Entries Tagged 'Roofing' ↓

Residential roofing sounds like a boring topic. Except for roofing contractors or other residential roofing specialists, who would want to talk about residential roofing? How about home owners? The roof is one of the most important aspects of a home. So it’s essential for homeowners to be up to date on the subject of residential roofing at least as far as it pertains to their own residence.

One of the most important points to consider when discussing residential roofing is the area where the residence is located. Roofing needs vary by region and include such considerations as need to withstand tree limbs, wind resistance, fire resistance, ability to withstand the weight of snow or to allow snow to slide off, and even color when it comes to a good looking roof for the area. Residential roofing needs are quite different in a northern, cold and snowy region than they would be in a hot and dry region. For those who purchase homes it’s important to understand the features and maintenance needs of the roof. For those who build homes, particularly if they serve as their own general contractor, choosing the right roof for the region is a key.

Since it’s more common for a homeowner to purchase a home complete with a pre-installed residential roofing system, let’s examine some of the maintenance issues that are important to ensuring the best performance and longest life from the roofing system. First amongst these issues is timing. Proper maintenance should begin the second the roofing system is complete. Such maintenance will save money in the long run. Immediate maintenance includes inspecting the work and checking the contractor’s license, insurance, and whether all aspects of the roofing system were installed to manufacturer’s specifications or to local government guidelines.

After six months to a year the roof should be inspected for debris such as sticks, leaves, and even garbage such as aluminum cans, and those debris removed. This should continue at least once a year. Also make sure the gutters are cleaned at least once a year to ensure proper drainage. If the residential roof can’t drain, it will develop leaks. Leaks cause a great deal of damage, including the possibility of mold that can completely destroy a home.

Pipe boot, the material at the bottom of vent and other pipes on the roof, often require replacing after only a few years. Many states require pipe jacks made out of lead, and this will last longer than the roof. But some states, including Oklahoma, don’t require lead pipe jacks.

Many roofers convince home owners that the entire roof needs replacing even when there’s only a tiny leak. That’s nonsense. And the best way to avoid the scam is to have the roof inspected twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. An easy way to remember to have the residential roofing inspected is to do it when the clocks spring forward and fall back.

GAF Roofing was founded in 1886 and today is North America’s largest manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing. According to GAF roofing, ?GAF is your best and safest choice.?

To examine that claim let’s start with some of the reason GAF gives for its lofty status. GAF has manufacturing locations across North America – to serve you better. And that will generally serve you better because it means less time and expense in shipping materials, as well as a nearby point of contact. GAF invented the Timberline shingle which is the #1-selling architectural shingle in North America. If GAF didn’t make good products, people wouldn’t buy them. GAF was Awarded #1 visual brand by Life Magazine, meaning GAF products look as good as they perform. GAF’s Fireshield brand roof restoration system was named “Best Product” by the editors of Buildings magazine. GAF was rated #1 in shingle quality by home builders. GAF was the winner of the Builder?s Choice award. GAF’s Cobra brand ridge vents rated #1 in quality by home builders. GAF products are featured regularly in leading home and garden publications and on home improvement networks such as HGTV. GAF is the premium designer roofing shingles and has twice received the Architects Choice For Excellence Award. GAF’s Freedom TPO self-adhering roofing systems was chosen Product Of The Year by Commercial Building Products magazine. GAF was named the most-used brand of shingles and roof vents by remodeling contractors. GAF was named #1 in innovation for shingles and ridge ventilation by home builders, and most-recommended brand by upscale remodelers. Finally, GAF was the first company to produce an energy-efficient asphalt shingle available in rich colors, called the Cool Color Series.

Of course all of that is marketing material, but it points to GAF being well known and respected in the roofing industry.

The residential brand for GAF roofing is GAF-Elk. The GAF-Elk roofing brand includes quality shingles, 100% watertight leak barriers, roof deck protection, low-slope membrane roofing, fiber cement siding, ridge cap shingles, attic ventilation, starter strip shingles and accessory paint. They have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal for this line. GAF-Elk products are not carried by large chains such as Home Depot, but they do list distributors on their web site http://www.gaf.com.

GAF Roofing also offers other products such as stones, decking and siding to complete the look of your home. When selected a roof or any product do some comparison. No matter how good the company or how many awards it has, it’s always wise to consider a number of options.

The National Roofing Contractor’s Association says that residential metal roofing has become much more popular over the last decade. No, it isn’t that the corrugated tin barn roof look has come into style. The market now includes new types of metal roofs that look great while being durable, light weight, and fire-resistant. Once mostly used for business and industrial buildings, metal roofs have found a new home…on houses.

Metal roofing materials have a number of other advantages. In addition to those already mentioned metal roofs are quick to install and great at reflecting the heat from the sun. People think metal roofs make the home hotter because if they stand on a metal roof it’s hot. But that heat is reflected away from the home. If it’s hotter on top, it’s cooler down below the roof.

Metal roofs are made mostly from aluminum and steel, but copper and other alloys are also used. While the new metal roofs can mimic the look of other traditional residential roofing materials, some popular styles retain a decidedly commercial look found by architects to give a home clean lines.

This is the real world, and in the real world nothing is perfect. Metal roofs do have drawbacks which each homeowner must evaluate in relation to the advantages. At about $150-$600 per 100 square feet, a metal roof is expensive. But this expense can be recovered if the homeowner remains in the home for a long time, and a metal roof helps save on engineering and structural maintenance of the supporting structure. In a rain storm having a metal roof can be a little like living inside a drum. A metal roof is louder than other types of roofs. Using sound deadening insulation can help minimize the extra noise of a metal roof. Metal roofs, particularly aluminum and copper materials, are soft and prone to denting from hail stones. Some metal roofs, however, are warrantied against denting. Metal roofs can also be slippery when wet, something to keep in mind for gutter cleaning, inspection, or other maintenance that requires walking on the roof. Some metal finishes can chip and peel, although again they’re generally guaranteed for many years against such marring.

A quick note on lightning for residential metal roofing is don’t be afraid. People assume that because metal conducts electricity a metal roof will attract lightening. This isn’t the case, particularly when trees or other objects surrounding the home are higher than the roof. Metal roofs can also be grounded for extra protection.

In this world of worlds in which we live, residential metal roofing is sure to give, a homeowner a great roofing experience.

It’s a little known fact that Michigan is one of the most progressive areas when it comes to roofing. Part of the reason may be the temperature and weather extremes in Michigan. When it comes to Michigan roofing, if it works in Michigan it works. That may be why Michigan was the site for the first rubber roof installation way back in 1980. That roof is still going strong nearly 30 years later, and rubber roofs are taking off all over the United States.

One of the best sources of information for roofs in Michigan is the MRCA or Michigan Roofing Contractors Association. This groups includes numerous chapters which are the ARCWM, Associated Roofing Contractors of Western Michigan; the Flint PRO, Professional Roofing Organization; JLWRCA, Jackson, Livingston, Washtenaw Roofing Contractors Association; LRCA, Lansing Roofing Contractors Association; RIPF, Roofing Industry Promotion Fund; SVRCA, Saginaw Valley Roofing Contractor Association; and the SMRCA, Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association. The MRCA lists roofing contractors and consultants, has information on roofing, and holds yearly meetings to keep its members updated on the latest in roofing techniques and technologies.

Michigan is one of the most aggressive areas when it comes to the use of metal roofing materials. This includes not only the older tin barn roof style, but the newer styles that mimic the look of other roofing materials. Michigan’s cold, snow filled winters and hot summers test not only the shrinking and expanding ability of metal roofs, but their ability to shed water and snow. Only a fool would try to walk on a metal roof during a Michigan winter.

One local Michigan roofing company is Hansons, a family owned company that prides itself on customer service and treating customers like family. Hansons not only honors the manufacturer warranties on all its product, they add their own additional warranties. These include a 10 year guarantee all the way up to a 30 year fully transferable guarantee.

Michigan State University is a leading research center for green roofing. Green roofing is growing plants on a roof to replace the lost plants when the structure was built. Green roofing includes deep soil, a variety of plants, and even trees on the roof. Research continues to determine the benefit of green roofing to the environment, the benefit of green roofing to a roof and a structure, and any negative impacts a green roof may have on a structure.

From rubber and metal roofs to trees on roof tops, Michigan roofing is a wild subject to consider.

TPO Roofing was invented by the chemical company DOW in the early 1990′s. TPO Roofing means ?Thermalplastic Olefin? roofing. TPO membranes are made from ethylene propylene rubber, and are a combination of rubber and hot air welded seams. They have excellent resistance to ozone, are algae-resistant, environmentally friendly and safe to install. The material is sometimes advertised as a monolithic (seamless) roof. TPO is highly tear resistant, resists impacts, and resists punctures with good flexibility to allow for building movement. TPO’s are available in white, light gray, and black with thicknesses of either 45 mils (.045″) or 60 mils (.060″). The width of the membrane depends on the manufacturer but they usually come in widths of six to six-and-a-half feet and are one-hundred feet in length.

TPO Roofing is a fully-adhered roofing. That means the roofing membrane is already attached to the substrate material with adhesive, thus it forms a strong chemical bond. TPO is highly heat reflective, fire resistant, and energy efficient. It also resists UV rays and dirt. TPO is also used in the automotive industry where it is known for impact resistance. This crosses over into the roofing industry where hail damage to roofs is a common concern.

Another advantage of TPO, for the Roofing Contractor and Manufacturers at least, is that there is a shift from some lower priced materials like EPDM to the higher priced TPO materials. Commercial roofing sales reached $3.3 billion overall in 2007 with single-ply products comprising the largest segment. TPO has been taking more of that large share.

As the green movement grows, TPO is becoming more and more popular, particularly because it is recyclable. Not only can it be recycled for roofing materials, but it can be burned as a fuel. TPO burns extremely clean with no toxic emissions when no flame retardants are present. It therefore has a high potential as a high energy fuel for waste-to-energy programs.

TPO roofs are considered ?cool roofs.? A cool roof can be defined in many ways by people or by different municipal codes. But basically, a cool roof reflects and emits the sun?s heat back skyward without allowing it to pass into the building or home. The more sun it reflects and emits, the cooler the roof. The Cool Roof Rating Council, CRRC, maintains an on line database of cool roof products. Some TPO roofs score high on the scale, some do not, so be advised.

It may seem silly to say, but for many TPO roofing is the way to go.