How to choose a metal roof

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4 Ways to protect yourself from bad roofing companies

Posted on March 26, 2014 by CCFC
Sotrm damage repair in Texas, Oklahoma, and other states the treat of bad storms brings out the worst in some companies. If you have roof damage or need a roof replaced make sure you know what to look for to ensure you get a reputable company and a quality roof. Here are the top four ways to choose a quality Roofing Company for your home.
1) Don’t use storm chasing companies- The most important thing to consider when choosing a roofing company to roof your house is to make sure they are local. When storms strike in your area storm chasers will come from out of state to try and make a quick buck. They great warranty they talk about doesn’t mean a thing if they are off to the next storm. These companies typically roof as many houses as they can and then move on to the next community.
2) Check the businesses Better Business Bureau Record- Just because a business is a member of the BBB doesn’t mean they have a honorable record with the BBB. Check their report and rating on the BBB site to see if they have had any complaints. You should also make sure the business is a member of your local BBB. The storm chasers might be members of the BBB but they could be members of the BBB of San Antonio or Minnesota or anywhere. You should again make certain they are local and have been with them for more than a couple months.
3) Solid References- Checking out the references of a business you’re looking to hire is a great way to make sure they are a respectable contractor. Most roofing companies will have plenty of references in your area.
4) The no leak warranty- First of all make sure that you get a no leak guarantee from your roofing company. The standard for the industry is 3 to 5 years. The no leak warranty is only as dependable as the company who gives it. A RED FLAG is when a company offers you anything more than a 5-year no leak warranty. Many storm chaser offer a 10 year no leak warranty making you think that is a honorable deal but they will be gone within a year so it won’t do you any respected. If you think about it if your roof is going to leak because of workman ship that will normally happen in the first year, probably the first honorable rain.




I hope this article will help you select a superior roofing company, so you can get a quality roof.
This entry was posted in Family, General, News.

Restaurant roofs present a couple of unique problems

Restaurant roofs present a couple of unique problems

Check out a very unique product..perfect for restaurant roofs......

Care And Maintenance of a Flat Roof

The best way to avoid roof related problems and strengthen weather resistance on flat roofs is through regular care and preventive maintenance. Proper maintenance also prolongs the life of a roof and in many instances will allow for repair instead of replacement when a problem is identified. The frequency of inspections for routine maintenance will depend on several factors, including the age of the roof, recent weather events, rooftop foot traffic, and conditions identified during previous inspections. That said, scheduling inspections every six months (in the fall and spring) is an effective way to make sure these are not sidetracked by the press of other important tasks.
Call today for a free inspection.

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10 Reasons Roofs Should Be Inspected

Roofs are often said to be like tires. We only think of them when a problem arises, and we only replace them when we absolutely must. But, when we do think of tires and maintain them regularly, we can extend their useful lives. Similarly, we need to ensure that the roof receives the proper maintenance to increase its useful life.
Extending roof life starts with regular inspections. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends inspecting all roofs twice a year: once after the coldest weather, once after the hottest weather. (And it's always a good idea to inspect the roof following any major weather event.) But why should roofs be inspected, and what do we hope to discover by doing so?
All roofs should be inspected whether they are low slope roofs or steep roofs. A low slope roof is one with a slope of less than 3:12 whereas a roof with a slope greater than 3:12 is considered to be a steep roof. All low slope roofs should have at least 2 percent slope, which is approximately 1⁄4-inch per foot.
What follows are ten pieces of advices — or the ten most common reasons — to inspect roofs at least twice per year.
1. Weathering and Aging
The benchmark life for multi-ply bituminous low-slope roofs is 20 to 30 years and approximately 15 to 25 years for most single-ply roofs. All roofs undergo normal weathering and aging, and the effects of those factors are usually visible. As roofs weather and age normally, openings may occur, leading to water infiltration. Regular inspections call attention to weathered areas, and enable an owner to schedule maintenance on these deficiencies to prevent further damage.
2. Routine Maintenance Damage
If your roof is not protected properly, damage can occur from tradespeople performing maintenance on air conditioners and other systems. This sometimes occurs because of trades failing to close mechanical access panels on roofs or leaving refrigerant containers. In addition, maintenance trades often fail to clean up their debris. Items left on roofs can become flying objects in high winds. A regular inspection program incorporates roof cleaning into the ongoing maintenance cycle.
3. Storm Damage
High winds, hail, and other weather events can create damage to roofs that may trigger repairs or insurance claims. Roofs should be inspected immediately following weather events to prevent further damage due to water infiltration. Damage from winds or hail can be slight and require little more than minor maintenance, or the problems can be major and require roof replacement. Insurance loss adjusters have reported that a significant amount of storm damage is actually caused by material, components, or debris blown from roofs in high winds. Tree limbs and branches can fall on roofs creating significant damage. Roof blow-offs start at the perimeter, and when roofs are not properly designed or installed to provide proper perimeter securement, severe damage can occur. Storm damage may require emergency repairs costing even more money.

Regular inspections are a great way to keep the roof in good shape. Among other things, an inspection can help find leaks, drainage problems, and damage from vegetation.

4. Leak Assessment

Leaks after heavy rain are the primary trigger for most inspections. But a leak is only symptomatic of a problem that may have been building for some time. In some cases, if you're looking for a silver lining, a leak is actually good news. That's because without evidence of a roof leak, a festering problem of undetected moisture infiltration may continue to create unseen deterioration, such as rotting wood, mold, wet insulation, or corrosion.

It takes an experienced professional to conduct a thorough leak investigation and diagnosis, because the entry point for moisture may be far away from the visual evidence or detection point. Leaks can be evidence of serious roof problems or minor local issues. Many roofs in excellent condition occasionally have leaks due to minor flashing problems.

As a general rule, low slope roofs rarely leak in the open field of the roof. Leaks tend to occur around discontinuities, such as changes in elevation, penetrations, expansion joints, and flashings. On the other hand, severely deteriorated roofs may not show visible evidence of leakage, particularly over concrete decks where water may migrate a great distance before reaching an entry point through the concrete. When such a condition occurs, damage due to moisture saturation of the roof insulation may be so significant that the roof must be replaced.

5. Proper Drainage

Few characteristics are as important to roof performance as roof slope and drainage. Water standing on a roof increases the likelihood of leaks and moisture infiltration many-fold. Ensuring good drainage is a very important reason for regular roof inspections. Leaves, trash, debris, and thrown objects often clog or obstruct roof drains, thus creating standing water conditions. Regular cleaning of roofs can help remove such obstructions and permit water to drain efficiently, thereby reducing the likelihood of leaks. Moreover, water is heavy — weighing approximately 5 pounds per square foot per inch deep. Poor drainage also accelerates deterioration of roofing materials, leading to a shorter life of the entire roof assembly. If a leak occurs from standing water, insulation can become saturated over a wide area, requiring complete roof replacement.

6. Vegetation Damage

Vegetation can grow on roofs when gutters and other low areas are not cleaned regularly. Birds land and nest on roofs. They also deposit seeds, which promote the growth of vegetation. Gutters are a particular source of vegetation growth because of the accumulation of dirt, seeds, and moisture. In addition, tree branches scraping on roofs during wind can cause significant damage. Gutters should be cleaned regularly, and trees near roofs should be trimmed to prevent contact with roof surfaces.

A further problem with vegetation growth is that roots can penetrate through the roof membrane and create leakage. Root damage to roofs from vegetation can be significant and pervasive. Regular inspection can help draw an owner's attention to a budding problem before further damage is done.

With the roof, out of sight often means out of mind. That's unfortunate, since regular roof inspections can help avoid long term costs. A better strategy is for facility managers to make roof inspections a priority.

7. Roof Cleaning

Regular roof inspections also draw attention to the need for regular roof cleaning. No task can provide a better payback than the low-cost practice of cleaning trash and debris from the roof. A clean roof is less likely to have wind damage. Loose trash and debris not only may cause wind damage in a storm, but trash tends to wash to the low points at drains or gutters. Trash obstructs proper roof drainage and creates leak problems that would otherwise not exist.

8. Security

Thieves often break into buildings through unlocked roof hatches or skylights. Regular inspections can disclose security breaches and enable owners to reduce the likelihood of vandalism or burglary. While a broken skylight is likely to be a source of water leakage, unsecured skylights can also present a security threat.

9. Warranty Repairs

Many owners pay for repairs that are covered under a contractor or manufacturer's roof warranty. Leaks can be caused by many factors, only some of which are covered under a roof warranty. However, when a leak is detected, an owner should have a qualified person perform an inspection to determine whether or not to file a warranty claim. When a roof warranty claim is filed, the contractor or manufacturer will visit the site and make a determination whether the leak or repair is covered. The key for the owner is maintaining possession and ready access to the warranty document, as well as timely filing of the claim.

10. Needed Improvements

Regular inspections highlight the need for continual building improvements, many of which affect the roof. For example, the increased presence of electronic equipment, computers, security systems, and video displays has encouraged many owners to install lightning protection on older buildings.

Roof access is an important provision for all buildings. It is well known in the industry that roofs that are accessible are maintained while roofs that are difficult to access are ignored. Regular inspections are facilitated with improved safe access to roofs. Installing permanent ladders and safety rails around roof hatches greatly facilitates safe access to roofs.

Establishing a schedule for routine roof inspections should be a priority for building owners. Inspections are inexpensive and can provide valuable information that can prevent expensive repairs later. In addition, regular roof inspections provide a checklist for routine maintenance work and enable owners to prepare budgets for future years. Roof inspections are the first step in a proactive roof management program that can help owners have planned and scheduled repairs instead of emergency leak repairs. Few other building maintenance procedures provide a better return on investment than regular roof inspections.

Edis Oliver, PE, is a principal in the Austin, Texas office of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. He is a nationally recognized roofing expert with more than 40 years of experience in the construction and engineering field. Oliver was selected by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas to write the roofing contractor certification manual, titled "Managing a Roofing Company in Texas."

The AWS Ure-A-Sil Roofing System is a premier fluid applied roofing system designed by American WeatherStar (AWS) to restore and protect just about any commercial roofing substrate on the market today. AWS designed the system based on the strengths of the Ure-A-Sil System components.This unique repair system that can easily be added to over time creating a new flat roof system just by repairing part of the existing roof with Ure A Seal.
Our system can be used over almost any existing roof system including Metal roofs, BUR, Concrete roofs, IRMA roofs, PVC roofs, TPO roofs, EPDM roofs, APP roofs and Hypalon roofs. AWS flat roof coating products are perfect for flat and low sloped roofs, even those in the worst condition.

The Ure A Sil system is resistant to animal fats, making our flat roof coating products and systems ideal for restaurant roofs. AWS Ure-A-Sil Roofing System stands up to environmental pollutants, mold, mildew and most chemicals. With AWS Ure-A-Sil Roofing System roof systems, all future penetrations (due to new equipment installation) are easily repaired. Maintenance and HVAC change outs are much simpler and will not affect the waterproofing on a flat roof when sealed with a AWS Ure-A-Sil roof coating system. AWS Ure-A-Sil Roofing Systems are seamless, membrane forming flat roof coating systems so there is never a cold joint when using these coatings to seal new penetrations on a flat roof. AWS Ure-A-Sil Roofing System will also seal HVAC ducts and plenums creating greater energy efficiency in heating and cooling systems.

Roof Top Services - Weatherford, TX - YouTube

Roof Top Services - Wetherford, TX - YouTube

The Emergence of Cool Roofs

   Cool roofing is not a new concept. In the mid-1980s, researchers at DOE national laboratories in Tennessee and California were measuring the energy-saving benefits of “solar radiation control coatings” on test roofs. Although energy savings were confirmed in these early studies, they were not sufficient to lead roofing designers and installers to switch away from traditional dark-colored roofing systems.

   A parallel effort was launched to determine the influence of light-colored roofing products on summer urban heat islands. This research demonstrated that solar reflective roofs, solar reflective pavements, and vegetation could lower urban air temperatures, saving additional energy and improving air quality.

Rolling blackouts during the summer of 2001 motivated California’s public utilities to expand the scope of their peak load management programs. They found that cool roofing reduces peak demand for electricity, helping to lower costs and avoid power outages. Twenty years after DOE initiated its work on cool roofs, these products dominate the commercial roofing marketplace in warm and hot climates, partly because the State of California changed its energy code to prescribe cool roofing for most commercial buildings with low-sloped roofs.

Today, both white and “cool color” products are available for low-slope and steep-slope roofs.

Roofing for residential buildings need not be white; cool colors are available for a number of roofing materials.

Thanks to the reflective nature of the Cool Series Shingles, part of the heat radiating from the sun gets reflected, reducing the heat in the attic, and heat going into the house. It may translate into substantial savings on air conditioning bills.

Cool roofs may save residents an avg. 7-15%** of total cooling costs, depending on geography, structure, and climate. In warmer climates, cooling-cost savings may be greater year round.

A cool roof minimizes the solar heat gain of a building by first reflecting incoming sun rays and then by quickly re-emitting the remaining absorbed portion. As a result, the cool roof stays cooler than a traditional roof of similar construction.

TPO Roofing Systems

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) 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, 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, Firestone UltraPly™ TPO roofing membrane is a sustainable roofing solution for a wide range of building types. UltraPly TPO membrane also offers design options with panels 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.

White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes are listed with the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), and meet or exceed the new Title 24 requirements for low-slope roofing membranes. The listing for white and tan UltraPly TPO membranes can be found on the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) web site.

The flexible, hot-air welded membrane is available in 8′, 10′ and 12′ widths and thicknesses of .045″, .060″ and .080″.

White roofs, aka cool roofs

White roofs, aka cool roofs, are a “hot” topic these days as a means to help stem global warming. Most of us know better than to wear black on a hot day, but when it comes to the roofs on our houses, the temperature often takes a back seat to aesthetics. Dark roofs mean higher air conditioning bills, and higher carbon dioxide emissions as a result. The good news is you can save money and help protect the planet by lightening the color (and therefore the temperature) of your roof, or by switching to a white roof the next time your house needs a new hat.

The Benefits of a White Roof

Switching to a white roof can actually reduce energy use by about 20 percent in hot, sunny weather, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group in Berkeley, Calif. Hashem Akbari, the Heat Island Group’s lead scientist and a professor of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University in Montreal, says that transitioning to reflective roofing and pavements in the world’s urban areas would offset the equivalent of emissions from the planet’s 600 million cars for the next 18 years. A 1,000-square-foot cool roof saves air conditioning use that otherwise would emit about half a ton of carbon dioxide per year. (The average total square footage of a home in the United States is more than 2,000. In urban areas, white roofs also help lower smog levels by lowering local temperatures, which tend to be higher due to the large proportion of paved surfaces.

Critics have suggested white roofs do more harm than good in colder climates. But research shows that the heating benefits of a dark roof in the winter are negligible because the days are shorter, the skies are cloudier, the angle of the sun is low, and sometimes roofs are covered in snow. “The amount of heat savings you may lose in the winter would be, at the maximum, 30 percent of the summertime savings,” Akbari says. “If you need cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, no matter where you are, a white roof will most likely save you money.”

Cool New Roof Options

“Cool” is the buzzword that encompasses a range of roofing materials that can reduce carbon footprints. And cool roofs come in a variety of light colors.The best time to install a cool roof is when a new roof is needed or major roof maintenance is in order. According to researchers, there’s little difference between the cost of roof colors.

Not ready for a new roof but still want to cool down? Install a white roof coating instead. There are a number of coatings that will substantially improve an existing roof’s reflectance/emittance. Plus, coatings protect and seal, potentially extending the life of your roof. The installed cost of coating a roof is about $01.50 to $2.50 per square foot, according to Akbari, which will be paid back by lower energy bills and the extended life of your roof.

Roof Resources

A cool roof is measured by two properties: reflectance (the ability of the product to reflect energy away from the roof) and thermal emittance (the roof’s ability to radiate absorbed heat). Ideally, you want your roof to be high in both.

The Heat Island Group has developed a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) to rate cool roofs. You can browse the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Cool Roofing Materials Database for information about a product you’re considering. The Heat Island Group says an SRI rating of 30 percent or higher for sloped roofs (70 percent or higher for flat roofs) can reduce utility bills.  The Cool Roof Rating Council also offers a product directory; just click on “Rated Products Directory.”

Federal and state rebates are available; check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for details specific to your project. Also call your utility company to check for local programs. “This will not be the silver bullet that solves the global warming problem,” Akbari says. “But it cools your home, cools your community and helps cool the globe while putting money in your pocket.”

By Amanda Kimble-Evans 

February/March 2010

Solar power for no money down? Colorado homebuyers like it

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Don't let your roof leak

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