Blog
Preparing for Tropical Storms
Just because it is November does not mean you no longer have to worry about hurricanes. As Yogi Berra said, “It ain't over till it's over.” In fact, the official Atlantic hurricane season lasts until November 30. The month of November has had some significant hurricanes including the Cuba hurricane in 1932, a Category 5; Hurricane Lenny in 1999, a Category 4; Kate in 1985, Hurricane Paloma in 2008, and Ida in 2009. Karen Clark & Company (KCC), a leading catastrophe modeling company for the insurance industry, estimates that hurricanes can cost insurers billions of dollars for storm damage. And that doesn’t include the wreckage left behind to buildings, contents, automobiles and for lost time. According to KCC’s report, the...
read moreBallasted Roofs Are Cool!
You may not think that a roofing system developed almost fifty years ago could be environmentally friendly. While it’s true not many people were thinking green back then, it turns out ballasted roofs are indeed eco-friendly and worth a look. Ballasted roofs consist of thermal insulation boards (such as the GenFlex Polyiso product), EPDM single‑ply membrane (such as GenFlex FRM EPDM or AFR EPDM), and are topped with smooth, river‑washed stone or concrete pavers. They are easy and quick to install since they require no fasteners and no adhesives, which can be a source of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Ballasted roofs are also economical and long-lasting. The ballast material protects the membrane from harmful UV rays and...
read moreSmart Roofs
As a facility manager, would you like to be notified immediately by text or e-mail if a roof leak is developing, or that the snow load on your roof is becoming dangerous, or how about if a roof drain is blocked? Well, it is all possible with a smart roof. A smart roof uses electronic sensors to detect a problem. The sensors are connected to an electronic control panel. Some systems are stand-alone systems and others integrate with your Building Management System or alarm system. Leak Detection Membrane Monitoring Big leaks usually start off small, so the sooner you know there has been a breach in your roofing membrane, the better. Moisture detectors can provide you with that information quickly, even before there are visual indications...
read moreSolar Panel Installation Considerations
Solar panels are becoming more and more prevalent, and maybe you have been tasked with having some installed on your building. However, like with anything else, it is wise to do some research up front. While examining competing solar technologies to determine what will work best, also consider the impact of installing solar panels on your rooftop. There are four primary methods of attaching solar panels: Ballasted—Panels are held in place by weighted material and do not require roof penetration. This is a popular installation method. Penetrating—Panels are mounted on roof supports that penetrate the roof. These should be structurally attached and properly flashed. This method securely attaches the panel and provides good wind...
read moreFall Protection
In April 2016, a 24-year old roofing worker died on the job due to the failure of his employer to have adequate fall protection and training, according to federal investigators. Unfortunately, he was not alone. Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fatal work injury rate for roofers in 2014 was 46.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) takes this issue seriously and will cite and fine roofing companies for failure to provide adequate fall protection. Just to name a few, on September 8, 2016, OSHA cited an Ohio company with proposed penalties of $94,064; on August 15, 2016, OSHA cited a...
read moreHeading Into Q4 2016
Heading into Q4 2016, we look to see how the construction industry has performed. Let’s look at the latest numbers from the Value of Construction Put in Place Survey (VIP) by the U.S. Census Bureau, which provides monthly estimates of the total dollar value of construction work done in the U.S. The current numbers are for July 2016. Total construction spending was down ever so slightly at $1.153175 trillion from 1.15352 trillion in June. Nonresidential construction was down slightly coming in at $701.438 billion from 703.493 billion in June. However, the numbers showed gains in office, commercial, health care, and manufacturing construction, which are important sectors to the roofing industry. As for the economy as a whole,...
read moreGreen Roof Systems
A green roof is also referred to as a living roof or a vegetative roof. In simplest terms, it is a roof covered with living plant life. Green roof systems bring nature to the usually stark environment of a building’s rooftop. There are many reasons why more and more building owners are turning to green roof systems. Green roofs enhance the aesthetics of a building. If so designed, the roof can be a park-like area for the building tenants to enjoy as a retreat or perhaps a play area for children. Tenant community food gardens are also possible. Green roofs are great for the environment. They increase air quality since plants can absorb air pollutants and provide a nature habitat for wildlife including birds and butterflies....
read moreLEED® v4 required beginning October of 2016
Roofing Systems Play a Role in Achieving LEED Rating Levels LEED was introduced in 1998, and since then it has become the coveted standard for green and sustainable buildings. Projects can receive one of four LEED-rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. LEED Version 4 (v4) raises the technical standards and broadens the scope of the previous version, LEED 2009. New real estate sectors are now under scope including data centers, warehouse and distribution centers, hospitality buildings (hotels), and multi-family mid-rise residential buildings. It also now includes existing schools and retail buildings. LEED rates a project based on multiple credit categories. These categories are Sustainable Sites (SS), Water...
read moreWomen in Roofing
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Women in the labor force: a databook, December 2015 indicates that in 2014, women accounted for only .5 percent of roofers. If you look at the statistics you might think that women are not really involved in the roofing industry, at all. However, while it is true that there may not be very many women using nail guns on rooftops, it is equally true that there are a great many women who are involved in all other facets of the industry. Some of the areas of involvement include: Entrepreneurship, Management, Administration, Sales/Marketing, Roofing Technology, and Estimating. Recognizing there was a need for a nationwide-organization representing and supporting women in the business, National Women...
read moreGrowing Your Commercial Roofing Business by Networking
There are many different things you can do to grow your commercial roofing business—networking is one of them. While occasionally a quick sale may result, networking is more about developing awareness and relationships that can lead to sales either down the road or through referrals. Networking can also provide you with valuable knowledge to help grow your business. As a commercial roofer, you should concentrate your networking on the following three groups: • Potential Customers • Related Businesses • Members of the Roofing Industry Potential Customers Your potential customers likely include building owners, property management companies, and facility managers. There are local and national associations and groups that focus on...
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