eco-friendly alternatives and the top energy saving A rated window. Looking at the A rated windows may be useful, as they can save you a lot of money and maybe worth putting that initial investment in.

This 'A' rating is determined by the combining factors that will contribute towards loss of energy. These are: Heat loss, Heat loss through air infiltration and Solar Heat Gain. The British Fenestration Ratings Council have put this scheme together for windows, Washing Machines, Vehicles and other products, to help buyers save both money and the environment. This scheme is recognised for a range of items.