Deposits of bauxite ore are mined and refined into alumina–one of the feedstocks for aluminum metal. Then alumina and electricity are combined in a cell with a molten electrolyte called cryolite. Direct current electricity is passed from a consumable carbon anode into the cryolite, splitting the aluminum oxide into molten aluminum metal and carbon dioxide. Aluminum came into commercial use during the late 19th century.

Immediately aluminum became known as a “metal of the future” and allowed for crucial developments to occur in the field of aviation and architecture, to name a few. In particular, aluminum allowed metal to be utilized for applicati...

Aluminum does not have the limitations of many other conventional roofing materials, which can include rot, splitting, cracking, frequent replacement, and landfill disposal. And, studies have shown that homes using metal roofing are much cooler in the summer and therefore have significantly reduced air-conditioning expenses.

Metal roofing systems are widely used worldwide, and are gaining market share in North America as concerns mount regarding the environment and the use of petrochemicals in traditional “remove and replace” roofing products. Aluminum can be recycled, and is therefore a sustainable and environmentally responsible product.

After removing the old Monier tile roof and during installation of the Poly-Iso insulation system

Roof tiles are ‘hung’ from the framework of a roof by fixing them with nails. The tiles are usually hung in parallel rows, with each row overlapping the row below it to exclude rainwater and to cover the nails that hold the row below. There are also roof tiles for special positions, particularly where the planes of the several pitches meet. They include ridge, hip and valley tiles. These can either be bedded and pointed in cement mortar or mechanically fixed.

Similarly to roof tiling, tiling has been used to provide a protective weather envelope to the sides of timber frame buildings. These are hung on laths nailed to wall timbers, with tiles specially moulded to c...

2015 Residential Metal Roofing Contractor of the Year Award goes to Oceanviev Roofing for their work on this spectacular home in Oahu, Hawaii.

Roof Association of Hawaii

A shake is a basic wooden shingle that is made from split logs. Shakes have traditionally been used for roofing and siding applications around the world. Higher grade shakes are typically used for roofing purposes, while the lower grades are used for siding purposes. In either situation, properly installed shakes provide long lasting weather protection and a rustic aesthetic, though they require more maintenance than some other more modern weatherproofing systems.

The term shake is sometimes used as a colloquialism for all wood shingles, though shingles are sawn rather than split.

In North America shakes are typically made from California redwood (“Sequoia sempervirens&rd...

Not long ago, it seemed like your only option for roofing materials was asphalt shingles or asphalt shingles. Few other options were available, and if you wanted a different roofing material, you had better be prepared to pay big bucks for it. Standing seam metal roofs were only a figment of the imagination in the minds of the average homeowner no more than 5 or 10 years ago. Most of these roofs were confined to commercial buildings.

One great advantage of standing seam metal roofs is contained in the name itself: seams, the weak point in any roof and a potential entry point for moisture, are raised above the level of the roofing panel.

Because the metal panels run unhindered fr...