Archive for the ‘Roof Materials’ Category
Eco-Friendly Roofing Made Simple
For the average homeowner, choosing a new roof material simply follows suit with what material was previously used on the home. However, making the change to a green roof product can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective for the homeowner. When looking to upgrade to an eco-friendly roof product, the choices can be narrowed down to four categories:
Solar Roofs
A solar roof is also known as a photovoltaic system. Covering the roof with solar panels made up of photovoltaic cells is the perfect choice for anyone looking to reduce their reliance on traditional energy and power consumption. The panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity that can be used to power the home’s energy needs. These systems can last well over 30 years and cut the cost of electrical consumption by up to 75%.
Recycled Roofs
Many traditional roofing materials now come in recycled varieties. Technological advances have improved the composition of traditional asphalt shingles, which can now be manufactured from recycled rubber, plastic and paper products. Metal roofs are also a common roof material made from recycled material. Aluminum, copper and tin products can all be easily recycled into a new metal roof panel, or be made into new products from an existing metal roof panel.
Natural Stone Roofs
Slate, clay and stone tile roofs are becoming a popular choice for many homeowners, as they offer an upgraded look to the home. Great for areas that are prone to pests, hail and fire, these tiles are highly resistant to weather elements. Since they are made up of elements found naturally around the globe, these products are a great addition to the eco-friendly family of roof materials.
Coated Roofs
Having been used among commercial buildings for decades, the white roof system is gaining popularity among residential buildings. Using a reflective white coating to protect against the absorption of harmful ultraviolet rays, these roof systems can significantly lower the energy consumption of a building by keeping it cool.
Choosing Wood Shakes
Roof materials come in just about every type of material imaginable. Everything from recycled plastic and rubber, to earth friendly clay or slate; choosing a roof material for your home can be tricky. While many people like the look of a wood shake, there are some things to know about the benefits and drawbacks before having your roof replaced with these alternative tiles.
The Shakedown
Wood shake roofs are preferred for their natural look and unique appeal. Often used to dress-up homes in rural or remotely located homes, the wood shake looks quite different from other traditional roof materials. Their texture, pattern and color variations often lend to an earth friendly aesthetic.
While wood shakes are beautiful, the price for that beauty can be high. Wood shakes made from high end lumber, such as cedar, can easily cost you three to four times the cost of a asphalt shingled roof. On the positive side, that cost can be an investment when the cedar shake roof outlasts an asphalt shingled roof by 10 or more years. However, the life of any wood shake roof is influenced by the climate in which the home is located.
Wood shakes are not the best roof material choice for high humidity climates, or those with insect infestations. High moisture areas can leave wood shakes damp, leading to problems with mildew and mold; both of which compromise the integrity of the material. Insects are another problem that can easily damage and destroy a wood shake roof, leaving the life of the roof significantly decreased.
As with any roof repair or replacement job, it is a good idea to consult a local roofer before choosing which type of roof you want to install. Their knowledge and expertise can ensure you pick the most durable and affordable option without compromising on durability.
Helena Museum Gets Fabricated Roof
In Helena Arkansas the Helena Museum of Phillips County on Pecan Street will be covered in a new roofing material that is similar to a pool tarp. The 120 year old building will be covered in a Duro Last Roofing System.
When checking the building for window and gutter replacements, the former president of the museum board noticed a significant amount of water damage over the uniform display cases. They decided to fix the roof before the other renovations to prevent any further damage.
Mississippi Roofers for Museum Project
Swindoll Construction and Roofing out of Batesville, MS will be doing the roof repair and installing the Duro Last roof. According to the Dura Last website “The custom-fabricated, single-ply Duro-Last roofing system is ideal for any flat or low-sloped application. The Duro-Last roofing system is also watertight, highly reflective, resistant to chemicals, fire and high winds, and virtually maintenance free.”
Phillips County Museum Board Vice President Father Travis Frank said “we are tickled to death that this roof will be repaired by Wednesday and we just want to thank the community for their continued support and their donations, without your contributions this would not have been possible.”
The Helena Museum of Phillips County was built in 1891 and began as a library. The museum now has artifacts from Native American Indians, the Civil War, early paintings, decorative arts and various documents. The museum is also reported to have the ghost of Maybelle Thatcher walking around the balcony searching for her long lost love.
Roof Shingle Thieves in Texas Neighborhood
Coppell Texas, police are looking for suspects involved in stealing roofing shingles from homeowner’s yards. The majority of the 17 reported thefts since June have been in central Coppell.
When talking about the dollar amounts stolen, Sgt. David Moore of the Coppell Police Department said “the amount varies from offense to offense, depending on the number of bundles they take, the brand of shingles, warranty ratings and the grade or quality of the shingles. The average is between $750 and $2,500.”
Taken From Homeowner’s Yards
A few of the shingle thefts have occurred on new construction sites, but most of the roof material thefts occurred at residences where roofs were being replaced due to damage from the recent storms.
Pallets of shingles are being stolen shortly after being delivered to the homes with roof damage. Some area contractors are taking steps to prevent the thefts by delivering the shingles on the day the roof repair is to start.
Homeowners are urged to notify police if they have to keep shingles outdoors so the Coppell Police Department can keep a close eye on the pallets. Be sure and give your full address and where on your property the shingles are being stored.
The police are asking for any tips on these crimes and to report any suspicious behavior by calling (972)304-3600 or submitting anonymous tips on the Coppell Police Departments website or Facebook Page.
Lighter Rooftop Gardens
As more urban areas begin to utilize rooftop gardens for their many environmental effects, some buildings are beginning to face challenges in their green roof efforts. The roofs of many commercial and residential buildings are not designed to support the weight of a vegetable or plant garden. Luckily, advances in technology is making it possible by designing lighter weight roof garden materials.
Lighten Up
Along a rural town in the state of New York you can find an old family farm that is working on some unique roof materials that are taking the industry by storm. Outside of LaGrange, New York the Hitsman family farm is home to large Styrofoam bins filled with a mysterious looking product resembling soil.
Gaia Soil is a new type of gardening material made from recycled Styrofoam and extruded polystyrene. Coated with pectin, a complex carbohydrate often used in food and plants, Gaia soil can be used to grow plants just about anywhere. Reducing the weight load of traditional soil by nearly 75%, Gaia soil solutions make for a light weight solution for rooftop gardens.
Now buildings of just about any size can take advantage of a green roof solution that filters storm runoff, reduces energy costs and creates a healthier atmosphere.
Disaster Area Roofs from Plastic Bottles
Students from the School of Architecture and Design at New York Institute of Technology have come up with a way to use discarded plastic bottles as roofing materials. The team used water and soda bottles to create a tile type design for roof repair easy to create by people in areas struck by disaster.
The Soda Bottle Interface Bracket (SodaBIB) project is for building a simple emergency roof that can be put together with no other tools but a hammer. They wanted to design a roof system that could be constructed without the use of electricity or tools that many people did not have access to during a disaster.
Creates Tile Effect For Water To Drain Off
The bottles are connected by a plastic fastener with holes the size of water bottle caps. The bottom layer of bottles is smashed into a concave shape and screwed into the fastener then a solid bottle is placed on top of it and screwed into another hole creating a tile like effect when the bottles overlap each other.
Pallets were redesigned to incorporate the plastic supports into a self-contained unit. When the bottles of water were shipped to disaster victims they would not have to locate the connecting plastic fastener. The pallet will have a series of holes for the empty bottles to be screwed into and reused for the immediate roofing.
Jason Van Nest, associate professor in the School of Architecture and design said “And what we are most excited about with this project is that the pallet ends up getting disassembled practically without any tools. Individuals can break it into building material and then merely crush the bottles.”
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
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.
Mobile Home Roof Coatings
Mobile homes are affordable housing for many people, but they do face challenges that a slab foundation home doesn’t. In general, mobile homes tend to carry a higher need for general maintenance and the roof is a prime example.
Beat The Heat
Most mobile homes are made from metal, which means that a metal roof is its main source of protection from the elements. While metal roofs can be one of the most weather resistant roof materials, their durability depends on the type of metal used. The metal used for most mobile homes may not be of the highest quality, nor have the appropriate coverings.
One of the best ways to improve the durability and energy efficiency of a mobile home’s metal roof is by applying a “cool roof” coating. Applied by a brush or a roller, these white elastomeric coatings increase the reflectivity and emissivity; both of which disperse the heat from the sun and prevent it from being absorbed into the home. Not only will the coating help keep the home cool, but it will improve energy efficiency and reduce the costs of keeping the home cool. White roof coatings are a green roof system that works to benefit both the home owner and the environment.
The Right Roof Material For Your Climate
These days roof materials come in nearly every style, color and make. The variety makes for a range of options for homeowners, but also tough decisions. Many people simply don’t know the different benefits of certain roofing products or which would be best for their home. In fact, choosing the right roof material depends a lot on the climate in which you live.
The Right Stuff
Asphalt shingles–as the most common roof material, most people assume it is also the superior product for roofs. The benefit to asphalt shingles is that they are the most versatile and are adequate for use in any climate. However, they are the easiest to damage. Windy climates are better off avoiding them to prevent increased need for maintenance, as well as extremely hot climates to prevent fading and chipping.
Metal— is becoming a more popular roof product that offers increased durability and a longer life span than asphalt shingles. It is great for climates that experience weather extremes, and is especially good in winter climates. Metal roofs also offer better recycled product options, which can help reduce the cost of installing a new roof. The drawback to metal is its ability to be dented, which makes it a poor roof choice for areas that are prone to hail storms.
Slate and Tile— are both favored because of their aesthetic appeal. Many people enjoy the upgraded look of a slate or tile roof. Both are great for moderate to hot climates, as they can absorb the heat and keep the interior of a home cool. However, both are not well suited for climates that receive a lot of snow. Slate and tile are heavier roof products and cannot hold up well under the added weight of snow.
