Roof Talk-101 WHAT TO DO AFTER A STORM

Roof Talk-101  WHAT TO DO AFTER A STORM

If your roof is leaking, it is important to prevent additional interior damages. Oftentimes, hail and wind storm damage is difficult to gauge from the ground. What appears to homeowners as minor damage, such as one or two shingles missing, will compound into total roof damage down the road. 

SIGNS OF HAIL STORM DAMAGE

Hail, in most instances, does not cause damaged roofs to leak immediately, unless it is golf ball size or bigger. Although damage is often difficult to see from the ground, there are definitely tell-tale signs a homeowner can look for to determine if their roof suffered hail damage.

The first thing you can check for is granule loss, noticeable around the gutter downspouts and the valleys of your roof. Although some granulation loss is normal, hail storm damage causes this problem to accelerate.

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Even pea- sized hail stones can cause significant granule loss, which will dramatically decrease the lifespan of your roof. Hail voids most manufacturers shingle warranties, leaving you unprotected and vulnerable to future financial losses.

SIGNS OF WIND STORM DAMAGE

The evidence for wind damage can range from missing shingles, which can be seen from the ground, to lifted shingles with broken glue seals. Asphalt shingles adhere to one another utilizing a strip of adhesive called a glue strip or sealant strip. When High winds break this seal, debris and dirt are blown into this glue area. This is like taking a piece of tape, running it along the floor, then turning around and trying to stick it to the wall, only having it fall back to the ground.

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These shingles will often not re-seal. It is very important to have a qualified roofer inspect your home or business after any major windstorm to assess damage.

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101  How to Prepare a Commercial Roof for a Hurricane

Lisa Barth-GAF

It’s not just homeowners who need to be worried when a hurricane hits. Commercial roofs are also vulnerable to damage and need to be properly maintained to withstand strong winds and heavy rains. Below are key areas a building owner or facility manager needs to address before extreme weather hits to ensure a commercial property is ready for a storm’s wrath.

The main areas where a low-slope roof system could fail in a storm include the perimeter, corners, seams, and flashing areas, such as A/C units, vents, windows, and doors. These weak openings could be compromised by the elements and can contribute to wind uplift, so prevention is key. Before a storm hits, it’s important to:

• Inspect and clean drains and gutters on the building
• Remove or tie down any loose items that could blow off a roof, like antennas or AC units
• Cover skylights and glass openings with plywood to prevent leaking or breakage
• Remove garbage cans, signs that swing or are portable, and anything else around the building that could become a dangerous projectile
• Take photos on the roof (and around the property), so you can show the conditions before and after a storm, which will help if you need to make an insurance claim for damages.

Make sure you review your insurance coverage, have a building evacuation plan in place, and keep equipment and supplies on hand such as sandbags, plywood, tape, and saws. An emergency generator is also helpful to install if power outages occur. As a building owner, communication is key in making sure everyone is notified and aware of any unsafe conditions on the premises.

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101 The Damage of Hurricanes to Your Home

Roof Talk-101  The Damage of Hurricanes to Your Home

Your home is one of your biggest assets and should be properly taken care of to maximize its useful lifetime.  Maintaining a sturdy home that is protected from the unexpected can be incredibly difficult, especially in the case of a natural disaster.  One storm that can be extremely destructive is a hurricane and if you are not properly prepared, it can do serious damage that will leave you with many expensive repairs.

From uprooting trees, knocking over power lines, and severe flooding, hurricanes are a force to be reckoned with.  Broken up into five categories by wind speed, hurricanes will do damage to your home at any level.  So let’s break it down by each category to get an idea of what kind of issues you might run into during this wrecking ball of a storm.

Category 1: Speeding Ticket

When a hurricane is ranked as a Category 1 storm, you can expect to see wind speeds anywhere from 74-95 mph.  That’s enough to earn you a speeding ticket. At a Category 1, the damages will be minor with the potential for small trees to be uprooted from the ground and branches snapping off of trees.  Power outages are also very common in this category; lasting several days and leaving you feel like you are back in the Dark Ages.

Category 2: The Baseball Pitch

At this level, wind speeds reach anywhere from 96-110 mph, comparable to the average MLB pitch, and cause moderate damage to your property.  You will see the damages of a Category 1 hurricane as well as small trees uprooted from the ground, leading to property damage and road blockage.  A well constructed home will most likely have roof, gutter, and siding issues, where they will be loosened and can detach from your house.

Category 3: Tennis Serve

Now the wind speeds are really picking up, and are equivalent to the speed of Venus Williams’ tennis serve, ranging from 111-129 mph. The Category 3-5 hurricanes are considered major threats.  At this level, your roof deck can be ripped off – that’s your base of the roof, not just the shingles.  You can also expect electricity and water outages well after the storm passes.  Flooding will make its way inland from the coast, causing water damage to your basement and first floor.

Category 4: Race Car

At this level, the hurricane will show catastrophic damage from wind speeds of 130-156 mph – enough to win the 2006 Italian Grand Prix.  You can expect your roof and siding to completely detach from your house.  Large trees will be uprooted and power lines will be knocked down leaving blocked roadways and keep you from any means of transportation.  Between the power outages, blocked roadways, and severe flooding, your community may be uninhabitable months after the storm. 

Category 5: Not Quite The Speed of Light

At this category, the hurricane is extremely dangerous and has wind speed of 157+ mph.  It is advised to take shelter and not be anywhere in the vicinity of a Category 5 Hurricane.  At this point, your house is at high risk of compete destruction.  Catastrophic damages will occur to you property and the community leaving you homeless for months.

Hurricanes are so destructive due to the combination of high winds and heavy rainfall.  It is important to be fully prepared for a hurricane and its aftermath.  Storms can be tricky to predict, so do not underestimate the power of being prepared and continually working on your home’s maintenance.  At the time you might dread the hurricane precautions, but these precautions could be the difference between a repairable house and complete destruction.

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101The Death and Life of Helicopter Commuting

Fifty years ago, a helicopter company called New York Airways whisked passengers from the rooftop of the iconic Pan Am Building in midtown Manhattan to any city airport in just 10 minutes. Unlike most private charters nowadays, which can cost thousands of dollars per trip, the scheduled service was frequent and relatively affordable—as little as $40 in today’s dollars.

The era of rooftop helicopter travel ended on May 16, 1977, however, when an idling Sikorsky S-61’s landing strut gave way and the aircraft tipped over. Four passengers waiting in line were killed by the rotor blades, and a fifth person 800 feet below died when shrapnel fell to Madison Avenue.

But a new chapter in short-distance airborne commuting may be on the horizon. A startup called BLADE is using ride-sharing technology of the Uber variety to make a helicopter rush-hour feasible again. Wrapped in a sophisticated brand that harkens back to the golden age of 1960s commercial travel, BLADE is expanding its presence in major American cities and will soon go abroad as well.In the wake of this gruesome disaster, the rooftop heliport was shuttered and New York Airways filed for bankruptcy two years later. Since the carrier’s demise, other ventures have attempted to replicate the scheduled service model without success. Concerns about noise and safety along Manhattan’s now-populated waterfront have caused the city to restrict air traffic in recent years, further curtailing attempts to scale helicopter service.

Further into the future, aviation technologists are looking to something called e-VTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) that could revolutionize short-distance transit in congested cities like New York. Although these nimble, battery-powered rotorcraft are highly experimental, they’ve attracted the attention of well-heeled Silicon Valley investors, including Google’s Larry Page. It’s been decades since the rooftop tragedy and Pan Am’s name vanished from the building long ago, but if e-VTOL takes off, companies like BLADE could pick up where New York Airways left off—introducing a new era of convenient airborne shuttle service. As New York City’s traffic and transit infrastructure continues its slow-motion collapse, the prospect of commuting at 1000 feet seems more attractive than ever

Roof Talk-101  What’s a Heating Degree Day?

Martin Grohman  

Director of Sustainability for GAF

Whenever the subject of cool roofing or energy savings comes up, the next topic is usually Heating or Cooling Degree Days, and there seems to be a lot of confusion about what these mean.  It’s tempting to think that a Heating Degree Day is a day on which you need to turn on the heat, and a Cooling Degree Day is a day on which you need to turn on the air conditioning, but that is not the case.

So let me dive right in:  a heating degree day is a way of summarizing the annual heating (or cooling, in the case of Cooling Degree Days) requirements in a particular climate.  This is a complex sounding concept that is actually quite simple.  On a heating degree day (HDD), the temperature falls below a standard “comfortable” temperature (usually 65° F) so a building or home needs to be heated to maintain the target temperature; and a cooling degree day is one where the temperature is above that target, requiring cooling.  Turning climate data into a heating degree day or cooling degree day is a matter of simple math.  If the average temperature on a given day is 80°F, the building needs to be cooled 15°F to reach the target 65°F.  That day would be counted as 15 cooling degree days (CDD).

Another example: consider a typical New York City winter day with high of 40°F and low of 30°F, for an average temperature of 35°F.  This one day would generate 65 – 35 = 30 Heating Degree Days.  A month of similar days would accumulate 900 Heating Degree Days, which gives you an idea how HDD can be added over periods of time to provide a rough estimate of seasonal heating requirements. In the course of a heating season, for example, the number of HDD for New York City is 5,050 whereas that for Barrow, Alaska is 19,990.  Barrow doesn’t have any more days in the year, it just has lower average temperatures!

Average daily temperatures tend to vary farther to the low side, particularly overnight.  Because of this effect, it is common even for warmer climates to have more HDD than CDD.  Some would argue that in any climate where HDD exceeds CDD, a cool roof does not make sense, but that is not correct.  That’s because building occupants and services generate internal heat, and with conventional equipment, cooling is generally more expensive than heating.

There are a number of online resources where you can find heating and cooling degree data for climate stations around the country.  Or, you can just log into the free GAF Cool Roof Energy Savings Tool (“CREST”), which taps into HDD and CDD data for you automatically and helps you compare roofing assemblies to better determine what is right for your project.

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101   Vast Majority of U.S. Homes Are Under Insulated

It’s hard to believe but 90% of existing American homes are under insulated. That means 90% of existing American homes are wasting money, energy and are not providing their owners with optimal comfort. In addition to this, they are also having a negative impact on the environment.

The numbers are derived from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, which used methods developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to estimate insulation levels. Researchers at Boston University had already applied these methods as part of a study into potential energy savings and emissions reductions through increased insulation levels in family homes.

According to Dr. Jonathan Levy, Professor of Environmental Health at Boston University School of Public Health and the lead researcher on the Boston University team that conducted the study, “If all U.S. homes were fitted with insulation based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), residential electricity use nationwide would drop by about 5 percent and natural gas use by more than 10 percent.” The study showed that by increasing insulation in U.S. homes across the country, not only did energy usage decrease but there was also a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as well as other pollutants.

When addressing home comfort issues, most homeowners think of windows and doors first, and about sealing air leaks around those areas because they are the most visible indicators of home energy efficiency problems. What they don’t realize is that insulation has a much greater impact (up to three times as much) on the average home’s energy and comfort than windows or doors. Assessing a home’s insulation takes only a few minutes, and the resulting improvements can produce a significant increase to home comfort, as well as substantial reductions to home energy bills.

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .

Roof Talk-101  Three ways to make your roof more energy-efficient

1) Cool your roof

"Cool" roofs are lighter in color than traditional black asphalt or dark wood shingles and save energy by reflecting light and heat away rather than absorbing them. This is known as "the albedo effect," and many studies have documented significant energy savings from simply lightening the color of a roof.

• The problem with dark roofs: The temperature outside may be 95 degrees, which is plenty hot, but your dark roof is conducting a much higher temperature down toward you and your family, making the rooms below hotter and forcing the air conditioner to work harder, as  In Texas, a dark-colored asphalt roof can reach 150 to 175 degrees on a hot summer day. This not only increases the energy needs of your home, it also contributes to the heat island effect in urban areas.
• The benefits of cool roofs: A cool roof, on the other hand, can be 50 to 60 degrees cooler than a conventional dark-colored roof, reducing the cooling load on your home, saving energy and reducing utility costs. By decreasing the solar gain and heat retention of your home, a white roof also increases its comfort and reduces the heat island effect to which your home’s dark roof contributes.
• How to cool your roof: The easiest route is to slap a cool roof coating onto an existing roof. Check out these recommendations from David Edwards, PhD, of EarthBound Homes, for coating options. If you’re already re-roofing, or building a new residence, consider replacing shingles or asphalt with lighter-colored versions. A quick search of the Cool Roof Rating Council’s Rated Products Directory will provide you with performance data about various roofing products. Products are rated for their reflectiveness: the higher the number, the more reflective the product is, and the cooler your roof will be.

2) Insulate from below

Insulation is one of the first things people think of when they set about making their homes more energy-efficient.

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the attic is usually the top priority, because installing insulation there is easy and provides immediate benefits. When insulating the attic, it’s important not to forget about the roof. Unfortunately, deciding on the best insulation isn’t always so straightforward, but our experts have advice on everything from the materials you should consider to how they should be installed.

• The problem: Roofs are your heating and cooling system's biggest nightmare. A poorly insulated roof will require more air conditioning in the summer and more heating in the winter, and will make your attic uncomfortable for use as a bedroom or study. Even if you do have insulation, it may not be enough. Check out Steve Saunders's comprehensive answer to the question "Is three inches of batt insulation enough for my attic?" for more information.
• The benefits of insulation: A well-insulated roof, on the other hand, can almost negate the need for either mechanical system and will drastically reduce your heating and cooling needs (along with your electricity bill and your home’s emissions). Mick Dalrymple, in his answer to the question "What type of roof should I choose in a hot climate?", describes how his roof’s insulation and weatherization coatings make air conditioning unnecessary until outdoor temperatures reach over 100 degrees in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• How to properly insulate your roof: The material you choose will depend heavily on the type of house you have and the climate you live in. Our experts have advice on everything from the more high-tech solutions such as home foam insulation (even a cogent answer to the open cell vs. closed cell foam debate) and cellulose insulation to simpler options such as fiberglass or cotton batting. Those with open beams (especially cathedral ceilings) in cooler climates should also consider a radiant barrier—simple reflective film that wraps around beams and reflects heat rather than absorbing it. No matter what material you choose, leaving an air space between the insulation and the roofing material is generally a good idea. Although in very dry climates, and with some metal roofing, it may not be necessary, an air space will typically reduce the possibility of moisture getting trapped in either the structure or the insulation and causing mildew or mold to grow. Read Mike Binder's answer to the question "Should I leave an air space between my attic insulation and the wood roofing?" for more details.

3) Re-roof sustainably

Whether you’re putting a roof on a new home, or re-roofing an existing residence, it’s a golden opportunity to do things as sustainably as possible.

But with new, supposedly green roofing materials coming to market every month, it’s hard to separate the great from the greenwashed. In her answer to the question "What are the sustainable options for re-roofing our 30-year-old home?", Cynthia Phakos advises that anyone looking to re-roof their house start not by reading about the coolest new roofing materials, but by understanding their home’s specific conditions, particularly climate.

• The problem: You want to choose a roof that lasts a long time, improves your home’s efficiency and comfort, and reduces the heat island effect. That ideal roofing material will shift depending on where you live and the sort of house you have, but our experts agree that wood shingles are probably not going to cut it no matter where you live, primarily because they degrade rather quickly and it’s not sustainable to replace your roof every 15 years.
• The benefits of sustainable roofing materials: Simply choosing the right material could result in as much as a 30 percent decrease in your home’s energy needs. Whether that ends up being a metal roof (which is generally more expensive, but does deliver meaningful energy savings), tile roof, asphalt shingles, concrete or even wood, all of our experts recommend reflective coatings to make your roof cool. Elastomeric rooftop coatings not only reflect heat, and thereby save energy, but they can also extend the lifetime of your roof.
• How to sustainably re-roof your home: Any decent roofer should be able to advise you on the best roofing material for your house type and climate, but it’s a good idea to have a grasp of the basics before talking to a professional. “If you live near the coast, you'll want to select roofing that will withstand the salt spray and have no wind uplift,” Phakos writes. Once you’ve got a solid understanding of the conditions facing your roof, you’ll need to consider both roofing materials and sheathing. If you’re taking the roof down to the rafters, particularly if you live in a cooler climate, consider installing a sheathing with a radiant barrier—a laminated sheet of aluminum that will reflect heat into your home instead of absorbing it. 

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 ROOFGUARD-LLC visit us at. www.roofguardtexas.com and we also invite you to Like Us on our Roofguardtexas Facebook Page .