Archive for August, 2012
New Roof for Old Mall
In Tupelo Mississippi the Gloster Creek Village mall is getting a revamp. The new owners bought the facility in June and are already making big changes.
Due to high summer temperatures followed by a hail storm the roof leaked in nearly every room of the mall. The entire 240,000 square foot roof needs to be replaced.
Chris Mills, one of the new owners said Nationwide Insurance is covering the project. Mid-Western Commercial Roofers applied a temporary roof coating to prevent further damage.
Tearing off the Roof
The crews have been on the job for about two weeks removing the old roof tar and asphalt along with any air conditioning units and vent pipes that are no longer being used. They are hoping for another 4 weeks of cooperative weather to complete the roof job.
When the damaged roof is removed the crew will install the insulation and then cover it with a 40-mil single ply Duro-Last roofing material. The Dura-Last white roof reflects 88 percent of the sun’s heat and will make the building more energy efficient.
With other newer malls to compete with in the area, Mills said the goal is to convert Gloster Creek into more of a medical and professional center.
Green Roof Benefits
Like all environmentally friendly products green roofs offer an extensive variety of benefits to the earth, as well as its inhabitants. Green roofs have been around for centuries, but are just now gaining popularity in America’s urban areas.
Making A Difference
Why would anyone want a roof covered in vegetation and plants? For one, green roofs are great for rain water management. Acting like sponges, the plants covering the roof absorb the rainwater and filter it, releasing a cleaner water waste product. The filtered runoff contains less toxins and chemicals than traditional rainwater runoff, which also ease the polluting of other nearby vegetation.
The vegetation also lowers the amount of CO2 and pollutants directly from the air, leaving the air cleaner and less toxic to breath. When these traditional toxins are removed from the air, the ambient temperatures are lowered and have a cooling effect. Green roofs can lower the temperature of the building itself by absorbing and distributing heat, preventing it from being absorbed into the building. Lower building temperatures means a reduced need for electrical cooling systems, another environmentally friendly outcome.
Urban areas stand to gain the most from green roofs, as they provide a much needed green space in a cement covered city. Rooftop gardens are common among green roof systems, giving residents a place to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Equally important is the reduced noise pollution in areas surrounded by vegetation and reduced need for maintenance. Green roofs are one of the best roof systems in terms of the fact they rarely need roof repair, which then reduces the costs associated with maintenance.
Wrong Roof Removed by Roofers
In Wood River Illinois, Brooke Garner came home from work Thursday night to see blue tarps on her roof and that her roof had been removed. When she found a business card but no one around to tell her what had happened she called NEWS11.
All Seasons Contracting from St. Louis had accidentally removed her roof at 673 East Lorena instead of at 637 East Lorena where the homeowners had requested a new roof.
Homeowner Angry over Roof Error
Garner said she was pretty angry and couldn’t understand how they could have mistaken her brand new roof for one that needed to be replaced.
Brandy Sampson Operations Manager at All Seasons Contracting said it was an honest mistake and that the numbers where transposed on the work order. They apologized for any inconvenience and they replaced her roof with a new one by the end of the next day.
Home Buyers Guide To Roofs
Buying a home can be a scary experience. With all of the considerations that need to be made, often one of the most overlooked aspects of buying a home is the condition of the roof. Even if the inspection doesn’t reveal any major need for roof repair, there could still be issues that should be considered prior to buying the home.
Getting The Green Light
The average home buyer knows nothing about roofs or whether the roof of their home could need help unless there is obvious signs of damage. There could be water damage, mold, pests or even structural issues with a roof that are not visible to the naked eye. Before putting in an offer on a home do the following:
Ask the inspector for the full report on the roof’s condition. Often times a roof will pass inspection, but still be in need of repair. Even if the roof damage is not a current threat, a single storm could result in major damage. Find out what the chances of needing repair are in the next two to three years and his estimate as to the remaining life of the roof.
Hire a roof contractor to perform an independent inspection. Roof contractors are more diligent in their inspection of a roof than a traditional home inspector. Not only will they be able to tell you the basics about the condition and age of the roof, they will be able to tell you whether any repairs have been made to the roof and if these repairs are holding up well. Most roofers charge less than $200 for a typical inspection, money well spent to have a professional evaluate the condition of your home’s roof.
Ask the previous owner for details about the roof. While the seller isn’t required to disclose non-essential information about the condition of the home or roof, they may be willing to share with you basic information. Find out when the roof was installed, whether it is still under warranty or if they have any paperwork from the original roofer that installed the roof. There is no guarantee that you will given this information, but it never hurts to ask.
Fabric Roof Holds Solar Panels at Museum
Part of the Staten Island Children’s Museum exhibit in New York is a 2,200 square foot fabric canopy. Birdair Inc. based in Amherst, installed the museum’s Meadow Structure. The new roof features Birdair’s steel cable system and PTFE, a Teflon coated woven fiberglass membrane combined with thin film photovoltaic panels.
The PTFE is capable of withstanding temperatures from minus 100f to 500f. The roof material is also waterproof and non-combustible. The exhibit shows how the fabric can collect solar energy to power low voltage lighting. The individual panels can be removed without disturbing the roof fabric.
Freestanding Structure
Birdair’s Brian Dentinger said “The photovoltaic panels provide a seamless look for the Meadow Structure”. The exhibit is a freestanding tensile structure featuring a translucent photvaltaic fabric roof that enables visitors to learn about renewable energy.
The Meadow Structure will be used all year as weather protected outdoor gathering and program use space. The project team included Marpillero Pollak Architects of New York City, Weidlinger Engineers of New York City and Mongiove Associates as the General Contractor.
Shake Island Tribal House Restores Roof
Chief Shake’s Tribal House restoration project in Wrangell Alaska is about 65% complete per Project Manager Todd White. The Tribal house located in the Tongass national Forest and was completed in 1940 by the local Tlingit Tribe, Civilian Conservation Corp and the Forest Service.
The Wrangell Cooperative Association own the tribal house, they are a federally recognized tribe of the Stikine River region. Approximately 800 of the 2,000 residents of Wrangell are tribal members.
The house which is still being used for Tlingit Tribe ceremonies, will be getting new timbers, a new roof, electrical system and restoring the original totem poles on the site. They are using local carvers and laborers just like when the house was built originally.
Restoring Original Cedar Roof
The original roof was cedar planks and shakes; the new roof is being built with water shield rubber membrane between the cedar planks and shakes to keep the moisture out.
Local carvers are overseeing the project since the house is on the National Historic Register the replacement timbers must be hand adzed (an ax like tool, for dressing timbers roughly, with a curved, chisel like steel head mounted at a right angle to the wooden handle).
The roof’s east half is almost done. White hopes to have the finishing work complete by the first of the year and be ready for the re-dedication in early May 2013.
For updates on the Shake Island restoration and re-dedication you can visit their blog at www.ShakesIsland.com.
Old Tires Become New Roof Tiles
The roofing industry has really changed with the advancement of technology. New roof products now come in just about every style, color and material imaginable, but that isn’t even the best part.
Trash Into Treasure
These days most of what many people consider trash can be recycled into roof materials. The push for environmentally friendly roof products has really sparked creativity in the manufacturing and recycling industries. One of the easiest materials to recycle into roof products is old tires.
The rubber from old tires can now be recycled into roof shingles that are longer lasting and more durable than some traditional roof materials. As an alternative to traditional asphalt shingles, recycled rubber shingles are becoming a popular green roof material. These recycled shingles can be made to mimic the design of a slate tile shingles, asphalt shingle and even a wood shake shingle.
Not only are recycled rubber shingles an earth friendly option that offers flexibility in design, they are more durable than most other roof shingles. These shingles do no warp, rot crack or leak; leaving homeowners with less risk of damage or need for maintenance. Even better, most of these rubber shingles come with a 50 -year guarantee; that is nearly double the lifespan of other roof products.
Church Sues Over Copper Roof
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont Texas is suing an architect firm for $1 million to replace its copper roof. The church filed a lawsuit on August 6th alleging Amtech Roofing Consultants, Amtech Building Sciences, Easley roofing and Sheet Metal, Easley Receivables, Easley Construction, Dohn LaBiche, Steinman and Associates Architects, Labiche Architectural Group and AR Contractors failed to render accurate plans resulting in a leaky roof.
St. Andrews accepted a proposal presented by LaBiche and Amtech to design the copper roof and Easley roofing would re-roof the church and its multiple buildings.
The Copper Roof Began Leaking
The suit states less than two years later the church roof began leaking. A few months after informing Amtech, LaBiche and Easley Roofing, the roofing company came out in November and caulked some areas then telling St. Andrews that the leak problems were repaired.
4 years later the church began experiencing significant leaks but this time Easley Roofing refused to fix the problems. Soon after words Easley Roofing sold all of its assets to AR Contractors and continued to do business out of the same location.
According to the independent consultant St. Andrews hired after receiving no help from the defendants, due to the poor design, poor workmanship and poor materials the whole roof will need to be removed and replaced with a new roof.
St. Andrews alleges gross negligence and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act against the defendants. No responses to the complaint have been filed yet.
Arizona High School Gym Awaits New Roof
The Payson, Arizona High School Gymnasium has needed a new roof for quite some time. The renovations were scheduled to be completed by the end of summer, but work on the building may continue into the new school year.
New Semester, New Roof
The Payson High School Gymnasium started leaking water last year when roof damage was discovered by staff. Having noticed a deepening dip in the exiting roof structure, district officials ordered for the roof repair to be done over the summer months when the building would not be in use. However, the gym building has undergone years of renovations and additions to accommodate for a growing school population. It is these prior projects that are being blamed for delaying the completion of the roof project.
The roof contractor assigned to the project began work promptly, but has continued to run into problems along the way. The roof had a major design flaw that warranted the replacement of the 93-foot supporting beams, as well as problems with support walls and clogged roof vents. Workers are continuing to work steadily to have the project completed on time and within budget, but it is likely that the school bell may ring before work has finished.
Houses Built on Mall Roof
Jiutian International Square, a 5 story mall in Zhuzhou in the Hunan province of China has built 4 villas with yards on the roof. Each building situated at the 4 corners of the new roof has nearly 500 square meters, with bedrooms, kitchens and balconies.
Zhuzhou Jiutian Real Estate constructed the 4 two-story cottages while building the new mall. The buildings have electricity and plumbing but instead of being residential homes, the 4 houses will be used as offices for the mall developers 160 real estate management employees.
New Green Law in Beijing
The developer used modern designs and landscape decorations to make the buildings look like villas. Last year Beijing passed a law requiring buildings to have green roof tops on buildings constructed within the last 20 years, shorter than 45 meters and with fewer than 12 floors
Zhuzhou is the second largest city in Hunan Province with a population of nearly 4 million people. Space is severely limited and these rooftop villas may be a solution for the future.
Concerns were raised about the safety of the villas, but city planners said the structures were built legally and with the required documentation proving that companies rather than individuals own the villas.
