Archive for March, 2012
St. Mary the Virgin Church in Need of Roof Repair
St. Mary the Virgin Church at Stoneleigh Village, Warwickshire is in desperate need of repairs to the historic building. The copper roof is in danger of splitting due to the decaying stonework and nave roof.
If the roof is no longer properly supported they fear the copper will break and water will pour into the church. Experts believe the whole structure needs to be taken apart and some of the beams need to be replaced. Along with the roof repairs, the crumbling stonework around the windows needs to be fixed to stop the water from coming in.
With ties to the village, former commonwealth Olympic Gold medalist and Coventry’s lead ambassador to the 2012 Olympics, David Moorcroft is initiating a campaign to raise the money needed. The parochial church council has received 42,000 from the national churches trust and private charity, but still needs to raise 263,000.
800 Years of Services
The church building is in red sandstone and Norman in origin with a chancel arch (around the alter) dated back to 1100. Additions were made to the church in the 17th and 19th century. The copper nave roof is from the 1950’s.
Fundraising efforts will begin March 30 when David Moorcroft will be giving a talk at Stoneleigh Village Hall. For more information call 853238 or go to www.stoneleighvilage.org.uk.
Roofing Contractor Awards
The roof repair business is a competitive one. With so many roof contractors in each city homeowners have both the luxury of choosing the company they want, but also the additional work of making sure they chose the best man for the job. Each year different roofing magazines and websites release their picks for industry related awards. However, homeowners should be aware that not all of these awards reflect professionalism and expertise.
And The Winner Is…
There is much to learn when it comes to choosing a roof contractor and homeowners certainly have their work cut out for them. A word of caution when browsing magazine and website awards for industry excellence: take notice of what tool of measurement the awards are based on.
For example, Roofing Contractor magazine released their picks for “top roofing contractor”, an award that is based on annual revenue and not professional standards. This award may be misleading for consumers looking for legitimate information about roofers and their qualifications. The same magazine also offered up an award for the Roofing Contractor of the Year, a title given out based on reputation and consumer reviews.
While this subtle difference may not seem like a big deal in the overall sense, it can certainly be problematic for homeowners looking for advice on who to chose for their roof repair job. Homeowners should always take the time to obtain multiple bids, review the information on file with the Better Business Bureau and ask for references before deciding on which contractor is best for them.
$1 Million Repair Estimate for BC Place Roof
BC Place Stadium owners are going to court to determine who will pay for the million dollar roof repairs to Vancouver BC Place Stadium. During a pre-trial conference this week lawsuits were filed by the sub-contractor on the $563 million renovation of the stadium and countersuit by the general contractor.
Lubricants needed to allow the cables to flex have leaked onto the $30 million fabric roof. BC place owners BC Pavilion Corp., contend the problem is with the contractor and the estimated $1 million to fix the problem resides with the contractor since it was a fixed price contract.
Millions of Dollars in Law Suit
The roof subcontractor Freyssinet, a French company, is claiming in a lawsuit that they are still owed $6.5 million of the $30 million contract. They are suing BC Pavilion Corp, the Canam Group and PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. The $30 million was for engineering and fabrication of the cable and cast steel connections.
Canam is countersuing for $26 million, they deny owing Freyssinet any money and claim Freyssinet supplied cables that continue to leak grease and oil and causing extra expense. Canam claims Freyssinet breached the sub contract because they failed to perform the cable work in a proper workmanlike and timely manner. “An inefficient and unworkable construction methodology for the cable erection, significantly underestimating the cost of the cable erection.”
The case is scheduled to go to trial in October 2013.
Handling Roof Pests
Roof repair costs aren’t the only concern for home and building owners. The costs of handling and removing pest problems can be quite expensive. The problem with pests is what they do while living on a roof and what they leave behind for the owners to clean up. Depending on the type of roof, preventing and removing a pest problem can be anywhere between simple to complex enough to warrant a professionals help.
Prevention
Just like any other type of roof damage, preventive maintenance is key. A roof isn’t something to be ignored and should be checked periodically throughout the year to ensure the roof materials are in good working condition and there aren’t any major problems.
Pests are one of these problems and all kinds of animals can leave behind undesired effects to a roof. Squirrels and birds are notorious for building nests or temporary resting places, leaving behind dirt, leaves and debris as building materials. If these animal structures are not cleaned off they can lead to mildew, rot and damaged shingles.
Another common roof pest is bees, wasps and hornets. Often these insects will nest inside the roof or along the roof lines inside the siding, undetectable to the eye. In the winter months, these insects will hibernate inside these areas and wait for warmer weather to begin building their nests along the crevasses of the roof lines. While bees and wasps aren’t inherently damaging to one’s roof they do bring undesired effects of swarming, defensive and attack behavior to humans who enter their space and can quickly double in numbers.
Removal
Removing pest waste or leftovers can usually be done by the home or building owner. Sweeping away any materials or debris can be done using a broom. Check the valleys and ridges of the roof line, which is where these materials tend to accumulate. Bees and wasps can be deterred by spraying the roofline with pesticide, but this method contains toxins and should be handled carefully. Any live pests should be removed by a professional animal or pest control person. Homeowners should never attempt to remove or trap a live animal on their own.
Thatch Roofs out of Recycled Plastic Bottles
A professor at Duquesne University, Dr. David Saiia, has created a hand powered machine that cuts plastic bottles into strips that could be used to thatch a roof. Thatched roofs are the traditional roofing material in Ecuador and other tropical climates. The reeds can be locally produced and keep the home cool by allowing air to circulate. Due to more land being used to grow food, the grasses used for thatch are being pushed out and are getting increasingly harder to find.
Roof repair using steel and fiberglass are unsuitable as they let in more heat and are noisy when it rains.
Plastic Thatch Lasts Many Years
Dr. Saiia’s machine cuts the bottle into strips in seconds. Using 3 strips attached to bamboo or melting the ends together to create the length needed, they are then placed on top of a roof frame. Regular thatching lasts about 1 year, whereas the artificial thatch can last many years. The plastic thatch maintains the cooling advantage and allows natural light to come through into the home.
Dr. Saiia said he come up with the idea after witnessing the pile up of non-biodegradable waste in the middle of the South American Rainforest. He will continue to test the materials to ensure they are safe to use and not toxic. Each roof could consume 1200-1600 bottles and improve the local labor situation by creating jobs re-roofing houses.
Roof Components
The main function of a roof is to keep the interior dry and not allow moisture in. To achieve this your roof system must work together to provide shelter, drainage and ventilation.
From the top, your roof coverings are layers of shingles, usually asphalt, felt paper, sheathing and then your attic. To seal water out, metal flashings are installed around chimneys, vent pipes in valleys and in other protrusions from you roof.
Fascia and Soffit
Fascia is a horizontal board attached to the end of the rafters supporting gutters and soffit panels.
Soffits are on the underside of the eaves and cover and protect the area below the roof overhangs. Roof vents and soffit vents keep fresh air circulating throughout the roof system.
Gutters are attached to the fascia and carry water away from the roof and into the downspouts.
Vents can be on the roof ridge, soffits and external baffle types. The goal is to create a continuous flow of air, intake vents are placed along the soffits and exhaust vents are in the upper part of the roof to allow the air to be released.
Historic Museum Needs Help Repairing Roof
The Hanford Carnegie Museum in Hanford, California is speaking out to the community about their need for a new roof. The 106 year old building is in desperate condition in need of several renovations, including roof repair. Museum officials have launched a community initiative in hopes of sparking interest among local residents and promoting an event to raise funding for the repairs.
A Century Old Roof
The Hanford Carnegie Museum was built in 1905 through funds donated by a local philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Once serving as the local library until 1968, the building’s original roof was expected to last only 40 years. Concerned citizens have formed groups over the years in efforts to raise money to save and restore the old building. Now that the roof expiration is more than doubled its expected lifespan, Museum staff are hoping for another successful fund raising endeavor to save the town’s iconic building. With a price tag of nearly $100,000 for roof repair, it is going to take a dedicated team of staff and citizens to raise the money needed to preserve this local piece of history.
Dayton Art Institute Receives Roof Donation
A $45,000 donation from Dayton Foundation was recently given to the Dayton Art Institute for roof repairs for the 80 year old building.
Michael Roediger, executive director for the museum said “the foundation grant will fix the leaks and part of the museum roof.” He went on to say that the staff has closely monitored the leaks and have removed any artwork near the water leaks so no pieces have been damaged.
The museum is using creative ways to come up with more money to repair plaster damage caused by the roof leaks and repair a leak in the lower gallery due to drainage problems in the Italian Cloister.
Maintenance Problems Wait
Roediger said “it’s not easy to run a historic building and when funds are tight, maintenance issues get put aside.”
The Berry Family Foundation has contributed a $75,000 challenge grant and the Rip and Denise Hale Family has made a contribution to help repair the Italian Cloister.
Certain areas will be closed during repairs but previously scheduled events will still proceed. Records indicate that the museum receives more than 130,000 annual visitors.
They are hoping to have the roof repairs completed by this summer and then they can return the artwork to the walls. The estimated repairs for the rest of the museum will be $460,000 for interior and exterior work.
Springtime Roof Considerations
The first day of spring is just around the corner, which means that homeowners should be getting ready to prepare their homes for the summer months. Springtime brings lots of roofing challenges such as unstable weather conditions, increased pests and even roof contractor concerns. As the season begins to change it is important for every homeowner to know the challenges associated with the upcoming months.
The Weather
Springtime is notorious for heavy rainfall and unpredictable storms. Certain parts of the country may even experience severe weather conditions such as hail and tornadoes. Weather related damage is the number one reason for roof repair costs in the spring and summer months. The trouble isn’t just in the weather conditions alone, but in the failure to properly maintain the roof before a storm hits. In fact, insurance companies often deny roof repair claims on the basis that the homeowner failed to inspect or maintain the roof adequately prior to a major weather event. Therefore, homeowners should prioritize having the roof inspected and any minor repairs completed prior to the start of springtime.
Scams
Another area of concern brought about by the change in weather is the increase in roof contractor scams. While there are plenty of reputable companies in operation, there are always a handful lurking around the corner waiting to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. The most common scam, or suspicious contractor activity, comes in the form of unsolicited bids or quotes. Door-to-door salesman attempting to sell services or stating the home’s roof appears to be damage should be considered suspicious. Although there may be legitimate causes for concern regarding roof damage, it is always best to call in an unsolicited contractor or two to perform inspections.
Man Nailed Himself to Roof
In the Coconut Grove neighborhood it took Miami rescue crews 90 minutes to remove a man from his roof Thursday afternoon. The 45 year old man was working on his Day Avenue roof when he accidentally nailed his finger to the roof with a nail gun.
Fire Rescue Lt. Iggy Carroll said “it was one finger on his left hand where the nail went through and into the wood. And he wasn’t able to free himself so that’s when he called 911.”
Paramedics realized they needed more help getting the man down since he was on a pitched roof 30 feet high. The Technical Rescue Team responded with more safety equipment to safely remove the injured man from the roof.
Crews Cut Out Part Of The Roof
Lt. Carroll said “anytime you have someone impaled you don’t want to pull it out, we cut around it.” Using a hand held power saw the crews cut away a section of the roof that his hand was nailed to. The man, with a piece of the roof decking still attached to his hand, was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Although this may be a rare occurrence, it’s one more reason you will probably want to hire a competent roofing company to do repairs or replace your roof.
