Who doesn't like to be prepared! America's birthday is this comingaMonday, so if you're looking to enjoy thealong weekend, get readyafor the holiday now.aFrom buying the necessitiesato mowing the lawn, there are plenty of things to doabefore the weekendabegins.

This year, the 4th of July falls on a Monday, which means that you haveaallaweekend to prepare -- so expectations are high. If you plan on hosting aaparty yourself, be sure toacheck off the items below.aConsider this your official 4th of July Checklist!

[ a] Plan Your Party and Send Invitations

No 4th of July should be spent alone. So the first item on your listaisato decideawhether you will attend a party or host one yourself. If you don't have a party to attend, likely your friends and family are thinking the same thing -- so take initiative and plan one yourself. Where are you going? Do you want to host? How many people are you planning to invite, and where should the party take place?aIf you're planning or attending a party in a public place, willathere be aagrill?

These are important questions that you should get out of the way as soon as possible. To make sure all of your friends and family attend, you need to get your invitations out as soon as possible. In addition, selecting a location allows you to plan the rest of the day much more easily. Send an email or text message with the details of the party including the start time, location, and whether the guest should bring anything (is the party BYOB?). Consider using a free service like e-vite to send out electronic invitations. Electronic invitations allow you to easily keep track of who has RSVP'd.

[ a] Buy the Food and Drink

If you choose to serve hamburgers, be sure to haveatoppings and condimentsasuch as cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, mustard,amayonnaise and relish.aBe aware that supermarkets mayarun out of these necessities, so stock up early.

Also, keep in mind that the weather forecast for the DC area is HOT, so supply your guests with plenty of refreshments and water.aLemonade is always a favorite for both the kids and adults!

Ultimately, you shouldathink about youraguests. Willathey expect traditional fare or would they appreciate something new?

[ a] Consider Fireworks

These days, no 4th of July is complete without fireworks. InaMaryland, Virginia, and DC you cannot set off fireworks in your yard - but you can buy small items like sparklers and pinwheels, or plan your party near a local firework display.

That means, of course, that you need to do the research. Familiarize yourself withaMarylandaandaVirginia law concerning fireworks. If you want to fully satisfy the firework craving, you probably want to findalocal firework events,athen, plan your party accordingly.

[ a] Load up on Sunscreen

You want your party to be as much 'fun in the sun' as possible. That means you can't forget the sunscreen! aInvest in enough sunscreen not only for yourself but also for your guests, because you know some attendees willaforget. The weather forecast for the DMV is 85 and sunnyawith a UV index of 10 out of 10!aBe careful out there.

[ a] Prepare Your Space

Is your space ready for the party? The weekend before July 4th offers a perfect opportunity to tidy up. Mow the lawn, clean the house, prepathe grill, and set up any entertainment options your guests may appreciate. From cornhole to a volleyball or badminton net, you want to have enough entertainment options for your guests to have fun before the fireworks, especially if children are part of the party. A fun weekend project could be toabuild your own cornhole set before the big day.

[ a] Enjoy the Day!

Finally, don't forget the most important item on your checklist: enjoying the 4th of July. This is the date our nation gained independence, and a holiday important enough for people to plan their summers around. When you hold a 4th of July party, your goal should be to have as much fun as your guests, which can only be possible with enough preparation.

Part of that preparation may include peace of mind. If, during your planning, you notice that your roof has a few loose shingles, why not get them fixedabefore the party? Contact usabefore your eventato ensure you can thoroughly enjoy and appreciate your Independence Day.

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It?s been a rough winter and spring, we can only hope we finally have some nice summer weather in the forecast.

Historically, nobody thought much about their roof when it came to energy efficiency. In fact, it was traditionally the least energy-efficient part of the home exterior. However, the advent of ?cool? metal products have changed homeowners? perception of roofs as well as the roofs themselves.

Reflecting Solar Heat

A premium aluminum roof can actually deflect up to 95% of that hot summer solar heat, which would otherwise turn your home into a furnace. When finished with an innovative coating calledaKynara500, aluminum?s solar reflectance soars. It bounces most of the sun?s energy back to the sky, keeping its surface temperature low. As a result, it transmits significantly less energy into your interior and helps keep outside air cool enough to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Re-Emitting Absorbed Energy

Any experiencedametal roof companyaknows that energy-efficient roofing panels don?t retain most of the small amount of heat they absorb. Most reflective roofs likewise boast highaemittance, fending off infrared radiation to keep your home naturally cool. You would feel the effect more during the warmest time of the year.

Preventing Attic Heat Buildup

Beyond the reflective and emissive material itself, an energy-efficient metal roof must also have proper attic ventilation. Regardless of the time of year, the attic temperature must remain close to that of the outside to help regulate your indoor climate. With the right combination of intake and exhaust vents, your roof can optimize the airflow within the attic. Since a hot attic makes the living space below also hot, keeping its temperature low with fresh drafts can reduce your reliance on air conditioning.

Furthermore, reliableametal roofing companiesawould advise you to invest in proper insulation, too. It can help minimize the transfer of desirable heat into the attic to avoid wasting energy. The interplay between your attic ventilation and insulation is critical to your roof?s health and your home?s comfort and energy efficiency.

With a hot U.S. housing market and still-favorable interest rates, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) is predicting a heavier-than-usual demand for qualified metal roofing installers and contractors this season.

For homeowners planning improvement projects this season, that means the time to swing into action is now. That?s especially true for metal roofing, which is booming in popularity thanks to its durability and exceptional performance in severe weather.a

Not only is demand increasing for metal roofing, the fact that much of the nation is coming off of a tough winter means there will be a stronger demand than ever for qualified re-roofing contractors. For homeowners, that often means an increase in competition and longer lead times for being able to complete re-roofing projects.a

However, even with the flurry of activity predicted for this spring, it?s up to homeowners to vet contractors carefully and make sure the job is done right and to their satisfaction each step of the way. Doing so will help ensure your home is protected, comfortable and will perform reliably for many years to come.a

For homeowners seeking a quality metal roofing installer, here are five tips to consider:

1) Don?t assume all roofers are equally skilled

Some contractors push homeowners towards a certain roofing material, not because it?s the best or most appropriate for their home, but because it may simply be the option the installer is most familiar with. Make sure your installer is properly trained, experienced and skilled in installing metal roofing. Ideally, look for a roofer that has been in business for at least five years; roofers who don?t do quality work usually don?t last that long.

2) Get referrals

Reputable installers are typically involved in the industry and are committed to keeping abreast of the latest trends and techniques. Check to see if the prospective installer is a member of MRA and other reputable trade alliances. Be sure to ask for and contact recent references. When contacting references, ask if they were satisfied with the work, if the process went smoothly, if the installers were careful and courteous and they did what they promised, including sticking to the estimate and change orders. Also, ask the installer to provide you with a few recent job locations so you can drive by and check out the work. While pictures may be helpful, there?s nothing like seeing how a roof looks first-hand.

3) Do your own homework

With metal roofing alone, there are hundreds of different options, material types, finishes and installation techniques. Request the highest-rated, longest lasting material you can afford and always do your own research for whatever product recommendation your installer suggests, verifying it?s what you want for your home. For resources about metal roofing materials, styles and options, check out www.metalroofing.com or visit the manufacturer?s website directly.

4) Protect yourself

Make sure that installers are licensed, insured and carry workers? compensation coverage. Don?t be afraid to ask for proof-of-insurance certificates and the insurance agent?s name. A reputable installer won?t hesitate to provide you with that information. It goes without saying that evaluating warranties is essential: make sure it covers not only materials and finishes, but leaks, flashing failures and other labor-related defects.

5) Be thorough

Putting on a new roof is only part of the equation. Replacing eaves flashing, pipe boots and roof jacks is less complicated when reroofing, so consider having it done at the same time if needed. Be sure to have your contractor or HVAC provider verify proper attic ventilation. Poor ventilation can cause significant damage, high utility bills and worse case, can lead to serious safety issues.

There?s no doubt that metal roofs are one of the best and most reliable ways to protect your home for the long run. Invest some time and effort upfront before your re-roofing project begins, and it will pay off with many years of loving your home?s roof. For more information, visit www.metalroofing.com

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Selecting the right shingle color that works well with the exterior body and trim of your home doesn?t have to be difficult. It can be an amazingly rewarding experience. With a little bit of time you?ll be confident that your selection is going to be the right choice for you. If you plan on doing any roofing in Colorado Springs than this video presents both traditional laminated shingles and a Presidential shake look shingle.aThis is a bonus for Colorado residence looking for a safe alternative to wood shake shingles.aI?ll share in a moment some color combinations that work well, but for now please take a look at the video at many different styles of homes and shingles to get an idea and a feel for what you like. These shingles displayed are mostly traditional colors with a bold red thrown in for your enjoyment. Keep in mind that the shingle thickness and style will impact the overall appearance of your home. Be sure to utilize some of the new software to view what your home will look like. More about that in a moment.

How to Select a Shingle Color Video

Digital Color Program for Shingle Selection

Weathered Wood and Gray Shingles

One of the most popular colors is Weathered Wood. Many builders use this shingle because it has colors that are neutral and commnonly found in nature. The brown, tan, gray and occasional blue flecks allow for an aesthetically appealing affect on your roof. Weathered Wood is a safe color to install when placing your home on the market. Many real agents recommend the Weathered Wood or Driftwood shingle color to their clients. it?s the number one shingle color in the United States. There are some other shingle colors that are predominately gray and they seem to work well with homes that have a lighter color siding or stone work. The gray color shingles really limit your ability to change the paint color on a home that has siding. Be sure to choose your grays carefully, however let me remind you that weathered wood is more than a gray color it has many other colors mined into it.

Classy Black Shingle

As you drive through areas look at the black shingles and you might notice how well accent a home. Black is a great shingle color for homes in Colorado Springs. A black shingle with brown stained wood wrapped around the house is simply rustic and all about Colorado. A black shingle with some stone work that has dark browns and rust colors is a beautiful combination. Finally if your home is mostly siding than I?d recommend dark greens and brown paint color schemes to go with the black shingle. However, a home that has white stucco with a black roof is striking. Some of these homes even have black or red trim. If you look around Platte and Union you?ll find several homes with black shingles and white stucco.

Brown and Cedar Tone Shingles

Brown and Cedar tone shingles are traditional colorado shingle colors. They are great colors to use on a roof, however when your house is painted you will be limited on colors that will complement your roof. Stick with off whites that have brown tones for the body color for the lighter and brighter look. If your looking for a shingle color to blend into the forest this is the one. I?d recommend painting your home with natural browns, greens and grays that you find in nature for that natural look. Owens Corning Desert Tan and Certainteed Reshawn Shake are two examples of cedar tone shingles. The Owens Corning Brownwood has a nice color blend of browns. The Certainteed Burnt Sienna is a Brown color with red tones and somewhat of an orange undertone. This product does well on homes that have brownish natural stone colors on the home. The more red in the stonework the less that this color works. It begins to compete or clash with any siding that has red tones. I like the Certainteed Landmark Burn Sienna on the right house. Be aware of the undertones in this shingle to make sure that it complements your home and not clashes.

Bold Colored Shingles

Greens, reds and blue look great in certain environments. These bold colors make a statement. If you own one of the older homes in downtown Colorado Springs bold color shingles may work well with any of the painted ladies or historical homes downtown. These are what I call fun colors for the older homes with character. At the same time many of the painted ladies and historical homes look amazing with a thick profile shingle with a slate or shingle look. However, as you head east of the Springs why not install a green, red or blue metal roof on your rancher. Amazing looks are created with colorful metal roofs.

Homeowner?s Association Shingle Color Approval

Please check with your homeowners association before selecting a color. If you?re in an area where the association is active than a bold shingle color that?s red, blue or green will probably not work, unless it?s in Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs or the downtown area. Nevertheless, be sure to get permission before paying a contractor to install an unacceptable color.

Most metal roof systems have passed UL 2218 Impact Resistance testing at the Class IV level ? its most severe level. As a result, when it comes to hail prone areas, many homeowners are considering a shiny, new, lightweight option to cover their home. And while metal roofing might be more costly than typical asphalt shingles, it may also last quite a bit longer (life expectancy is often 10-20 years longer than asphalt), especially in hail prone areas.

Here are three benefits metal roofing offers for homeowners dealing with hail:

You may be eligible for discounts on your insurance premiums. In recognition of the grater durability of metal roofing, may insurance companies offer discounts on insurance premiums to homeowners in hail-prone states who choose metal roofing.

Metal roofing does not lose impact-resistance with age. One BIG benefit to metal roofing is that it does not lose its impact resistance as it ages. While metal roofing can incur dings like you would see on a car, these do not affect the durability of the roof, and are primarily cosmetic concerns. For this reason, unlike other roofing materials, metal will resist hail the same in 50 or more years as it does when it?s new.

Many metal roof systems carry longer warranties for hail protection. Because most metal roof systems have passed the UL 2218 Impact Resistance testing at the most sever level, the warranties for hail protection are often much longer than with asphalt shingles. One homeowner related that her Alcoa Aluminum roof was guaranteed not to leak for as long as she lives in the home. Now that?s some warrantee!

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