Archive for October, 2012
Fireproof Thatch Roof for Zoo
Virginia Zoo in Norfolk will be getting a new roof for the replica African hut in the interpretive center. The thatch roof caught fire after it was struck by lightning approximately a year and half ago.
According to the city’s invitation to bid, The Interpretive Center is a replica of a large circular African hut is 40 feet in diameter with a 30 foot high peaked roof. The roof was constructed using heavy timber round wood poles and covered with natural thatch.”
Difficult to Repair Thatch
Stating that the old roof was costly to maintain, the natural thatched roof and eucalyptus poles will be replaced with synthetic thatch and pressure treated poles. The original roof materials had to be imported from Africa, and it was difficult to find people that were skilled in thatching.
The existing roof structure is to be completely removed and replaced with new heavy timber due to the extensive fire damage. The damaged thatch roof will be replaced with a new synthetic thatch roof system which will last longer and be flame resistant.
Sealed bids will be accepted at the, City Hall Building, 810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 City or Norfolk Public Works Department; Contracts Office, Room 700, 7th floor until 3:00 p.m. Thursday, October 18, 2012.
Drawings of the building and more detailed information for the invitation to bid can be found at the website http://www.norfolk.gov/publicworks/Design/PDF/ZooNewsad.pdf
Donations for Historic Playhouse Roof
In Baraboo Wisconsin the Al. Ringling Theater will be getting a new roof as well as theater renovations courtesy of generous donations.
The historic theater was built in 1915 by C. August Albrecht Ringling, one of the circus Ringling Brothers and designed by Architects Rapp and Rapp out of Chicago. The theater was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in May 1976.
Drain Pipes Run Over Auditorium
The theater design is based on the Orpheum Theater with 2 roof drains that sit over the auditorium and stage. Brian Heller, the theater’s executive director said “we can only speculate why they changed the plans to include two drains on the roof.”
A series of pipes run through the attic below the theater roof, crossing the auditorium and stage. The water damage from failing drains can be seen from inside the auditorium.
The new roof will be paid for with the $10,000 donation from W.R. & Foy A. Sauey Family Foundation and Nordic Group of Companies. Another $140,000 is needed to complete the project.
Tilsen Roofing from Madison is doing the roof repair; they are hoping to complete the roof repairs in two weeks. Renovations are being done to prevent water damage inside the theater.
The Theater façade was restored in 2000, and when the current renovations are finished the preparations will begin to celebrate the theaters 100th year anniversary in November 2015.
Removing Old Roof Benefits
Many people suffering with roof damage or problems have attempted to save money by covering the old roof with a new layer. While this may be a quick and cheaper option, it certainly isn’t the best option for everyone. Here is why:
Hidden Problems
Covering an existing roof with new roof materials is acceptable if the old roof is not damaged. When you cover an old roof with a new layer of roof materials without removing the old or damaged ones, you are essentially creating a “band-aid fix”. Stripping the old materials away allows for the roofer to inspect the entire roof structure for any further damage, giving them a chance to identify additional problems.
Encouraging Decay
Layering roof materials also increases the risk of mold, mildew, rot and decaying of materials. Any moisture, debris or pest waste is likely to fester under the new roof materials and cause damage. Moisture problems can be costly and are likely to only worsen with additional weight of new materials.
Warranty and Code Violations
There are rules and regulations that are enforced with roof materials. To meet fire and safety codes, materials must meet strict requirements and be installed properly. Adding too many layers of roof materials can be a code violation, and even increase the risk of fire or other dangers. Further, adding layers over an existing roof could void the warranty on the materials used in all of the layers, leaving little recourse with insurance companies when filing a claim down the road.
Ancient Stone made into Roofing Tiles
450 million year old stone will be used to tile the Prime Minister of Australia’s official residence. Burlington Stone in Cumbria will be making 17,100 tiles from Westmoreland green slate for the roof materials.
Burlington Stone’s marketing director Sally Finney said “we quarry all our stone from the quarries in the Lake District and offer 11 natural stones. All of those stones are processed here at Kirkby using craftsmen with a lot of experience.”
Burlington Stone was founded in 1843 by William Cavendish, the Second Earl of Burlington, later to become the 7th Duke of Devonshire, the company is still owned by the decedents of the Cavendish family.
Green Slate Roofing Tiles
The roofing tiles will be used on the roof of the Lodge in Canberra currently being occupied by the current Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The lodge was built in 1927 and became the prime ministers official home after first being considered to be a temporary residence until a new prime minister’s residence could be constructed.
The new roof project will cover the 40 room Georgian revival style mansion. The original architects were Percy A. Oakley and Stanley T. Parkes of Melbourne, the builder was J.G Taylor of Sydney. Stanley Bruce and his wife was the first prime minister that moved into the mansion shortly after completion in May 1927.
Other famous locations for the ancient Westmorland stone is on London’s Tower Bridge and St. Pancras station slate roofs.
New Law Calls For Solar Roof Installations
Many large commercial buildings around the country are installing solar roof panels to reduce the reliance on traditional energy sources. While national efforts are beginning to pick up speed, many other countries are taking the green roofing industry by storm. A new law proposed in the Philippines is calling for a massive installation of solar panels across the city.
Unified Efforts
If a single residence home can generate enough electricity to power itself for 24 hours, imagine what an entire city’s worth of solar power could generate. A progressive lawmaker in Davao City, Philippines is working on a new bill that would change the country’s energy sector.
Senator, Teddy Casino and a group of solar technology developers, the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) are working on a plan to install solar panels on the rooftops of houses, buildings and commercial establishments. Deemed the One Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011, the House Bill was designed to “promote the utilization of renewable energy resources to reduce dependence on imported energy from fossil fuels.”
If approved, the PSPA would being installing new roof solar panels among 10 percent of residential units per year. Over time, the project would be able to “promote energy stability and independence from imported energy sources, mitigate global warming and air pollution and encourage industry growth that will lead to more jobs and lower electricity bills.”
Largest Dome Roof for Singapore
The Singapore Sports Hub in Kallang will soon be getting the worlds’ largest dome roof over the new National Stadium. The 310m dome will cover the whole 55,000 seat capacity stadium plus the multi-purpose field. Spending $1.33 billion, the steel roof can be open or closed within 25 minutes.
The 20,000sqm retractable roof will surpass the current largest roof which is the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas. Construction of the roof began in June and is expected to be completed within 2 years for the official opening in April 2014.
Roofers Getting the Work Done
Contract Director Chen Shee Shann of Dragages Singapore, one of the equity partners said “we awarded the contract for the steel roof structure early last year and by November or December we got all the roof materials in and started fabrication. That part of the risk is already over, now it’s getting the work done.”
One of the designers of the roof, Clive Lewis of Arup said “on the critical path, the dome roof is one of the first things we worked on.”
The stadium is being built on the site of the previous national stadium which was closed in June 2007. Construction delays have slowed down the progress originally planned for completion in 2011.
The sports hub is the largest sports facilities infrastructure project in the world. With its world class facilities, the Sports Hub will be the center for Singapore’s elite athletes as well as an ideal location for sports and entertainment events.
Roofing Company Fined for Unsafe Conditions
In Calgary Canada Canterbury Roofing Ltd. received a fine of $15,000 after being convicted of creating an unsafe condition under the Safety Codes Act of Alberta.
While working at the long term care facility Clifton Manor on April 13, 2011, the roofing company placed heavy pallets on the roof causing it to cave in. No one was injured when the pallet of roofing materials weighing approximately 1,224 crashed through the dining area.
Residents Where under the Roof Moments before It Collapsed
At the time of the collapse, Clifton Manner staff was serving lunch to 15 elderly residents in the dining room. When the staff heard the cracking noise above their heads they were able to move the residents, most of who are in wheel chairs, out of the way.
Judge Brian Mason convicted and gave Canterbury Roofing Ltd. the maximum fine the law allowed on Thursday October 25th.
Chief building official Kevin Griffiths said “no one was injured in the incident but there was the potential for injury or worse.” He went on to say “this was a very serious matter; the city’s investigation revealed the company did not adequately ensure the roof would be able to hold the building materials. We did not see the due diligence done by this contractor”.
The city of Calgary has lobbied the provinces Municipal Affairs ministry to significantly increase the fines and is waiting for approval to raise the maximum fine for first time offenders from $15,000 to $150,000 and raise the maximum penalty for second time offenders from $30,000 to $500,000.
Roof Safety Tips
Many people are injured each year due to roof debris, roof collapse and even fires starting among roof materials. Roof contractors are especially vulnerable to rooftop dangers, as they are on the front lines of risk when it comes to roof repair and replacement. Homeowners and roofers should both be vigilant when it comes to the threats a poorly maintained roof can pose.
Staying Safe
There are laws in place to help protect us from certain rooftop dangers like fire and structural collapse. Roofing codes are put into place to ensure that roof materials meet certain standards of fire resistance, strength and durability. Materials that fall below code could pose an imminent threat to the homeowner, or anyone living or working under this type of roof. Therefore it is important to do the following:
- Keep the roof clear of debris and pests.
- Regularly inspect the roof for signs of damage or weakness, at least once per season.
- Replace or repair any damaged, missing or weak roof materials.
- Have a professional roofer conduct an inspection following any major weather events, or prior to purchasing a house.
- Stay away from buildings that have sagging rooflines or obvious signs of damage.
MIT Getting New Skylight for Roof Top Dome
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge is getting amethyst colored glass in the Great Dome oculus (round opening at the top of the dome).
Construction has begun removing the old 26 foot frame oculus and will replace it with a new stainless steel frame. A crane is being used to remove the heavy roof materials and to replace the new oculus. They hope to have the new rooftop oculus in place by the end of the year.
Dome Built in 1913
The Great Dome in building 10 is 8,800 square feet. Part of the original main campus, the great dome was designed to be the ceremonial main entrance. Architect and MIT graduate William Welles Bosworth designed the dome after the Pantheon in Rome.
100 years ago MIT moved to Cambridge from Boston’s Back Bay. In 1942 during WWII the university blocked out the skylight at the center of the Great Dome to prevent it from being used as a beacon for enemy bombers.
The renovation project is to restore the original intent for the dome. The several hundred amethyst colored glass blocks will be made of an impact resistant material and be 2 inches thick.
Roof Contractor Checklist
When looking for a local roofer to repair or replace your roof, there are tons to choose from. However, not all roofers carry the same level of experience and professionalism. In order to find one of the best, there are a few must-haves:
References and Insurance
Many people fail to check up on businesses they hire to perform work around their house, a big mistake. Like any industry, checking the references of your workers is highly important. Before hiring a roofer, be sure they can provide you with a list of past customers and verify that those customers were satisfied with the work received. Also, stay away from a roofer that does not have, or refuse to provide a copy of, valid insurance. A top quality roofer will carry liability insurance that covers the costs of damage or loss resulting from the work performed. It is important that you verify the insurance policy is active and up to date.
Professionalism and Experience
Roof repair is serious business, which is why making sure your roof contractor is knowledgeable and experienced is of utmost importance. Choosing an inexperienced roofer could pose problems with workmanship or warranty issues down the line. While there is a place for new companies just starting out, be sure they can demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the field by way of education or credentials. Ask where they received their training and what level of training their employees receive. It is also important to choose a roofer with an established business, which provides warranty documents and copies of permits if necessary.
