Wooden flooring is widely available from all good hardwood flooring suppliers. You can buy wooden flooring in various thickness and widths. Some wooden flooring products are even available in random lengths to add to the natural look of the flooring. A range of finishes is also available including unfinished, lacquered and oiled, which gives a durable protective layer whilst maintaining a natural finish. There are various grades of wooden flooring available with the higher grades having less knots and colour variation. Generally speaking the younger the wood, the lighter the colour. This can mean that even wood from the same tree can have variations in colour depending on how old the wood is. Older wood is found at the centre of the tree whilst the younger, lighter wood is found around the edge. This younger wood is known as Sapwood.

Oak flooring is widely used in North America and Europe for both residential and commercial flooring. Both continents are major producers of the flooring with the USA producing Red and White oak flooring and European oak flooring on this side of the Atlantic. An incredibly rich colour can be achieved by polishing oak flooring. Red oak flooring is noted for its warm tones with pink tinting whilst White oak flooring is often lighter with grey tones. Most oak flooring produced in North America is made from trees sourced on the Eastern side of the Rockies whilst European Oak is made from timber found all over Europe. All these different types of oak vary in colour; hardness and grain however all give a stunning finish to any room.

Walnut flooring is also heavily produced in North America where the Walnut tree is most common. It is an extremely tall and fast growing tree that produces a varied grain of warm and rich coloured wood. Walnut flooring is generally darker than oak flooring and is incredibly hard wearing. It is commonly used in offices, libraries and dining rooms where a warm yet classic look is required.

There is very little that comes close to the look and feel of real wooden flooring however the cost to buy flooring like this is not affordable to every budget. Engineered hardwood flooring is available and can be cheaper than solid wooden flooring. It comprises of a layer of hardwood on top of a plywood base. Alternatively laminate flooring is a good cost effective solution to real wooden flooring and is available in a range of wooden and ceramic styles. Since its introduction the improvements in laminate flooring has been outstanding. Nowadays most laminate flooring does not require glue and simply clicks together. This makes laying laminate flooring faster, easier and much less messy, With such high quality laminate flooring now available it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between laminate and real hardwood flooring and its popularity for use in homes and commercial properties is growing all the time.

To make sure they don’t make a mistake when constructing their homes, many homeowners, on the other hand, opt to choose wisely and ensure that their roofing will withstand the weather and the test of time. One of the available choices is Timberline roofing.

Timberline roofing is one of the more popular roofing products in use today. It is a series of dimensional shingles made to be tough, durable and beautiful, meeting common consumer expectations that roofing should be protective and decorative at the same time.

Which Timberline?

These days, there are so many brands of Timberline from too many manufacturers that it’s almost difficult to tell which is the real Timberline series. The name Timberline has become a general term referring to shingles but it is actually a brand name of one of GAF Materials’ roofing products. Founded in 1886, GAF became one of the forerunners of quality roofing and has become the largest residential and commercial manufacturers of roofing in North America. Timberline is just one of their many brands.

Because of its popularity, Timberline has had its share of copycats and clones and has actually become a generic term used to refer to dimensional singles. However, the product name itself is trademarked to GAF. If you want to be sure about the manufacturer of your Timberline roofing, simply take a look at the back of a piece of shingle. Most manufacturers print their names on their products and that should give you a good reference in order to determine from which manufacturer your shingle came from.

What Makes Timberline Special?

Timberline has become a favorite among many consumers because of its strength and durability. It has the patented Micro Weave Core which makes the material tougher and the Dura Grip adhesive seal to ensure better hold. The weight of the material is also a factor in keeping it stable. Once it’s installed properly, Timberline roofing are specified to stand bad weather, even when winds are pummeling your home at 80-110 miles per hour.

Types of Timberline Roofing

Timberline is just one of the brands in the GAF Materials product list but there are several choices under this series, so you have several options for your roofing needs. They include:

Timberline 30. Made with tough fiberglass asphalt, these shingles are affordable and stylish. This series features the Shadow Accent and Dura Grip adhesive seal. Shadow Accent produces a gradation in the shingles’ color, so you can see the gradual shift from dark to light.

This creates a beautiful effect when seen from afar. Depending on your area, algae protection may even be offered. Thanks to Dura Grip, Timberline 30 comes with the 70 miles per hour wind warranty. The product’s limited warranty itself is 30 years.

Timberline Select 40. Also made from fiberglass asphalt, this series features the classic wood shake look. The shingles are also thicker and heavier and boast some of the best features in the Timberline series, including Dura Grip, Shadow Accent and a Micro Weave core. They are also rated Class A in fire and wind protection. Limited warranty is set at 40 years.

Grand Timberline Roof Shingles. The shingles in this series are about 50% larger than other products and also at least 30% thicker. If you prefer a stronger contrast in color blends, this is the roofing choice for you. This series has a Class A rating for fire and wind and also features the tough Micro Weave core.

Timberline Ultra. This is the premier set of shingles in this series and shingles are at least 25% thicker than other products. Because these are heavier, these are also the roofing of choice for areas where storms are common – Timberline Ultra has a limited warranty for winds up to 110 miles per hour. This series is also the most durable and longest lasting.

Where to Find Information

Probably the best source of Timberline roofing is GAF Materials, which has product and installation information on its website. However, you also have other choices, although not all of them carry the Timberline series from GAF itself.

When purchasing your Timberline roofing, make sure to ask for the warranty because this will serve as your protection. They may be tough and durable but like most roofing, Timberline will not last forever. A day will come that they will need to be replaced although that’s likely to take a really long time.