We
Ask Santa What Roof-Tops He Prefers To Land On
by:
John Hurdt, Business Development and
Marketing Manager
Its Christmas time again and
being in the roofing business we thought it would be interesting to ask Santa to
rank the different roofing materials as to which one he prefers to land his
sleigh, eight tiny reindeer and Rudolf on. We sent Santa a list of different
roofing materials and he in turn responded to each one. We were amazed at his in
depth knowledge concerning roofing materials. Of course considering the number
of years Santa has been making this trip you would think that he would have a
pretty good idea of what kind of roofs he is landing on.
We also asked Santa to place a Slip Factor (Rank 1-10, 10 being the least
slippery) on each of the different
roofing materials. He stated in his letter back to us that falling off the roof
was a major concern and he surely didn’t want to end up like the Santa depicted
in the movie with that crazy tool man. Santa stated, " The
problems created falling off the roof are hard to overcome and as old as he is,
the recovery time is quite extensive". Santa has also gone Green at the North
Pole and decided to give each roof a Green Factor (Rank 1-10, 10 being the most
Green) also. So here are Santa’s comments and rankings
concerning the types of roofs he lands on during that special night in December.
Santa's Preferred Roofing List
Asphalt
Shingles: Over
75% of American roofs have asphalt shingles due to low cost, ease of
installation, and resiliency. Unfortunately, asphalt shingles have a low
insulating value and a shorter lifespan than many other roofing materials
available today. They are also made from petroleum products and are not usually
recyclable because of the layer of fiberglass added to the shingles. They have
the worst environmental track record.
House Style: Not a bad roof and by far the most common roof that we land on. The reindeer like it because it does give them some traction for take-offs and landings.
Slip Factor: 7, the granules on the asphalt shingle do give some gripping value to my boots.
Green Factor: 1, Least Green Roof , Going Green at the NP!!!!!
House Style: Not a bad roof and by far the most common roof that we land on. The reindeer like it because it does give them some traction for take-offs and landings.
Slip Factor: 7, the granules on the asphalt shingle do give some gripping value to my boots.
Green Factor: 1, Least Green Roof , Going Green at the NP!!!!!
Total Grade- 8
Wood shingles and shakes: Wood shingles and shakes can be purchased in cedar, redwood, southern pine and other woods, cedar being the most costly. Wood shingles are cut by machine, while wood shakes are handmade and have a rougher look. Since most wood shingles and shakes only have Class C fire ratings. You can purchase Class A wood shingles with fire-resistant treatment for an additional cost.
House Style: I am wary of the fire safety of these roofs because when I come out the chimney, sometime fire embers follow me on the way out and land on the roof. That’s why I always have my sleigh’s fire extinguisher readily available. You never know.
Slip Factor: 4, The wood shingles can become pretty slippery when wet. Also the way the shingles lay can make for a pretty rough landing. The reindeer aren’t too fond of these roofs either, hurts their hooves. .
Green Factor: 5, A natural product, but very high maintenance, poor fire rating and they tend to rot, split and mold.
Wood shingles and shakes: Wood shingles and shakes can be purchased in cedar, redwood, southern pine and other woods, cedar being the most costly. Wood shingles are cut by machine, while wood shakes are handmade and have a rougher look. Since most wood shingles and shakes only have Class C fire ratings. You can purchase Class A wood shingles with fire-resistant treatment for an additional cost.
House Style: I am wary of the fire safety of these roofs because when I come out the chimney, sometime fire embers follow me on the way out and land on the roof. That’s why I always have my sleigh’s fire extinguisher readily available. You never know.
Slip Factor: 4, The wood shingles can become pretty slippery when wet. Also the way the shingles lay can make for a pretty rough landing. The reindeer aren’t too fond of these roofs either, hurts their hooves. .
Green Factor: 5, A natural product, but very high maintenance, poor fire rating and they tend to rot, split and mold.
Total Grade- 9
Clay & Concrete Tiles: Clay tiles are very heavy, requiring additional roof framing, but they are non-combustible and extremely durable. Clay roofing tiles can come in lighter colors, which adhere to the cool roof standards and can reflect well over 50% of the sun's solar energy. Concrete roofing tiles offer elegant, enduring aesthetics for your home's design and added value.
Clay & Concrete Tiles: Clay tiles are very heavy, requiring additional roof framing, but they are non-combustible and extremely durable. Clay roofing tiles can come in lighter colors, which adhere to the cool roof standards and can reflect well over 50% of the sun's solar energy. Concrete roofing tiles offer elegant, enduring aesthetics for your home's design and added value.
House Style: One of my favorite roofs and is the same type of roof that Mrs. Claus and myself have on our summer home in Florida. Unfortunately they too can become pretty slippery when the weather is nasty. Fortunately, a lot of these roofs are found in the southwest US and are pretty good to land on. You just have to be careful not to come in too hot or you will slide right off the roof.
Slip Factor: 4 not bad when its’ dry, but this roof can be pretty treacherous when its’ wet.
Green Factor: 8 Clay tiles are definitely one of the greenest roofing choices. Concrete is highly energy-efficient and can be made from a sustainable mixture.
Total Grade- 12
Slate: Slate has a beautiful, distinctive appearance. Although very heavy, a slate roof is non-leaching and will last for hundreds of years. It is easy to repair and recycle. Because slate is often a dark color it isn't recommended for high-heat locations.
House Style: Great roofs, but they can be pretty slippery when wet. Also because of the dark color of slate roofs, we have to get Rudolf to really turn up the intensity of his nose to make sure that we can see what we are landing on.
Slate: Slate has a beautiful, distinctive appearance. Although very heavy, a slate roof is non-leaching and will last for hundreds of years. It is easy to repair and recycle. Because slate is often a dark color it isn't recommended for high-heat locations.
House Style: Great roofs, but they can be pretty slippery when wet. Also because of the dark color of slate roofs, we have to get Rudolf to really turn up the intensity of his nose to make sure that we can see what we are landing on.
Slip
Factor- 5 When its’ wet, watch out
Green Factor: 9 Excellent sustainable roofing choice. Quarrying and splitting slate tile has little environmental impact compared to the production of other roofing products.
Total Grade- 14Metal (steel, aluminum, tile and copper): Metal roofs are some of the coolest roofs around, both in temperature and style for new homes. Metal roofs are available in copper, aluminum, and stainless steel, and often have a high percentage of recycled content. They offer high insulation solar reflectance, and durability, often lasting twice as long as wood or asphalt. Aside from its longevity, metal shingles are much lighter than most materials and very resistance to adverse weather.
House Style: One of my favorite roofs and one of the best to land on when its’ dry. Very uniform and sometimes the slope is not too steep. However, when it is really cold I have to watch the reindeer very closely to make sure that they don’t accidentally lick the roof and get their tongue stuck. There is nothing more unpleasant than a reindeer with his tongue stuck to a roof. It’s an awful mess.
Slip
Factor- 7, Great when
its’ dry, not to bad when it’s wet, and
be very careful with the reindeer if it is extremely cold.
Green Factor: 9 Very green because they are highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Total Grade- 16
Well there you have it, Santa’s list of Roof-Tops he would prefer to land on. I hope that you have enjoyed Santa’s List and hopefully it has brought a smile to your face during this holiday season. If you have any other suggestions for Santa on how to keep himself and his reindeer safe for their holiday run, send us a comment. I am sure that Santa would love to hear from you. As for us at the RoofTec-LLC family, we wish you a safe and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Well there you have it, Santa’s list of Roof-Tops he would prefer to land on. I hope that you have enjoyed Santa’s List and hopefully it has brought a smile to your face during this holiday season. If you have any other suggestions for Santa on how to keep himself and his reindeer safe for their holiday run, send us a comment. I am sure that Santa would love to hear from you. As for us at the RoofTec-LLC family, we wish you a safe and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
