Archive for November, 2011
New Face For Old Roof Product
Many homeowners choose new roof materials for their appeal and overall look for the house. While many older roof products may bring a sense of class and history to a roof, they may also bring increased roof problems. Traditional roof products like wood shakes give great curb appeal to a home, but at the additional cost of maintenance and roof repair.
Classic Problems With A Classic Product
Wood shakes are one roof material that can really cost a homeowner in repairs. Despite their appeal, they are one roof product that is the most susceptible to water and pest damage. Wood shakes split, rot and break much easier than asphalt shingles or other roof materials. They are also more vulnerable to water damage, leading to mold and mildew problems. Pests an easily eat or damage wood shakes, causing for more reliance on general maintenance to keep their performance up.
Several companies now offer a product that gives the aesthetic appeal of a wood shake without the need to compromise the roof’s integrity. Rustic Shingle manufactures a product that looks like traditional wood shakes, but is made from aluminum. Homeowners can now take advantage of the benefits metal roofing has to offer with the design and style of a traditional wood shake. Rustic Shingles are fade and crack resistant, offer unbeatable protection against high winds and hail, and even provide energy savings by its high reflectivity of the sun’s UV rays.
Habitat for Humanity Gives New Roof
A U.S. Army Veteran received a new roof from the pilot program “Repair Corps” by the Blue Water Habitat for Humanity. Fort Gratiot Michigan, resident 78 year old Nathanial Wright, and his wife Earlene were given the new roof on Veterans Day.
Water began to leak into the house since the Wrights have only been able to repair the roof with tar. Because the house is over 52 years old, it was in desperate need of a new roof.
More Repairs to Be Completed by End of the Month
The Habitat for Humanity volunteers will return to the home this week to re-insulate the attic and replace the water damaged drywall and ceiling. The extent of the roof damage required the volunteers to call in the roofing professionals at Pine River Construction.
Home Depot Foundation donated a $10,000 grant to Blue Water Habit for Humanity as part of their Repair Corps Initiative.
Building Houses and Supporting Families
Blue Water Habitat for Humanity resource development director Aubree Mayhew said “Sometimes there’s not a need for a new home, but for major repairs, we’ve been trying to go from building houses to supporting families.”
If you would like more information on the Blue Water Habitat for Humanity you can contact their Family Services Department at services@bwhabitat.org or by calling 810 985-9080 ext. 204.
Rapid City FD Wants Grant to Replace Roofs
The South Dakota fire department is applying to a FEMA program to help cover the cost of replacing wood-shingle and shake roofs for eligible west side homeowners.
The Rapid City fire department applied for the grant as part of its overall urban-wild land fire prevention initiative. The shingle and shake roofs are particularly vulnerable during fires. The grant, if approved, would cover 75% of the cost of replacing the older roofs with noncombustible shingles.
Bleak Chances of Surviving a Fire
Lt. Tim Weaver of the Fire Department’s Prevention Division said “The number one biggest problem for a house in a wild land fire is the roof. If you have a cedar shake roof, the chances of your home surviving a wild land fire is pretty bleak.”
The roofing materials like wood shakes are a higher risk for fire since the wood dries out and shrinks creating spaces in the roof to collect debris. Embers can travel as much as a mile, when they land on these roofs they can burn the house down.
Apply for Grant
If you are a homeowner with a home west of Mount Rushmore Road and would like to be included in applying for the FEMA grant to help cover the cost of replacing your shake roofs, contact Lt. Tim Weaver of the Rapid City Fire Department at 394-5233 before the end of this year.
Lt. Weaver is hoping at least 50 homeowners will apply by the end of December. The Rapid City fire department will not know until sometime next year if they will receive the FEMA hazard mitigation grant.
Sports Arena Roof Wins Architecture Award
Winter sports fans in Germany are proud to be the home of an award winning stadium. The Speedskating Stadium Inzell, in Germany, won the 2011 World Architecture Award for its sporty roof. The stadium’s new roof earned the award for its unique design and innovative structure.
A Dazzling Design
Once an open air track, the stadium’s roof now covers the ice skating track without the use of interior columns, a first of its kind. The roof offers spectators an uninterrupted view of the surrounding mountains by boasting a continuous glass facade. From the outside, the roof looks like a cloud perching over the building’s sides. The roof was shaped to help the retain the track’s low temperatures for ideal skating conditions.
The stadium’s roof also includes large north-facing skylights, which make use of the limited winter daylight. The skylights are part of a green roofing initiative intended to reduce reliance on artificial lighting, efforts that are much appreciated in such a large arena. The roof materials also consist of a membrane that reflects the cold air from the ice back towards the track to create a thermal effect. Nearly 7,000 spectators can enjoy watching their favorite sport in this first-class facility thanks to the innovative efforts of Behnisch Architekten.
Ice Dams
In colder climates an ice dam on your roof can wreak havoc on your home or business. When the temperature of your attic is warmer than the snow, the snow on your roof melts and flows down the roof until it reaches the colder eaves or soffit, where it can refreeze.
A few days of this cycle and the freezing snow builds up and forms a dam of ice. Water pools behind this dam and can back up under your shingles, damaging your roof and leaking into your ceilings and walls.
Prevent Warm Air from Getting into Your Attic
If you have problems with ice dams, there are steps you can take to eliminate them and keep your home dry. Attic insulation should be a minimum of R-50 to keep warm air out of the attic. Anything that enters the attic space; wires, vents, fixtures, chimneys, etc., must be sealed with spray foam or caulking.
Get an Energy Audit
An energy audit, like those provided by your gas or electric company can locate any air leaks and give you suggestions on to how to prevent loss of heat to your attic. When you have identified potential problems, contact a licensed contractor to make the necessary changes.
Hire a Roofing Contractor to Remove an Ice Dam
If you do have an ice dam, do not attempt to remove the ice with shovels or chemicals, you can damage the shingles or gutters, and in most cases void any warranty you have on your roof. Hire a roofing contractor if an ice dam needs to be removed from your roof.
Fall Out From A Flat Roof
It is fairly common to see a commercial roof that has a flat or no-slope grade. While commercial buildings may benefit or tolerate a flat roof well, homes generally do not. At one time, it wasn’t uncommon to find a residential roof with a flat slope. However, these days we know much more about roofing and how certain materials perform better under certain conditions, the slope of the roof being one of them.
Flat Wrong For Homeowners
A variety of materials can be used with a flat roof, but their durability is far less efficient than with a sloped roof. Metal roof materials must be welded together to prevent leakage between the seams. Asphalt shingles break easier on a flat roof when hard objects rub against the surface.
Although flat roofs are generally simple to install and may appear to be less maintenance, most homeowners find that improper installation or maintenance is more common with a flat roof than a sloped roof. Flat roofs are more prone to problems such as sagging, leaking and water damage. Sagging occurs when the weight of the roof becomes too heavy for the underlying structure to support it. If the flat roof begins to sag in one spot, and not in others, a dip forms where water can accumulate. Water buildup easily becomes destructive in no time. The longer water sits on a roof, the more roof damage that will result.
Due to the costly nature of roof repair and the increased need for repairs for flat roofs, homeowners are advised to consider alternatives for their home. If a flat roof is necessary for a particular home, it is important that a vinyl or rubber roof material be used and that the roof maintains at least a slight degree of slope to promote adequate water runoff.
Lead Roof Jacks
Also called roof vent jacks, are used over plumbing vent stacks extending from your roof to keep water from getting under your roofing material. The roof jacks should be checked yearly for leaks and cracks and chew marks from pests. The sun can crack the material over time on the galvanized steel and rubber jacks (boots), and squirrels often like to chew on the soft lead to sharpen their teeth.
For the Do It Yourself Types
If you are a DIY type, you can replace the lead roof jacks by using a pry par to carefully remove the shingles around the old roof jack, remove any roofing nails and take out the shingle. Remove the old roof jack by sliding it up over the vent pipe. Put the new lead jack over the vent and secure it by putting a couple of nails into the flange. Replace new shingles, cutting to fit if necessary, put nails at the top of the gaps. Once the shingle is firmly in place, use a hammer to bend the lead jack over and into the vent opening.
Rubber or Aluminum Jacks
Other options are rubber or aluminum roof jacks, but they generally are not as durable and efficient at keeping out the rain as the lead roof jacks.
Call a Roofing Contractor
If this sounds like too much effort, or if you are not comfortable working up on your roof, you can call a roofing company in your area to come out and inspect and install new lead roof jacks.
N.H. Town Seeks $250,000 to Replace Roofs
The Board of Selectmen in Exeter, New Hampshire are trying to figure out how they are going to replace 3 of the town’s roofs. Needing replaced are the slate roof at the Exeter Historical Society, the Water Treatment Plant and the barn roof at the Raynes Farm.
120 Year Old Slate Roof
One of the debates is over the cost of the new roof for the Exeter Historical Society. The original slate roof is over 120 years old. Patches and repairs have been made to the roof but moisture is still seeping through and the potential for extensive damage to the historical records housed inside.
To replace the slate roof and the copper flashings and gutter is an estimated $117,900. “I think that asking people in this economy to spend $118,000 for something that last 100 years verses whatever the cost might be for something that lasts 20 to 30 years is a big stretch,” said Selectman Frank Ferraro.
Architectural Shingles
He believes architectural shingles and gutters that have the appearance of copper would be a good alternative. And that if the historical society felt strongly about the slate roof, they could pick up the difference in the cost.
Others on the board disagree with Ferraro stating that the slate roof is a significant feature of the building and want to protect the historical value of the district.
$136,150 To Replace Other 2 Roofs
The cost to replace the roof at the Water Treatment Plant is $106,150 and to replace the barn roof at the Raynes Farm is $30,000.
Recycled Plastics for Solar Mounts
Rooftop photovoltaic panels are being mounted on bases made from recycled plastics. The plastic bases are made from both 100% recycled and mixes of virgin and recycled resins. There are only a few manufacturers in the United States making the bases or mounts.
Roof Contractors like the product because it is lightweight and if dropped will not damage the roofing membranes like the heavier and sharper metal bases do.
Gaining Popularity
Although relatively new on the market, plastic mounts are gaining popularity over the stainless steel and aluminum bases being used now.
“Our product is less expensive than aluminum and definitely less than stainless, but the real cost savings comes in speed of installation, prevention of damage to roof membranes and wiring, and improved grounding.” Said John Hudson of Renusol America.
Lighter Weight
Consumers like that the product is “green”, 100% recycled, easier and lighter to handle, and requires fewer parts and tools to assemble.
A Few Drawbacks
Since Underwriters Laboratories cannot be sure where the recycled materials came from, the tests are unable to certify that the plastic product meets the flammability and resistance to electrical ignition sources requirements.
Another issue with the plastic mounts is the warranty is usually not as long as the warranty on the solar panels.
Good for the Environment
As more technologies emerge, recycled plastic bases will be more cost effective and easier for the installer to mount as well as being good for the environment.
New Metal Roof for Elementary School
After 60 years with a flat rubber roof, the Mount Aetna Adventist Elementary School got a new metal pitched roof. The pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school in Smithsburg Maryland had been using buckets to catch the rain water dripping through the ceiling.
The roof had been leaking into the classrooms, ruining carpets and ceiling tiles. Attempts to repair the roof were unsuccessful.
Roof Cost $21,000
The new metal roof cost $210,000; the school is still working on raising the last $50,000. Seventh Day Adventist church members, parents, teachers, staff and students have all worked hard to raise funds for the project, including pitching in their own money.
A Smithsburg based contractor did the work to replace the new roof. The portico still needs to be finished and a few additional details need to be completed.
Celebration
They got a surprise storm for the ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration of their new roof. The new roof will keep the school dry for the 79 students and 20 homeschool students, teachers and staff.
“When we had the snow and the horrible weather yesterday, not a drop of water came out in the school,” Principal Kandace Zollman was pleased to announce.
