For many Americans St. Patrick's day means green hats, green shirts and even green beer. Why not add a green roof to the list? Make your new South Carolina roof a real reason to celebrate by adding some energy efficient features that will lower your power bills and keep the green in your wallet.

You don't need a psychic to tell you that energy costs are only going to get higher as the years roll on. That's why reducing your energy usage for the long haul should be a high priority for any homeowner. A radiant barrier under your South Carolina roof can bounce heat energy out of your attic and may lower your power bill at the same time.

Roofs are viewed as part of a home's defense system. They effectively protect the furnishings and family from rain, wind, sun, debris and pests. Unfortunately, it's pretty easy to ruin a good roof if you are careless with it. Here are two things you should never to do your roof, compliments of your friendly South Carolina roofing contractor.

Sports fans in South Carolina love satellite dish TV. Any game. Any place. Any time. But before you give your dish installer the green light to go up on your roof, you should take the time to understand why dish manufacturers recommend pole or wall installations over roof mounting.

Plywood is a familiar term, even for people who have never touched it or knowingly laid eyes on it. But mention OSB, and many homeowners will stop and ask, “What is that?” Your South Carolina roofer is sure to know that OSB is an acronym for Oriented Strand Board, but why does he want to use it to build your roof?

Saving money is not only a good New Year’s resolution, it is also a good lifestyle choice. Here are a few money-saving tips to help you turn your resolution to save money into a way of life, including how to save money on your new South Carolina roof.

North Pole (Elf Press) – After two weeks of final equipment checks and test flights, Santa has announced that his eight reindeer team and newly remodeled sleigh are officially ready for Christmas Eve. “My flight crew is good to go, but I want to make sure my landing crews are getting ready, too,” proclaimed the jolly old fellow. Santa then offered his wish list for parents in South Carolina and throughout the world, hoping they will safely decorate their roofs for his December 24th arrival.

As you drive up to your home after a long day of work, you realize you can no longer ignore the problems you see on top of it. There are dips in your roof that make you think it is about to collapse. Can a small roof repair solve the problem? Can a typical roof replacement take care of it? Or will a major construction project be required? A close look at your roof deck will be needed to find the right solution.

Regardless of building codes, every sloped roof in your neighborhood should have at least one layer of underlayment below its shingles. And if your roof is relatively flat, it may need two layers. Here are the top reasons why your South Carolina roofing contractor views underlayment as an essential part of every shingled roofing system.

Summer and all its heat are gone. Winter and its cold rains have yet to come. This means it's fall, and the outside conditions are perfect for inspecting the roof of your home. Not only are regular roof inspections good for making your roof last longer, they are essential for making sure that water and pests are unable to enter and cause damage to your home.

You're in the market for a new roof and you just found out that your current shingles are old technology. Every Spartanburg roofing contractor you talk to is telling you that laminated shingles are now the way to go. But what exactly are laminated shingles? Are they really that much better than the shingles that are currently on your roof?

If you ask a Spartanburg roofing contractor if he prefers to build roofs in the summer or in the winter, the answer may surprise you. Although working in the cold air can be uncomfortable and some extra care may be required, good roofers don't shy away from installing new roofs in the middle of January. They understand the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to building a quality roof in the winter.

The colorful leaves of fall create stunning and beautiful images across the state of South Carolina in the closing months of each year. But once these leaves have fallen, they need to be cleaned out of your gutters quickly. Otherwise, you may be faced with water damage and roof repairs that can become costly.

The key to surviving a hurricane is being prepared for the major hurricane hazards: wind, storm surge, and flooding. Here are some of ideas you should include in your hurricane preparedness plan to make sure your family and your home are safe throughout the hurricane season.

If you are delaying the replacement of your existing roof, you should consider the savings that can be gained by building a new roof in 2011. If your South Carolina roofing contractor uses qualified Energy Star shingles to build your new roof, you could enjoy a few dollars off your monthly power bill and you may be eligible for a $500 Federal Tax Credit.