When you’re faced with yearly weather conditions that would make your AC or heating system use massive amounts of costly energy on a daily basis, you might want to get energy-efficient replacement windows in Omaha, Nebraska or in Iowa.

To understand what exactly makes this a great option, you have to look into how the four types of heat transfer affect your home.

Conduction

Essentially, heat conduction happens when a solid with a higher temperature comes into contact with another of lower temperature, and the heat travels from the former to the latter. The part of your window heated by the sun can transfer this heat to anything that it comes into contact with, spreading the heat to your interiors.

Convection

The principle of convection states that heated vapor or air weighs less than cooled ones; hence the latter tend to drop much lower, while the former rises. In the winter, the hot air produced by your heater will come into contact with the cool glass pane of your conventional window, causing it to cool and drop quickly. This cycle is one reason why your heater can’t seem to keep your room completely warm.

Radiant Transfer

According to Fine Home Building, this is how radiant transfer works:

Radiant transfer is the warm feeling on your face when you stand near a woodstove. Conversely, your face feels cool when it radiates its heat to a cold sheet of window glass. But radiant-heat loss is more than a perception. Clear glass absorbs heat and reradiates it outdoors.

Air Leakage

Perhaps one of the easiest to comprehend, this is also one of the most common causes of rising home energy costs. In simple terms, air leakage occurs when the warm or cool air produced by your AC or heater escapes through small slits, cracks, or other holes in your home. Thankfully, you can eliminate this problem by having your home air sealed and insulated.

Energy-efficient windows in Iowa and Nebraska like those from Waddle Exteriors are designed to eliminate some or all of these problems. Multi-paned windows (with low-conductivity gases in between each pane) for instance, can significantly reduce the risk of heat escaping by convection, whereas thermally resistant window frames and edge spacers are excellent against heat conduction.

(Article Excerpt and Image from Understanding Energy-Efficient Windows, Fine Homebuilding)

When you’re renovating your home, selecting the best roofing material is a crucial step. A good roofing material adds character, value, harmony, and beauty to your investment. It can also protect your home from natural elements and climate changes in your area.

To know your options, consider the most common roofing materials in the market: tile and shingle. Before making a decision, however, it is important to know the difference first so you can get the best one for your home.

Tile vs. Shingle

Tile is more expensive than shingles, usually at least double the
price. However, the life expectancy of tile ends up being about
double that of shingles, so it works out to be about even in that regard.
One consideration is that high winds and bad weather can knock off
your shingles much more easily than with tiles. Tiles are more durable
and can withstand a lot more strain.

The distinction made by the whoknowsacontractor.com article above clearly suggests that tile roofs are more advantageous, especially if you consider weather conditions. If you live in Nebraska, for example, it would be wise to go with tiles especially when snow season hits because they are least likely to crack despite the significant amount of ice and frost.

The Life Span Advantage

There’s more to the fact that tiles can last 30 years longer than shingles can. Tile roofing will also not corrode, warp, rot, and rust. No matter what the weather is, tile roofs can protect your home from various conditions and keep you comfortable all year round. Moreover, tile roofs have advanced acoustic insulation properties that prevent noise from entering your home.

Style and Appeal

The beauty of roof tiles can give homes a certain appeal that no other material can. In fact, it is this impeccable beauty that draws a buyer to choose tile as the ideal roofing material. Tiles also come in different colors to match your home’s exterior. Nebraska roofing companies such as Waddle Exteriors offer tile roof options suitable for different types of homes.

Tiles Over Shingles

The article makes the obvious conclusion that “[t]ile is definitely an advantage when looking to resell your home.” If you’ve decided to use tile for your roof, make sure to get in touch with reliable Nebraska roofing contractors who can expertly work with tile roofing materials. Take note that tiles are also heavy so they need to be handled by professionals only.

(Article Excerpt and Image from Tile Roofs vs. Shingle Roofs, Who Knows a Contractor)

At the beginning of 2013, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act which extended tax credits for Energy Star rated metal roofing. The tax credits are reported to be retro-active, applying to roofing materials purchased in 2012 and 2013. An article from Houselogic.com provides more information on the matter:

If you added a heat-efficient metal or asphalt roof to your house, you’ll be better equipped to fight August’s heat. And since the government extended the energy tax credit for existing homes, you may be able to claim the $500 energy tax credit by filing IRS Form 5695 with your return.

Tax credit limits and deadlines:

• 10% of expenditures, up to a lifetime $500, for all energy improvements combined.
• A relevant roof must have been installed by Dec. 31, 2013.
• Save receipts and labels.
• For roofs, installation isn’t covered.

See Energy Star for guidelines on what exactly is covered. It’s your safest bet for information on how to get the credit.

Be warned that not all roofs, not even all roofs with the Energy Star seal, will qualify. Only specially manufactured roofs, as listed on the Energy Star site, are eligible.

The purpose of the tax credit

The metal roofing tax credit primarily serves two purposes. First is to decrease the country’s dependence on non-renewable energy sources by making homes cooler through better roofing technologies. The second is to encourage greater employment in the fast-growing metal roofing industry.

How to receive the tax credit

To be eligible for the tax credit, you need to first talk to an established Iowa roofing contractor like Waddle Exteriors to discuss about installing a new metal roof for your home. Next, confirm that the metal roof product you will choose is an Energy Star-approved metal roof specifically designed to minimize heat gain. Obtain certification for the roof product from the manufacturer or your contractor. After that, have the metal roof installed before December 31, 2013. Lastly, fill out IRS Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits the next time you file your taxes.

Metal roofing from Iowa contractors like Waddle Exteriors incorporate the best in heat-reflective technology. Consult with these roofing professionals to learn how to take full advantage of the aforementioned tax credit.

(Article Excerpt and Image from Tax Credits for Replacing Your Roof, HouseLogic, January 9, 2013)

Homeowners that need to have work done on their roofing in Nebraska should contact licensed and experienced roofing contractors to ensure that the work gets done in an efficient and timely manner. Unfortunately, many disreputable contractors offer their services, and hiring the wrong contractor could lead to mishaps. An article that appeared on Omaha.com discusses one such incident:

When Ryan Stamm pulled into his driveway Thursday morning he noticed something strange—his roof was missing, and there was no work crew in sight. He was baffled because he had not hired a roofer, and his roof had not been damaged by recent hail storms like so many west Omaha homes.

“I thought, ‘Holy cow, what is going on,’ ” Stamm said.

His neighbors told him they had seen roofers on the Stamm property from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The neighbors were able to provide a description of the company’s van. Without success, Stamm went on foot around Standing Bear Lake neighborhood, looking for the roofing crew.

When Stamm contacted the contractor that had installed the roof on his home, the contractor suggested that he drive to a home that had the same address about 120 blocks south. Upon arriving at the address, Stamm saw a roofing van and roofers just starting their work. Stamm and his wife then proceeded to contact law enforcement to help them sort the situation out.

The owner of the roofing company claimed that the mix up was an accident. While Stamm wanted the roofing company ticketed for trespassing and destruction of property, in the end, no tickets were issued. Even though the owner of the roofing company offered to repair the roof, Stamm declined, and the former’s insurance policy is expected to cover the estimated $8,500 needed to re-roof Stamm’s home.

“What shocked me the most is the gentlemen who ripped the roof off had no intention of coming back. They only offered to fix the roof after the police showed up,” Stamm said. Homeowners can avoid similar scenarios if they hire a reputable roofing contractor in Nebraska—like the crew of Waddle Exteriors—to perform inspections, repairs, and installations on their roofing systems.

If you’re looking for a contractor that can provide services in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, choose one that has a good reputation with the local community. Also, check the roofer’s credentials, and ensure that they have a business license, roofing license, and liability insurance. This way, costly mishaps can be avoided.

(Info from Omahan stunned to find his roof ripped up; work crew made an error; Omaha.com)