Archive for the ‘New Roof’ Category
Free Roof Applications Due For Charity Program
One charity program in Michigan is seeking applications for those in need of a new roof. The Rebuilding Together Ingham County offers several local residents the opportunity for a free roof repair as part of their annual program. Local volunteers pull together to help roofers provide residents in need a dry and safe home for the New Year.
Christmas In April
The program is part of an annual charity event that has been dubbed by locals as “Christmas In April”. Charity participants repaired 18 homes last year in a one day, blitz of home repairs on the last Saturday of April. This year the group hopes to improve last year’s record by helping at least 20 residents.
The program focuses on repairs for low income seniors and the disabled. In order to be eligible for participation, residents must be at least 60 years of age or disabled and living in the home as their primary residence in need. Applicants must have an income less than $1,361 per month and be current on their property taxes. Repairs that qualify for assistance include new roof, plumbing work, painting, gutter and safety rail installation.
Applications are due by January 20th and Ingram County, Michigan residents can find out more information by calling (517) 214-8356. Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact the organization at Rebuilding Together Ingham County P.O. Box 1111, Okemos, Mi., 48805.
Ukrainian Catholic Church gets New Polymer Roof
Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Johnson City NY, has a new polymer shake tile roof from DaVinci Roofscapes. The much needed roof repair of the deteriorated wooden cedar shake on the siding and rooftop were replaced with a Valore polymer shake roof. Also tiled were the church’s three 80-foot tall domes on top of the roof. The church was founded in 1944 and the original wood shakes were designed for the church in 1977.
Polymer Tiles Sturdy and Cost Effective
In keeping with the traditional Ukrainian design of building, 90 squares of Volare were installed in a Tuscano color blend of light to dark autumn colors. The new roof has a 50 year warranty on the polymer shakes. Easy to maintain, the polymer tiles resists mold, insects, fungus, algae cracking, fading and curling. The tiles are 100% recyclable and virtually maintenance free. DaVinci Roofscapes have been making synthetic slate and shake roofing in the United States since 1999.
Reverend Theadore B. Czabala Jr. said “The new polymer shakes look almost identical to the older wooden ones, but these will last so much longer. The wood exterior of the church has been cleaned and stained, so now the structure looks perfect. We’re both amazed and pleased that these man-made roofing tiles could have such a positive and beautiful impact on our facility.”
FEMA Grant to replace New Orleans Aquarium Roof
FEMA recently approved $2M to replace the old roof of the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. The roof was originally repaired in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina damaged the building.
The aquarium gets significant water leaking into the building since the storm. A thermal scan of the roof shows damage that has gotten worse. In the last 5 years the patchwork repairs on the roof has cost about $300,000 including replacing carpets that were water damaged. Aquarium employees have been placing trash cans around the building to catch the dripping water.
$961,000 of the grant for Removal of Old Roof and Hazard
Mitigation
Once the original roofing materials are removed, the roof will be strengthened to help eliminate similar damages. The new roof will be replaced with a modified butimen roofing system.
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is one of the largest museums of its kind in America. Home to 15,000 sea and fish life, rare and endangered species, underwater tunnels, and a rainforest. Many of the fish died after a generator failure from Hurricane Katrina, other species were saved and brought back when the aquarium reopened in 2006.
Animal Rescue Center gets New Roof
Real Charrois, general manager of Mainroad Infrastructure in BC walked into Langley Critter Care animal rescue and asked if there was any work that needed to be done. Gail Martin, the founder of the rescue center, was thrilled with the offer since it would take them a long time to save the money for the needed repairs.
As they walked around the center, Martin pointed out many possible projects that needed repairs, thinking Charrois would take on maybe one project; she was delighted when he said his company could do them all.
New Roof
A roofing crew came out to strip the shingles from the triage center and is getting ready to put up a new roof. The repairs also include a new roof over the intern deck, and a rat proof food shed.
Other repairs were a fawn enclosure and to lay donated cement slabs in the new skunk nursery.
Gail Martin was pleasantly surprised to see a crew come out to reroof the triage center; she was expecting a patch job on the aging roof.
Martin said “we are so thankful” for all the work Mainroad has done for the animal rescue center.
Fund Raiser
The Critter Care Wildlife Society is currently running its annual fund raiser Christmas Shopping Spree with t-shirts, trivets, calendars and clothing with pictures of the animals. You can donate or learn more by contacting them at www.crittercarewildlife.org or at Critter Care Wildlife Society 481-216-Street, Langley, BC V2Z 1R6.
155 Year Old Church Gets Update
In Bristol Rhode Island, the First Congregational Church is getting a new slate and rubber roof and a new roof on the bell tower. The church will also be getting critical structure repair, primarily working from the new larger basement.
Built in 1856, the First Congregational Church on 281 High Street has a major issue with built up moisture from the basement. The wooden frame supporting the floor and interior walls is rotting and slowly sinking.
Replacing the Roof
The rubber was replaced on the flat roof areas. Approximately 150 slate pieces were replaced on the roof, repairing the rest with copper inserts. Throughout the years the slate roof has received tar patches and pieces of bad slate. The pieces have degraded and chipped, sliding down and damaging the rubber on the flat roof.
Deciding to go with copper instead of replacing the tin on the bell tower roof, Heritage Restorations President Robert J. Cagnetta said the copper would last at least 60 years “it takes a lot for us to get workers up there and tens of thousands of dollars to put scaffolding up” he said.
Expanding the Basement
The first part of the renovation was excavating the clay like soil to open up the basement to a 6 foot depth instead of the previous crawl space area. The workers could then get in and shore up the walls, install new drains, plumbing and electrical and then replace the sill plate and floor joists to stabilize the frame.
During the week construction runners are laid down so workers can do interior repairs, on Friday evening it is all taken up for weekend services.
20,000 Shingles for Roofless Church
The 50 foot upside down wooden rosebud that covers the alter at a church in New Harmony, Indiana is getting the roof replaced. 20,000 shingles have to be individually cut to reroof the open air roofless church.
The distinctive structure was completed and dedicated in 1960 by 20th Century architect Philip Johnson. He believed that only one roof, the sky, could embrace all worshipping humanity.
Protecting a Statue at Center of Alter
The domes structure covers a sculpture designed by Lithuanian-French sculptor Jacques Lipchitz “The Descent of the Holy Spirit”.
The father and son company, Koester Construction, has been working on the roof since August. Speaking of the 50 year old roof shingles, Chris Koester said “The main thing is figuring out how they did it, the old ones are so deteriorated that we couldn’t tell how it was done.”
Hopes to be Complete for Christmas Ceremonies
Working from the original blueprints they can figure out where to put the fluted, curved and angled shingles, they hope to have the new roof completed by December.
The New Harmony church is in the center of this 1,000 resident town. The unique church receives many visitors and is a popular location for weddings and other religious events.
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.
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.
New Roof For Salt Dome In Ohio
Plans for roof replacement are underway for the salt barn located in Brunswick City, Ohio. The 30 year old roof has suffered from numerous instances of roof damage over the last few years and is in need of repair. Having been patched numerous times, city officials have declared the roof to be substandard and are concerned about how the roof damage to the barn’s salt stores will affect the local community.
Damaged Goods
Multiple holes in the roof have caused major water leaks, which affects the salt stored in the barn. When it rains salt escapes the building and flows into the parking lot and, eventually, becomes runoff into local waterways. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is concerned about the increased salt deposits in the local water supplies.
The salt barn stores much of the county’s supply of salt that is used during winter months to de-ice the local roads. The increased moisture has caused the salt to clump together and harden, making it difficult for the city’s snow plows to load and disperse in the winter months. With another winter approaching, local officials are concerned about the availability of the essential salt supply.
Cutting Costs
Despite pressure from the potential negative outcomes, the project managing team is considering different ways to avoid the high costs of roof replacement. The roof repair is estimated at around $60,000, money local officials say isn’t in the budget. One alternative solution that is being considered is to cover the roof with a fabric material to reduce leakage and hopefully extending the life of the current roof by 25 years. A similar method was used earlier this year on the city’s police station building and was said to have saved the city significant amount of money.
Roof Sheathing
Roof sheathing (or decking) is the layer in between the rafters and the shingles on your roof.
It is important for your roofs sheathing to be attached securely and in good repair to keep your home dry and structurally secure. Sheathing is not one size fits all, there are different options and considerations when adding new or replacing your roofs sheathing.
Energy Efficient
To get the most energy efficiency possible, use the appropriate sheathing materials. Radiant barriers can be stapled to plywood or OSB before the plywood is installed. OSB is generally more environmentally friendly since it is made from small trees grown in sustainable forests and tree farms.
The typical sheathing materials are plywood, particle board or wafer-board sheathing. If you are not using composite shingles, you can use 1×4 slats instead. Using slats or spaced sheathing is important to keep the wood shakes and shingles from rotting.
1 x 4 Sheathing
Spaced sheathing is generally made with 1×4’s this is commonly put under wood shingles, wood shakes, tile and metal panel roofs. For insulation or strength, the slats may be installed over a plywood roof deck. In most cases the 1×4’s are nailed directly to the rafters, spaced according to the required exposure of the roofing material.
Particle Board or Plywood
Plywood, particle board or wafer-board roof sheathing is most commonly used. Plywood sheathing is used for composition shingles, roll roofing and slate.
Plywood is also used as for a base for spaced sheathing when the roof requires diagonal strength or a solid wind barrier for materials such as tile. Check with your local code as to which thickness you use, the range will be from 3/8″ to ¾” thick.
Tongue and Groove
Tongue and groove sheathing is used if the sheathing is visible from inside the house, as in cathedral ceilings. Standard 2 x 6 tongue and groove roof decking is used.
Install the first board along the eaves with the tongue edge facing toward the ridge. Stagger butt joints so that they do not line up over the same rafter, and leave 1/16 inch for expansion. Some decking is manufactured with tongue and groove ends as well, so you can place butt joints anywhere.
You can talk with your contractor or roofer to decide the best option for you and your home.
