5 Star Roofing Contractors That Specializing In Commercial Roofs
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Proactive/preventive maintenance how building owners can save big money
Proactive/preventive maintenance – It is mind boggling how owners can have these tremendous investments and look past protecting that interest. Being a roofing contractor I have seen little attention given to keeping the exterior of the building maintained through a proactive approach. For the most part it is a react and repair approach, spend the money if there is a problem. It’s amazing to see the remarkable amounts of money spent to fix and upgrade the interior of a building to draw the clients in and the exterior, other than paint and landscaping is ignored.
Being proactive in the maintenance of the roof, will save them time, aggravation and money. Water, although very important to our lives is not a friend to the building. Leaks will damage or destroy the interior components that you see, lights, ceiling tile, drywall, floors, furniture and so on, these will, of course all need to be corrected at a cost. The interior visible damage is a major cost, but what can be more concerning, more damaging and far more costly is the unseen water entrapped in the roof and walls. Water undetected into these areas can cause structural damages to the roof deck, structural supports. It can cause masonry walls to bulge, spalding brick and have joint failure, causing further damage to lintels failures above windows. These issues could be a huge financial burden.
A proactive maintenance program puts them in control. It allows them to correct little problems, with little expense, before they become big problems with huge expenses. It will save them the aggravation of assessing the problem, chasing for available contractors and most of all, dealing with upset tenants.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Taking Roof Maintenance to the Next Step
The initial cost of a roof system is typically 10 percent of
the total building cost. However, over the life span the building the roof
could account for nearly 60 percent of the building’s total maintenance costs.
This provides roofing contractors with an opportunity to become one of the
building owner’s most valuable allies. In today’s economic environment, it has
become more critical that the roofing contractor provide maintenance services
beyond repairing leaks. The roof maintenance program must now also extend the
service life of the existing roof system to provide the owner with an extended
period in which proper finances for replacement can be obtained.
Roofing contractors that are able to provide these services
will be able to help their owner clients get the maximum value out of existing
roofs. It will also put them in the perfect position to handle the roof
replacement project when the time comes.
Extending Service Life
The most important reason to conduct roof maintenance is to
extend the service life of the existing roof system. Comprehensive repairs
extend the service life of the roof system and provide cost savings to the
owner. The maintenance program provides the establishment of a proactive
posture in the detection and avoidance of leaks and other roofing problems
instead of just reacting when a problem occurs. Problems are addressed at their
initial stages, minimizing and preventing damage from leaks to interior furnishings,
equipment, building materials and finishes. In this way, the owner avoids
expenditures for such items as deck damage repair and associated costs
resulting from reactive maintenance. Specific maintenance guidelines are
developed based on the profile of the roof systems in place.
Minor problems can be detected at their initial stages and
corrected before they become severe, extensive problems. The building owner
should view roof maintenance operations they way they view mortgage insurance.
A manageable yearly expense could provide the dividends of a roof system that
meets or exceeds its anticipated service life. For instance, a properly
maintained 20-year roof system should protect the interior operations of the
building for the full twenty years; any service life beyond this time could be
considered free money to the owner.
Similar to preventive maintenance on manufacturing
equipment, once the roof system has extended its depreciated service life, the
owner receives a return on expenditures. Every year that the roof system is
extended is an additional year that the owner does not have to expand a
substantial expense for remedial roof construction.
Long-Term Savings
Building owners often lack sufficient in-house expertise for
optimizing the service life of their roofs. Their main concern, quite
naturally, is in conducting their primary business to which the buildings are
ancillary. More often than not, roof maintenance is fragmented, decentralized,
reactive, and it consists of doing too much too early, or too little, too late.
The theory of “don’t fix it unless it’s broken” results in missed opportunities
to add years of useful service life to roofs.
Roof maintenance, though perhaps the most significant
expenditure in maintaining buildings, is seldom approached systematically and
logically. Too often, roof maintenance expenditures are made by individuals
lacking the tools and information necessary to arrive at appropriate and
cost-effective decisions. Without proper guidelines, information, and assurances,
a significant percentage of roof dollars can be wasted.
A proper roof maintenance program will provide the building
owner with a systematic approach to controlling and budgeting roof maintenance
dollars. The primary goal of the program should be to direct the owners roofing
dollars where they will do the most good. The owner should realize both
short-term and long-term returns. The owner should also have a clear and
verifiable system of allocating the money that they are currently spending on
their roofs and have a practical understanding of what they are getting for
their money.
All warranties provided by roof material manufacturers
expressly state that the building owner is required to complete maintenance of
the roof system throughout its service life. The absence of proper maintenance
may be grounds for warranty nullification. Read the fine print of the warranty
and clarify with the manufacturer what they consider to be maintenance items.
Removal of the existing roofing due to poor workmanship or material failure
should not be construed as maintenance and should be covered under the
manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to maintenance, the building owner is
required to contact the manufacturer when any alterations or additions are
completed in the warranted roof areas.
Recommendations
While the weathering process of roof systems cannot be
arrested, certain administrative actions, combined with technological
advancements in roof maintenance, can amount to a major step in controlling
roofing dollars. Achieving controlled maintenance of the building’s major
protective system - the roof - can lead to savings in energy expenditures and
increased success in the maintenance of structural components of the facility.
The following five broad recommendations encompass the
fundamental elements of an effective approach in the maintenance of roofing
assemblies:
1. Maintain an adequate level of in-house expertise to
diagnose maintenance and corrective action requirements, or develop an
administrative process for obtaining adequate expert support.
2. Keep a suitable inventory of the roof’s material and
system information to ensure proper materials and procedures are used in roof
maintenance.
3. Take advantage of new maintenance materials. Many have
more universal applications than conventional materials. Also, new moisture
detection systems, including handheld moisture meters and infrared cameras, can
be used to assist in the analysis of problems.
4. Be proactive to keep the roof functioning and prevent
damage to structural or mechanical systems.
5. Set up a monitoring system that verifies repairs are
being properly completed. Document and maintain a record of all work done on
the roof (with photographs)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Top 10 Mistakes in Purchasing a New Roof
1. Shopping price only.
The price of a roofing repair or install will vary depending
on the size and location of your home. If you shop around for prices and notice
that a company is well below the average, there may be a reason why. Cost alone
will not determine quality. Professionalism and quality workmanship should also
weigh heavily on your decision.
What is the total price of the job? Does this include sales
tax? When are the payments due? Does the price include removal of the old roof?
Any hidden costs?
Some smaller roofing companies may require a small deposit
at the start of work. Most of the contracted amount should only be due after
all of the work is completed in a satisfactory manor. Do not issue full payment
for the job until all work has been completed. Lengthy projects may require
progress payments, be sure the amount does not exceed the value of the work
performed.
* Check the insurance of every company doing work at your
home. A company should carry both workers’ compensation and liability
insurance. Because of the dangers inherent in working on the roof, workers’
compensation and liability insurance are a significant cost to a roofing
company. Since the cost of the insurance is high, some companies do not carry
it. This practice is a shortcut some companies take to underbid the
competition.
2. Basing your buying decision on the quickest to respond or
because a company can “start right away”.
A company that is too quick to respond may not have enough
business. (Why?)
Things to consider:
How long has this company been in business? You want to make
sure that this company will still be around in case you have problems with your
roof.
Number of years of roofing experience for installers?
Safety record?
Make sure the company is licensed, bonded and insured in
your area. (get license number)
Insurance? Don’t hesitate to ask the roofing contractor for
proof of insurance. In fact, insist on seeing copies of his liability coverage
and worker’s compensation certificates. Be sure the coverage runs through the
duration of the job.
Does the company offer references of past work? Obtain
customer references and check them. Ask about the company’s stability,
reputation, record on completing jobs on time and quality of work performed.
Check out all companies with your local Better Business
Bureau (www.bbb.org)
Do they offer a maintenance program?
Make sure you get a contract. Insist on a written proposal
and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications,
including tasks the roofer will perform, types of materials, financial arrangements,
and guarantees.
3. Getting a discount for signing the contract “tonight” or
other high-pressure sales tactics.
This forces the homeowner to make a quick decision, so as
not to miss the “unbeatable price.” No matter how good the price may seem, do
not buy a roof from a company that asks you to make a decision before you are
ready. Granted, recent hurricanes have caused uncertainty in building materials
availability and pricing, however a reputable company will have relationships
and access to quality products for 2 or more weeks from the time they provide
you with a quote. There is an outside chance that a contractor may have a
“sudden” opening in their work schedule and offer an incentive to keep their
crews working, however the more reputable companies do not have a significant
amount of discount or wiggle room in their cost. If they offer more than a 10%
discount, one might question their margins in the first place. Additionally,
some companies will more heavily incent their salespeople to get a contract
signed the same day. The quicker the sale, the higher the commission. The
bottom line is, take your time when making any large purchase, such as a new
roof. Do your homework, talk to references, and sign when you are comfortable
that you’ve made the right choice.
4. Signing the deal because you like the sales person (or
not signing it because you don’t).
Although you may feel a certain comfort level with a sales
person, it should not be your sole reason for making a purchase. A truly good
sales person will know their products and the overall installation process very
well, which should give you a level of confidence. However, the sales person is
not the one who will be doing the roof repair or installation. Find out who
will, and their experience. Ask for references and ask to see examples of
similar installations. Be weary of a sales person who cannot provide real
references from CURRENT customers.
5. A deal too good to be true probably is – check:
Quality of the materials? Have your contractor list the
roofing manufacturers with which his firm has licensed or approved applicator
agreements. Most materials require special application expertise in order to
achieve a quality roof system that will last. Quality materials will be backed by
a manufacturers warranty as well.
What is the warranty? Both quality materials AND quality
workmanship/installation should come with their own warranties. Ask what
warranties are available for both.
Hidden costs? In addition to the cost of labor and
materials, ask if there are any hidden additional costs, such as old roof
removal, dumpster rental, heavy equipment rental (e.g. a crane to lift heavy
materials such as slate onto a high rooftop), and plywood replacement (for
unknown/hidden rotten wood beneath old shingles).
References? A reputable company will be able to provide
recent references in the general vicinity of your home, or for an installation
similar to yours. Get the reference and actually make the call!
6. Purchasing the roof based on warranty alone.
The length of a roofing warranty should not be the primary
criterion in the selection of a roofing product or system. The warranty does
not necessarily provide assurance of satisfactory roofing performance. (source:
nrca.net)
Make sure that the warranty covers all materials and
workmanship. Some roof warranties require you to have at least semi-annual
maintenance inspections. Look for manufacturers’ warranties that provide full
coverage for labor and materials.
According to a consumer advisory bulletin by the NRCA,
consumers are wise to look for manufacturers who clearly and specifically state
in accompanying literature and warranty verbiage what maintenance is not only
recommended but also required during the projected service life of the roof and
its warranty term.
There is a common misconception by roofing consumers that
long-term warranties are all-inclusive insurance policies designed to cover
virtually any roofing problem, regardless of the cause or circumstance. Roof
warranties typically do not warrant that the roof system will not leak or is
suitable for the project where it is installed. Even the most comprehensive
manufacturer warranties that cover material and workmanship generally provide
only that the manufacturer will repair leaks that result from specific causes
enumerated in the warranty. A material-only warranty typically provides only
that the manufacturer will provide replacement material. (source: nrca.net)
You can compare manufacturers’ warranties with the roofing
materials guides published annually by the NRCA (National Roofing Contractors
Association).
7. Using contractors with no office staff.
There is no shortage of contractors running one or two-man
shops in any town. While they may be fine for smaller jobs, when you are making
a large home improvement investment, beware of any contractor who you cannot
get in touch with during normal business hours. A reputable company will have
an office staff available to answer any scheduling, materials or billing
questions you may have. If you call a contractor and consistently get an
answering machine, know what you may be getting yourself into. If you have
difficulty reaching them when you are going through the estimating process,
where will they be if you have a problem?
8. Mistaking advertising for quality.
Look in any value-pack mailer, coupon clipper magazine or
even radio and television and you’ll see and hear many companies in your area
vying for your business. While it may be impressive that they have the means to
advertise in high-priced media, do not mistake advertising for quality. There
is nothing wrong with finding a company through the media, but do as you would
with any major purchase – do your homework. Compare pricing, check references,
and check workmanship. A reputable contractor will provide you with access to
all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
9. Having a friend do the work.
Having a friend — one that is not a licensed roofing
contractor working for a reputable roofing company –is wrought with
uncertainty. Even if this person is “handy”, have they ever installed a roofing
system? Do they know what areas of a roof are most vulnerable and why? Do they
know how to properly ventilate the roof? No to mention, any work done by an
unlicensed contractor will not include a warranty. The cost of roofing repairs
may be high and you don’t want to commit to such a major investment without a
warranty.
10. Doing the work yourself.
Big box retailers will tell you that you can do it (and they
can help!), but beware! Roofing in particular is tricky business. There are
obvious safety issues, as well as structural installation issues that should
only be performed by a licensed professional. Professional roofing contractors
are trained to safely and efficiently repair or replace a roof. Novices can
harm a roof with improper roofing techniques and severely injure themselves by
falling off or even through a roof in need of repair of replacement. Homeowner
maintenance should be confined to roof inspections in both the fall and spring
to check for cracked or curling shingles, and to cleaning rain gutters filled
with dead leaves and other debris. If you must see the roof for yourself, use a
firmly braced or tied-off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet. Wear
rubber-soled shoes and stay on the ladder (and off the roof) if possible.
Basic Procedure On A Roof Replacement Project | Business, Health, Lifestyle Articles
Basic Procedure On A Roof Replacement Project | Business, Health, Lifestyle Articles
Replacing your roof is an essential part of maintaining your house
Friday, November 25, 2011
Called “cool roofs” Thermoplastic single-ply roofing membranes are among the fastest growing commercial roofing products
Thermoplastic single-ply roofing membranes are among the fastest growing commercial roofing products and have gained broad industry acceptance for their many performance and installation advantages. As demand increases for heat-reflective and energy efficient roofing systems, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply roofing membranes continue to provide exceptional resistance to ultraviolet, ozone and chemical exposure
Suitable for a variety of low slope commercial roofing applications, TPO is a sustainable roofing solution a wide range of building types.TPO also offers design options with membranes available in reflective white, tan or gray, which can help reduce a building’s cooling requirements. White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes meet the new version of the California Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24). These standards define cool roofs in California to have a minimum three-year aged reflectance of 0.55 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75 for low-sloped nonresidential buildings.
Called “cool roofs” for their abilit y to reflect the sun’s energy, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofs coupled with insulation are an ideal commercial roofing system because of their performance, reliability and their ability
to significantly reduce the roof’s surface temperature. The light-colored roofing membrane increases in door comfort and saves on electricity bills by reducing the cost of air conditioning. Compared to PVC roofing, TPO has better puncture resistance , especially against hail, is environmentally friendlier and also costs less. Call today for a free estimate.
Suitable for a variety of low slope commercial roofing applications, TPO is a sustainable roofing solution a wide range of building types.TPO also offers design options with membranes available in reflective white, tan or gray, which can help reduce a building’s cooling requirements. White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes meet the new version of the California Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24). These standards define cool roofs in California to have a minimum three-year aged reflectance of 0.55 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75 for low-sloped nonresidential buildings.
Called “cool roofs” for their abilit y to reflect the sun’s energy, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofs coupled with insulation are an ideal commercial roofing system because of their performance, reliability and their ability
to significantly reduce the roof’s surface temperature. The light-colored roofing membrane increases in door comfort and saves on electricity bills by reducing the cost of air conditioning. Compared to PVC roofing, TPO has better puncture resistance , especially against hail, is environmentally friendlier and also costs less. Call today for a free estimate.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Information About Estimates Roofing Contractors
Estimates are something you have to endure when deciding which roofing company you will use for your roof repair needs. Maybe a couple years ago during a heavy storm you found a few shingles in your yard that had blown lose in the heavy winds.
Maybe you collected the shingles, climbed up on top of your roof, and nailed them back into place as best you could. Everything was fine for a couple years, but recently you have noticed your shingles are curling up around the edges, and so many have been flying off your house on a regular basis that there are too many to nail back into place.
Not to mention the leak in the kitchen every time it rains. It is time to stop asking, how can I repair my damaged roof? It’s time for a new roof.
Since it is time for you to get a new roof, you decide to go onto the internet and enter the search words: fix my roof. And you try: repair my damaged. You end up getting a giant list of local roofing companies ready and willing to charge you a lot of money for their roof repair services.
The truth is, whenever you are about to tell a roofing company, fix my roof, you are probably going to be investing a decent amount of money into your home. While that money is certainly going to be well-spent (everybody needs a solid roof over their heads), you do want to try and find the best value for your money possible.
Get multiple estimates and call their references
After opening the yellow pages, and after searching the Internet, plan to select at least three different companies to come out to your house and provide you with an estimate. But before you spend any face-time with these companies, ask for at least five references, and call all of them.
Also, do not forget to take advantage of friends for possible recommendations about which companies they have used for roof repair. Lastly, estimates should be free and you should never have to pay for one.
Once you have called all the references and you have five roof estimates from five reputable companies, compare them. Consider whether or not the representative from the company showed up to the appointment on time. Consider the professionalism of the staff at the office when you contacted them, and decide whether or not you would enjoy working with this company.
Finally, compare the cost of the bids, but do be tempted to make your decision by cost alone. Perhaps the bid from your favorite company was a little bit more expensive than another company, but the representative was excellent and all the references were glowing. If that is the case, you might want to let your preferred company know about the lower price and see if they are willing to match it. You might even want to consider paying a little more for the better company.
Get your estimate in writing.
After you have decided which company you want to work with, do not agree to let them begin work until you have locked in the price of the estimate by getting it in writing. Also, do not give the roofing company any money in advance, and do not pay them until they have completed the roof repair work to your satisfaction.
Go with the best company you can find.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
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