Roof Talk 101 The Best Educational Roof Blog In America

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Roof Talk-101 9 Steps To Hiring A Residential Roofing Contractor

When it comes to choosing a residential roofing contractor, it's important to select an experienced contractor who can give your roof the quality it needs to keep your family and personal belongings safe from the outside elements. When choosing a roofing contractor for your home, you must seek out candidates with the proper licensing and a great business reputation in your area. Continue reading to learn how you can choose a residential roofing contractor for your home.

1.Verify that the roofing contractor you hire has the required applicable business licenses for your state or local area.

If you are unsure of the business licenses required for roofing contractors in your area, contact the licensing board or Department of Professional Regulation for your area or state.You may also visit the Contractor's Licensing website featured in the Sources section of this article to determine the licenses required by specific states.

2.Verify that the roofing contractor or business is legitimate by asking for their tax identification number, a business address, business website or email address, and contact phone number.

3.Ask the roofing contractor to provide you with proof of insurance, including worker's compensation and liability coverage.Not all areas or states require roofing contractors to have insurance, but you may want to hire a person with insurance to protect yourself from lawsuits if the contractor is injured while working on your property.Check with the contractor to verify that the insurance covers the entire time-span during which the roofing project takes place.

4.Ask the roofing contractor for a list of references and past clients you can call to find out if they were satisfied with the work done on their roof.You can also research the roofing contractor's reputation by contacting your state's Department of Professional Regulation or a local Better Business Bureau (BBB). Visit the BBB website listed in the Sources section of this article or call them at 703-276-0100 in the United States and at 514-905-3893 in Canada.

5.Ask your roofing contractor for proof that shows they have been approved by the roofing manufacturer to install or work on the roof you have chosen.Some types of roofing may require contractors to have special training, certifications, or licenses to ensure proper installation.

6.Ask the roofing contractor how many people will be working on the roofing project for your home so you can determine how the work will be supervised and how long it will take to complete.

7.Read the warranty information for your project in full and check for understanding with the roofing contractor regarding any actions or exceptions that may possibly void the warranty.

8.Obtain a contract or detailed proposal in writing from the roofing contractor that will provide explicit information regarding the project. Information to ask for should include the length of the project, daily start and end times, roofing materials to be used, safety procedures, the amount of payment and payment schedule, and clean-up methods.

9.Research and obtain the services, fees, and warranties provided by several different roofing contractors before making the final hiring decision. Do not hire roofing contractors based solely on the lowest pricing bids because they may not provide the same value as contractors with slightly higher pricing.

ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFGUARD-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguard Facebook Page .

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Roof Talk-101 Thinking of Having Your Own Roof Top Garden

Roof Talk-101 Thinking Of Having Your Own Roof Talk Garden

The thought of building a natural oasis on top of a building may seem a little odd, but the fact is that rooftop gardens have been around for centuries. Roof Gardens began in Europe a long time ago and since then have become the latest trend in gardening. Not only are rooftop gardens beautiful and unique, they are also efficient in many unique ways.

Hidden Hideaways (and Benefits)
Of course, one advantages of the roof garden is its secrecy. No more kids, vermin, and strangers tromping through your flowerbeds. Not only does their "secret" location keep them safe, but it adds a concealed privacy to your outdoor habitat. And this uniqueness can actually add economic value to your home due to its aesthetic appeal.

Here are some other ways rooftop gardens benefit you and your environment:

Energy Efficiency: Roof gardens absorb a lot of energy by being on top of a structure. They provide natural noise and thermal heat insulation, thereby cutting down on utility bills. Plus, since the foliage itself needs water and sun, they actually retain twice as much rainfall and sun. What this means for you is less water runoff, and therefore less flooding; and in bigger cities this decreases the excess heat caused by urban heat islands. Roof gardens actually cool places off to a certain degree.

Creates Space: By utilizing the space on top of a structure or building, you then have more room in your own backyard for other projects. Also, if you live in a city, roof gardens are one of your only chances to grow plant life away from the noise and pollution of city streets.

Provides for Nature: Not only do rooftop gardens add to your own peace and tranquility through their special beauty, they also improve the natural environment by providing wildlife habitats (something people in the city may lack). Plus, due to the extra foliage these gardens also re-oxygenate the air and retain harmful toxins, allowing your home and neighborhood to reap the natural benefits.

ROOFTEC-LLC and ROOFGUARD-LLC has been installing commercial roofing systems for over 30 years. We have the solutions you are looking for if you desire a new commercial roof or need a re-roof. ROOFTEC-LLC only uses the best products and installation practices to insure you have a worry free commercial roof. For more information visit us at. www.rooftec-llc.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our RoofTec-LLC Facebook Page .

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Roof Talk-101 Six Top Frequently Asked Roofing Questions

Q: How do I know when my roof has failed?

A: The following may indicate that your roof needs replacing:

Missing, cracked or curling shingles
Blistering or peeling paint
Shingle, sheathing or siding decay
Leakage in the attic after heavy rains
Stains on interior walls or ceilings
Rotten fascia or soffit
Chimney leaks

Q: How much does a new roof cost?

A: The cost of your roof will depend on its size, shape, slope and the type of material you choose to install. Different roofing materials provide different levels of protection and service life.

Q: Tear off Vs. Roof Over?

A: It is allowed to install a roof over the top of an existing roof. By doing so the current owner of the building can save some money on the roofing project. However, Roofing over another roof does not provide the same quality of roof, or offer the same level of security that a roof system installed when a complete removal was performed.

This is where people say, “Building code, and manufacturers allow it. It must be all right.”

Let’s look how the code officials, and manufacturers look at roof over jobs.

When installing asphalt composite shingles most Building Codes allow for up to 2 layers of asphalt roofing on a structure. The code has nothing to do with shingle performance. It is written in regards to the structural integrity of building, and how much weight it can handle.

Manufacturers also prohibit roofing over an old roof. However if you read the fine print of any roofing manufacturer’s warranty you will find verbiage in their warranty exclusions that say “We will not warrant product failure if roof is installed over a substrate that is not smooth, flat, and clean.” This means that if anything under the roof causes the roof on top to fail, there is no warranty.

Other concerns about roofing over the top of a roof system are:

There is no way to do a thorough roof deck inspection when it is covered by old roofing. This could result in damage being concealed.
It is much more difficult to flash a second layer. If the second layer leaks the water can ride the layer underneath and travel to a different area of the roof. This makes leak detection and correction very difficult.
Shingles are made from Asphalt. The flexibility of Asphalt comes from the natural solvents within it. A second layer can be super-heated in summer months which can cause the shingle to buckle and curl prematurely.
Removal costs in the future will be tremendous due to the extra labor, and escalating landfill rates.

We believe that roofs should be removed so the property can be totally inspected, and any damage can be repaired before a new roof system is applied. If you are considering re-roofing, and are not sure of what your options are contact us for your free inspection.

Q: How long will it take to complete my roof?

A: On average, it takes one to two days . The exceptions are roofs that are larger than average, roofs that need extensive structural repairs, or roofs that require specialty materials.

We arrive on each job site with the manpower, expertise and materials to complete the job in a timely manner. However we will never compromise quality to complete a job more quickly.

Commercial roofs do not have an average time frame due to many varying and complex requirements for commercial buildings. We’ll give you an expected time frame for completion as part of our written proposal.

Q: I have a flat roof, what is the best system?

A: There is no one roof system that is best for all applications. Keep in mind that even if the best materials are used, the roof can still leak if it is installed improperly. Good workmanship and proper attention to detail are just as important as material selection.

Q: How much more is metal?

A: Depending on if you are removing your existing roof, and what it is you are removing metal roofing can be as much as double the cost of a mid-grade asphalt composite. The reason for this is that the materials themselves are typically about twice as much, and the installation of a metal roof can be 3-4 times longer than asphalt composite

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Roof Talk-101 With The New Year Comes A New Beginning.

The slate is wiped clean and we have an opportunity for a fresh start...a "do over." If resolutions sound "too final" call them "tips" for a better 2015.

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.

2. Take a morning walk of gratitude. I call it a "Thank You Walk." It will create a fertile mind ready for success.

3. Make your first meal the biggest and your last meal the smallest. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

4. Zoom Focus. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask: "What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?" Then tune out all the distractions and focus on these actions.

5. Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself. Instead of listening to your complaints, fears and doubts, talk to yourself and feed your mind with the words and encouragement you need to keep moving forward.

6. Choose faith instead of fear. Faith turns adversities and dead-ends into detours to a better outcome than you thought possible.

7. Don't chase dollars or success. Decide to make a difference and build meaningful relationships and success will find you.

8. Get more sleep. You can't replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in your purpose, people and the positive present moment.

10. Build your life and career with the 3 greatest success strategies of all...love, serve & care.

11. Every day focus on your purpose. Remember why you do what you do. We don't get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.

12. Remember there's no such thing as an overnight success. There's no substitute for hard work.

13. Believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. If you are complaining, you're not leading.

15. Read more books than you did in 2014.

16. Don't seek happiness. Instead decide to live with passion and purpose and happiness will find you.

17. Focus on "Get to" vs "Have to." Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:

I am thankful for __________.

Today I accomplished____________.

19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Roof Talk-101 Benefits Of A Cool Roof

A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one.

Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roofs use solar-reflective surfaces to maintain lower roof temperatures. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50°F cooler.

BENEFITS OF COOL ROOFS

A cool roof can benefit a building and its occupants by:

Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs
Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned
Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life.

Beyond the building itself, cool roofs can also benefit the environment, especially when many buildings in a community have them. Cool roofs can:

Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect)
Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages
Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Roof Talk-101 Picking A Cool Roof: SRI Index Is Key

Most roofing industry experts agree that a cool roof is one that exhibits a combination of high reflectivity and high emissivity. But the questions have always been how high is high and what combination of the two yields the most benefit?

One way to make a decision is to use the Solar Roof Index (SRI) to evaluate a cool roof. The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED 2.2 uses SRI as a way to evaluate a cool roof. LEED version 2.2 is the first national specification to use a relatively new measure of reporting a cool roof’s properties. LEED 2.2 sustainable sites credit 7.2 states that to receive one point, building owners should use a roof with a Solar Reflective Index (SRI) of 78 over at least 75 percent of the roof’s surface for roofs with slopes less than 2:12.

SRI is a unit developed by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. SRI incorporates reflectivity and emissivity properties into one, easy-to-read, standardized measure so that roof buyers won’t have to scratch their heads and try to figure out if a high reflectivity and low emissivity is better or worse than a medium reflectivity and high emissivity.

SRI is calculated with a complex formula spelled out in ASTM E 1980 and is a scale of 1 to 100 that is a measure of a roof’s combined thermal properties. It is defined so that a standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and a standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. But some hot roofs can have negative values, and some white thermoplastics and white roof coatings have scored as high as 104 to 110.

SRI as a method for reporting cool roof data will probably take a little while to catch on. Most manufacturers still report separate emissivity and reflectivity data in their literature, but the Cool Roof Rating Council, an organization that verifies and labels cool roofing products has begun using the measure, while retaining reflectivity and emissivity measurements.

Different roofing technologies have different SRI values. Asphalt coatings for example have aluminum pigments added to asphalt cutbacks and emulsions to give coatings solar reflectance index (SRI) values of 21-30 on a scale of 0-100.

Acrylic elastometers on the other hand, a new-generation coatings, have a highly reflective surface, often with an SRI greater than 100. Most highly reflective acrylic elastomers are white, and workers can install them over existing bituminous or non-bituminous roofing. Acrylic elastomers typically are specified at 12 mils for five-year warranties and at 20 mils for 10-year warranties. Some manufacturers specify up to 40 mil applications.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Roof Talk-101 How to Maintain and Repair A Wood Shingle Roof

Just a reminder, keeping your gutters clear of debris and removing hanging branches near the roof will help keep your shingles in top shape.

Clean moss, lichen, and molds with a solution of water and chlorine bleach or other solvent.

But what if your wood shingle roof needs repairs?

Types of Wood Roofs

First of all, there are two basic kinds of wood roofs. Shingles are smooth. Shakes are rough-hewn and rustic. They come in varying lengths, and are typically 16, 18, or 24 inches long. Most are made from red cedar, which is durable and resists insect damage. Sometimes manufacturers use preservative-treated pine or other woods. Maintenance and repair for both types are the same.

Whatever type you choose, when you first have your roof installed be sure to keep a bundle of shingles that can be used for future repairs.

Commercially Available Treatments

If you protect your wood roof with a commercially available treatment, it will last longer. Left unprotected, a wood roof will begin to decay within ten years; but could last as long as 30 years with proper treatment.

Home improvement stores carry a variety of products for this. Each comes with its own specific directions, and it is important to follow those explicitly. You will typically get the best protection if you dip the shingles into the solution, or apply the treatment with a brush for maximum coverage.

Curled Shingles

If your wood shingle curls away from the roof, it can usually be flattened and reattached.

If the shingle is brittle (as often happens in cold weather), you must soften first. Do this by using a propane torch with a flame spreader nozzle. Use it to warm the curled edges; of course be careful not to burn them!
Once they are warm, you should be able to easily flatten the edges and reattach the shingle with asphalt roof cement. Apply roof cement generously to each corner and press back into place.
Use a brick or other heavy object to hold the shingle flat while the roof cement sets.

Repair a Cracked Shingle

It is better to repair small cracks than to replace the shingle.

To fix a crack that is smaller (under ¼ inch), first pull out loose splinters.
Now only the large pieces remain. Nail the large pieces down with galvanized roofing nails, being careful not to drive the nail heads into the shingle; that will damage the shingle surface.
Cover the crack and the nail heads with roofing cement.
For cracks wider than ¼ inch, you will need to use a sheet metal patch. Drive a piece of sheet metal under the crack of the shingle, until the top of the metal reaches past the upper edge of the crack.
Nail the shingle pieces down with galvanized roofing nails, being careful not to drive the nail heads into the shingle, which will damage the shingle surface. Cover the crack and nail heads with roofing cement.
Remove shingles that cannot be repaired
Remove pieces of broken shingle that can be chiseled out or pulled out with your fingers. When you pull, move in a down and out motion to avoid damaging other shingles.
Use a hacksaw to cut nails that held the broken shingle. Cut them even with the sheathing or wood slats. You will probably have to pry the shingle above it up enough to get all the nails. Be careful you don’t crack the good shingle.
Completely remove the broken shingle and then use the hacksaw to remove the nails that secured it, being careful of the decking underneath.
Cut a replacement shingle, making it approximately 3/8 inch narrower than the empty space. This allows the shingle to expand when it gets wet. Drive in the replacement shingle using a wood block and hammer. Nail it down and cover any exposed nail heads with roofing cement.